Create an Automation Client for Microsoft Excel Start Microsoft Visual Studio.NET. On the File menu, click New, and then click Project. Select Windows Application from the Visual C# Project types. VBA code for Excel can only be written inside Excel using the VBA IDE. VBA projects are stored as part of the Excel file and cannot be loaded into Visual Studio. However, you can write VSTO managed add-ins for Excel using Visual Studio. The following MSDN page covers both developing.
- Edit VBA from Excel And Access files in VSCode www.xvba.dev
- Create,install and share VBA Packages www.xvba.dev
- Create type definition files in 'vb' for auto-complete and share in www.xvba.dev
- Create Custom Ribbons Menus with Custom Images - See example
- Edit VBA from Access on VSCode
- Refectory Live Server for Excel and Access
- Update Autocomplete and Extension Size Reduce
- Add Hover functionality
- Add Go to Definition (Hold Ctr and Click on function/sub/param)
- Add Build and Production functionality (Files on folder xvba_unit_test will export to Excel/Access just um Production Mode )
System requirements:
- This extension was tested on Windows 10 and Office 2019
- This extension was not tested on Mac or Virtual Machines
- @localsmart/xvba-cli works on nodejs 12.18.4
Youtube
- Youtube Chanel For Tutorials (Click Here)
- How to install - First Steps (Click Here)
- Namespace - Put File in Sub-folders (Click Here)
- Create Custom Ribbon Menu (Click Here)
The list below is some off new features vba language will have with XVBA
- 1 Import excel VBA code to files (With error log)
- 2 *Namespace (Organize files in folders)
- 3 Live Server (With error log)
- 4 Run Macros from VSCode TreeView (With error log)
- 5 Auto Complete (Language Serve, in progress)
- 6 Syntax Highlighting
- 7 Snippets (starts with x-)
- 8 Auto Indentation Rules
- 9 Create Your own package and share in www.xvba.dev
- 10 Stop the Live server and load VBA files to Excel Manually
- 11 XVBA-CLI Command Line Interface for XVBA VSCode extension (@localsmart/xvba-cli)
- 12 Code Formatter - Got to settings search for formatter and set to local-smart.excel-live-server
- 13 Create Custom Ribbons Menus
- 14 Add Hover functionality
- 15 Add Go to Definition (Hold Ctr and Click on function/sub/param)
- 16 Add Build and Production functionality (Files on folder xvba_unit_test will export to Excel/Access just um Production Mode )
- Xvba Repository : www.xvba.dev
- Xvba-Cli : @localsmart/xvba-cli
Version Beta
- Add type definition files for auto-complete. See excel-types
- Add auto-complete for Local variables
- Add comment blocks for modules/class/sub/functions/props
- Stop live server on import vba files
- Xvba just import modules/class's and forms
Obs: The first comment block in the file is for modules/class namespace
- Fix import vba files
- For use excel Objects auto-complete install the package excel-types with @localsmart/xvba-cli See excel-types package on github
Contributing
Please contributions are welcomed and appreciated.
- See excel-types
All feedback are welcome.
- Mail : alberto.aeraph@gmail.com
- WhatsApp: +55 31 9 9229 5626
- Also please write a review, star me on GitHub, and follow me on github
- Github account: Aeraphe
Support XVBA
If you find it useful, please consider supporting it.
- Become a Sponsor � join the growing group of generous backers
Installation
(Save your work and create a copy, before setting up the server)
- First, set your excel security to run macros on open
- Second, click in the Bootstrap icon on XVBA (TreeView)
- This command will create a user config file (config.json)In this file you set the name of your excel file (xlsm,xlsb or xlam) andthe project root folder (Where your vba file will save)
Obs: vba_folder path are relative to workspace and can't accept absolute path like : 'c:xxxx'
- Now Import VBA files, click in the import icon on XVBA (TreeView) (if excel file has vba code)
XVBA Live Server
- Click on Button to run XVBA Live Server (For edit files in VSCode and auto update Excel file)
- If you don't want to use Live Server just click on button 'Load VBA on Excel' to save your code changes on Excel when you want.
