XLL Add-In Breaks (only after processing smart markers)

Xorcist · July 12, 2012, 11:21am

ASPOSE.Cells version: 7.2.2.0
EXCEL version: 2003 (11.8346.8341) SP3

Issue:

Loading an XLS template into an ASPOSE.Cells WorkBookDesigner, that contains formula calls to an XLL Add-In, will break those formula calls (at the workbook level) after calling the Process method, if and only if Smart Markers exist within the template.

Tests:

1. Loading a Template with Smart Markers into a WorkBookDesigner without running the Process method and saving the workbook (XLL formula calls work). PASS

2. Loading a Template without Smart Markers into a WorkBookDesigner with running the Process method and saving the workbook (XLL formula calls work). PASS

3. Loading a Template with Smart Markers into a WorkBookDesigner with running the Process method and saving the workbook (XLL fomula calls fail). FAIL

Analysis:

It appears that something happens to the workbook itself after Smart Markers are processed that breaks calls to XLL formulas. I can find no reasoning as to why this happen, nor have a found a workaround, however I desperately need one. Can someone please look into this and provide a hotfix or workaround. All XLL formula calls simply fail upon delivery of the final XLS file.

Xorcist · July 12, 2012, 11:41am

I ran a subsequent test, and think I’ve narrowed this down further. It appears that if the XLL formula call is done dynamically as a Smart Marker (or just adding a .Formula on a cell) it will break the entire sheet (all XLL calls, static or otherwise). But if only static XLL formulas exist with the sheet, they will continue to function after processing.

Can someone from ASPOSE explain why this happens? I have used Smart Markers to generate calls to VBA formulas, and DLL exports, and they have always worked. Why is an XLL formula any different, it should be Excel itself who makes the final calls, why does ASPOSE.Cells break the workbook for all XLL formulas if one happens to come in via a Smart Marker?

amjad.sahi · July 12, 2012, 12:37pm

Hi,

Thanks for providing the details.

Well, it is really hard to trace the issue, so we appreciate, if you could create a sample runnable console application, zip it and post it here with all the files, custom add-ins etc. Also if would be further helpful if you could attach some screen shots to highlight the problem in MS Excel showing the steps or encircling the problematic area(s). All these things will help us to quickly sort your issue out.

By the way, as a side note, please download and try our latest fix: Aspose.Cells for .NET v7.2.2.7

if it makes any difference.

Thank you.

Xorcist · July 12, 2012, 1:24pm

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Turns out, after digging deeply through the ASPOSE documentation, that I needed to add my XLL formula prototypes to the CellsHelper object using the AddAddInFunction method. Once I did this the formulas began to work...

Not 100% sure why a prototype is needed in the first place, I'd expect these types of dynamically entered formulas to pass right through ASPOSE into Excel and just work (like the static formulas in the Template), but as long as it works I'm happy.

shakeel.faiz · July 12, 2012, 9:08pm

Hi,

Thanks for your feedback.

It’s good to know that CellsHelper.AddAddInFunction() resolved your problem. If you like, you can share a sample code to help other users who are facing the same problem.

Let us know if you encounter any other problem, we will be glad to help you.

Have a good day.

shakeel.faiz · July 12, 2012, 9:22pm

Hi,

Thanks for your consideration.

We have looked into your issue and needs your template file to continue our investigation.

Could you please post a template file here? We will check it soon and provide you a fix or a solution.

Once, you will provide us your template file, we will log your issue in our database and update you with our findings asap.