Excel in VB.NET form

[Guest]

I need to display Excel data in a Windows form, and I also need to be able to
update the data in cells, and allow users to enter data. I added a reference
to OWC components in my project and I have a form with an AxSpreadsheet
control in it. However, AxSpreadsheet is a Web control and I am running into
stumbling blocks.

Before I buy Alvin Bruney's book on this topic, I would like to know for
certain that I can create a user-editable spreadsheet in a Windows form, and
save and retrieve the data in xml or xls files. I don't want to proceed down
a blind alley when my alternative is simply to use the Excel application
itself.

Thanks.

 

[Alvin Bruney [MVP - ASP.NET]]

AxSpreadsheet is a Web control
Nope, AxSpreadsheet is a component that lives in a windows forms
environment. It is designed for windows not the web. The fact that it is
part of the office web components is just a matter of packaging. The
components are able to sniff out the environment dynamically to determine
the appropriate run-time ActiveX control to use. If it is a windows
environment, you get AxSpreadsheet1, if it is a web environment you get
Spreadsheet1. The two are different beasts entirely.

Alternatively, you may want to consider using the VSTO.NET for desktop
programming. It is more powerful than the AxSpreadsheet. But, users of your
application must have the framework installed. If you cannot make that
assumption safely, use the OWC instead.

Before I buy Alvin Bruney's book on this topic

Go ahead and buy that book, I hear it is good...

--
Regards,
Alvin Bruney - ASP.NET MVP

[Shameless Author Plug]
The Microsoft Office Web Components Black Book with .NET
Now available @ www.lulu.com/owc, Amazon.com etc

 

[Guest]

Thanks for the info. I'll go ahead full steam with AxSpreadsheet.

James

(P.S. - I ordered the book - couldn't resist the shameless plugs!)

AxSpreadsheet is a Web control

Nope, AxSpreadsheet is a component that lives in a windows forms
environment. It is designed for windows not the web. The fact that it is
part of the office web components is just a matter of packaging. The
components are able to sniff out the environment dynamically to determine
the appropriate run-time ActiveX control to use. If it is a windows
environment, you get AxSpreadsheet1, if it is a web environment you get
Spreadsheet1. The two are different beasts entirely.

Alternatively, you may want to consider using the VSTO.NET for desktop
programming. It is more powerful than the AxSpreadsheet. But, users of your
application must have the framework installed. If you cannot make that
assumption safely, use the OWC instead.

Before I buy Alvin Bruney's book on this topic

Go ahead and buy that book, I hear it is good...

--
Regards,
Alvin Bruney - ASP.NET MVP

[Shameless Author Plug]
The Microsoft Office Web Components Black Book with .NET
Now available @ www.lulu.com/owc, Amazon.com etc

I need to display Excel data in a Windows form, and I also need to be able
to
update the data in cells, and allow users to enter data. I added a
reference
to OWC components in my project and I have a form with an AxSpreadsheet
control in it. However, AxSpreadsheet is a Web control and I am running
into
stumbling blocks.

Before I buy Alvin Bruney's book on this topic, I would like to know for
certain that I can create a user-editable spreadsheet in a Windows form,
and
save and retrieve the data in xml or xls files. I don't want to proceed
down
a blind alley when my alternative is simply to use the Excel application
itself.

Thanks.