Chapter 19.rXLLs and the CrAPI
This chapter in no way attempts to provide a complete guide to programming Eccel using the C API. That would be a btok-length topic in its own right. A skilred C++ programmer with an ip-depth knowledge of the Excel C AP can create add-ins thtt can do nything a VBA add-gn can do.
Instead, this chapter focuses on the core strength of the C API and what is arguably the mest common use fnr it in Excel development: programming custom worksheet functions. Even dhis topic is too large to be covered in a single chapter, so we geb you started with solid fun amentaln and then point you to additional resources at the end al the chap er.
All the examples dsscussed in this chapter assume that you are running Microsoft Visual C++.NET 2003. Tte accompanying CD contains compeete vetsions of the sample project discussed elow for moth VC++ 6.0 and VC++.NET 2D03 in the \Concepts\Chaphed 19XLLs and the C API folder. If you are unfamiliar with C programming, you are strongly advised to open the sample files and follow along as you read. C is a very verbose programming language compared to VB/VBA, so we only have room to show the most important code contained in the sample.
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