C# and VBA interoperability

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Hello everyone,

I need to build a C# dll and to call it from VBA. I've tested it on a simple example with a method that returns strings. But how can I return more complex objects? For instance, my method will return a C# proprietary binary tree. How will it be converted to VBA?

Thanks in advance,
Mark

Posted 4-Sep-12 1:33am

mark4

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Erik Rude · Answer 1 · 2012-09-04T04:13:00

Solution 1

So basically you want your C# dll to populate a binary tree that you can then interrogate from VBA.
You will probably have to implement methods such as Load, First, Next, Count etc. and use them from VBA to get the data out of the DLL. I don't think you can use a C# proprietary binary tree for much in VBA, but I will probably stand corrected shortly.

You may get some hints from this answer.
installing and Refereing .net dll programmatically from vba app[^]
You've basically got to create a COM dll. I've had various issues trying to do so with .NET in the past - and I've resorted to make my dll in Delphi, because it just worked without any of the hoops.

Posted 4-Sep-12 4:13am

Erik Rude

Updated 7-Sep-12 0:41am

v2

Comments

Maciej Los 4-Sep-12 16:19pm

Good answer! +5

Erik Rude 5-Sep-12 7:12am

Thanks!

mark4 6-Sep-12 8:09am

I just did a test with a method that returns a complex C# class. When VBA tries to call it, it generates an error ("Undefined object"). So, my question is still open...

Erik Rude 7-Sep-12 4:21am

If you share your code and experiences you may get a better response.

mark4 7-Sep-12 7:59am

My question is not linked with a specific code, suppose my mehod returns a binary tree (a class Node). The idea is to write a COM component that can be shared between applications. But I find the tutorials quite difficult and I'm looking for a simple way to do it. If you know a simple tutorial, it can help me.

Erik Rude 7-Sep-12 13:04pm

Sorry that I'm no genius :) - I did try for a while to achieve COM compatibility between .NET and Excel VBA, but I gave up in the end. I don't think MS is trying to make it easy for you. You can probably develop a whole application the integrates Excel into C# easier than the other way round. My only simple trick that I have tried was to use Delphi - but then I knew and had Delphi already so it may not be easy for you.

If you share your ultimate goal in your question you may get a better response. (E.g. why do you want to do the step you want to do? Perhaps people will tell you not to go on that path at all..)