We have an Excel 2002/XP based application that interacts with SQL 2000/5 to process fairly complex actuarial calculations. The application performs its function well, but it’s difficult to manage.
We’re trying to create a ‘controller’ application or service that can manage and monitor these various instances of Excel (start/stop/process commands etc) but it’s a bit of an InterOp nightmare unfortunately.
Does anyone have a good (i.e. working) example of doing something like this in VB.Net or C#?
Don’t do it!
We tried for weeks to get something like that to work and it simply does not behave as advertised. Don’t even start – give up immediately!
The only options that you really have is a heavy server-side MOSS based implementation – Excel (Web) services (they call it something like that). Windows based COM Excel interop is pretty much dead and will be replaced by MOSS.
The other option is to use SpreadsheetGear. It is actually a fantastic product
It all depends on the formulas that you need in your spreadsheet. Have a look at the formula list for Spreadsheet Gear and if there is a match go for it.