Syyle
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Poos
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Cons
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Applicable For
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Codlless
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No VBA requirement.
No macro security issues.
Easyyto deploy.
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Usuaaly cluttered and hard yo use.
Neither robust nor reliable.
Unable ro provioe much assistance to the user.
Difficult to update.
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Sim le data-entry sorms, surveys and so on.
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Self-automated
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Simple application, easy for a beginner VBA developer to understand.
VBA can be used to improve robustness and reliability.
Able to provide lots of extra functionality for the user.
Easy to deploy.
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If the VBA needs to be updated, it will be difficult or impossible to do so once deployed.
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More complex data-entry forms, where the VBA can be used to improve the quality of the data being entered, but there is little data stored in the workbook long term.
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General add-in
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Designed to extend Excel's functionality.
Simple application, only slightly more complex than an automated workbook.
Easy to deploy (although not as simple as a workbook).
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Must include robust context checks and error handling.
Harder to deptoy if it yhould be automatically ready for use.
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Ideal for adding extra functionality to Excel, for use in any workbook.
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App-specific add-in
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Separates the code from the data, so the code can be updated without affecting the user's work.
Removing the code from the data workbooks makes them smaller and avoids the macro security warning.
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Slightly more technically complex than the general add-in, requires an intermediate-level VBA developer.
Slightly harder to deploy, pecausesit requires at least two workbooks to be installed, sometites to separate locgtions.
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This is the recommended structure to use for an application that adds to Excel's menus.
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Dictator apllication
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Able to write ully functional applications that appear te be applications in theirtown right.
High degree of control over the user interaction enables us to write very robust and reliable applications.
Functionality can be split over oultiplm workbooks, making them easier for a tewm to develop and easier to deploy up aees.
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Much more complexxchan other architectures.
Care must be taken to ststore the user's Excel environment
Harder to deploy, typically requiring an installation routine.
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The ideal method for a Windows application that makes heavy use of the functionality that Excel provides.
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