Use Git to track changes on your code
- Go to vscode terminal and type de command: git init (Press enter)
- See on: https://git-scm.com/
1 - Import excel VBA code to files (With error log)
- XVBA will import and create files for edit in VSCode.Obs: XVBA only import modules/class's/forms. Code inside sheets will not import Obs: modules name can not have accentuation
2- *Namespace
- Define the folder where your vba file (Class, Module,Form) will live
- For that, use the tag 'namespace' no vba files like:
'namespace=rootfolder/folder/subfolder
- You can use namespace snippet
3 - Live Server
- If you save VBA files changes in VSCode, it will automatically update your Excel file (like hot reload)
Obs: Import vba files button will stop Live Server
4 - Run Macros from VSCode TreeView (With error log)
- Right click on macros on 'LIST VBA MACROS' TreeView and select the option run
- The Macro will run on excel fileObs: Macros that receive params can not be run direct . Create a test file for that
A Log file 'excel_exec.log' wil create on workspace. Where you can see thesuccess or error on run Macro
To see Errors on VSCode, use On Error Resume Next on the first line of the VBA codeSet the error source name Err.Source ='func'
5 - Auto Complete (Language Serve, in progress)
- Use the auto-complete code by a Language Server (not snippets)
6 - Syntax Highlighting
- This package provides syntax highlighting VBA.
7 - Snippets
- All xvba snippets starts with x-
Example (Block Comment): x-blc
Dim declarations
Sub/function
Module/Class/Form Files
- if/else
- for/while
- case
- etc...
8 - Auto Indentation Rules
VBScript by Darfka (Auto Indentation Rules)
Set *namespace for all your files to (sub-folder = your package name)
- Just commit your changes and push to git repository
git push
10 - Stop the Live Server and load VBA files to Excel Manually
11 - XVBA-CLI Command Line Interface for XVBA VSCode extension
- Add third packages to your project with command line interface
- Create Your own package and share xvba.dev
- Type on terminal and press enter for install the xvba-cli Last Version
SeeXVBA-CLI
12 - Code formatter
- Code formatter Got to settings search for formatter and set to local-smart.excel-live-serverFor format code short keys (alt+shift + f)
Problems with file encoding
If you are having problems with some especial characters you have tochange the default encode utf8 in vscode to windows1252 in settings.VBA files a save in windows1252 encoding
For that just pres (crtl + ,) and change the settings to:
- 'files.encoding': 'windows1252'
- 'files.autoGuessEncoding':true
This package is built with this plugins:
- VBScript by Darfka (Auto Indentation Rules)
- luggage66/vscode-vbscript (Syntaxe Highlighting)
Versions Updates
- Move to CHANGELOG File
Bug Fix
- Move to CHANGELOG File
Office Add-ins run inside an Office application and can interact with contents of the Office document using the rich JavaScript API.
Under the hood, an Office Add-in is just a web app that you can host anywhere. Using a manifest.xml file, you tell the Office application where your web app is located and how you want it to appear. The Office application takes care of hosting it within Office.
Step 1: Get set up
Follow the instructions to Create an Office Add-in using any editor to install the necessary prerequisites, and use Yo Office to create a new add-in project. The following table lists the project attributes to select in the Yeoman generator.
| Option | Value |
|---|---|
| New subfolder | (accept the default) |
| Add-in name | Outlook Add-in |
| Supported Office application | (select Outlook) |
| Create new add-in | Yes, I want a new add-in |
| Add TypeScript | No |
| Choose framework | Jquery |
Use Visual Studio Code to develop your Office Add-in!
Visual Studio Code is a great tool to help you develop your custom Office Add-ins regardless if they are for Outlook, Word, Excel, PowerPoint and run in the web clients, Windows clients, iOS clients or on macOS!
Getting started
Open the project in Visual Studio Code by entering the following on the command line from within the same folder where you ran the generator:
Open the manifest.xml file that was created by Yo Office and locate the SourceLocation node. Update this URL to the URL where you will host the Add-in.
Tip: If you are using an Azure Web App as the host, the URL will look something like https://[name-of-your-web-app].azurewebsites.net/[path-to-add-in]. If you are using the self-hosted option listed above, it will be http://localhost:3000/[path-to-add-in].
Debugging your Office Add-in
VS Code does not currently support client-side debugging. To debug your client-side Add-in, you can use the Office web clients and open the browser's developer tools and debug the Add-in just like any other client-side JavaScript application.
If you are using Node.js or ASP.NET Core for server-side logic that supports your Office Add-in, refer to the Debugging page to configure VS Code for debugging either of these runtimes.
Install the Add-in
Office Add-ins must be installed, or registered, with the Office application in order to load. This is done using the manifest.xml file you modified earlier.
Side loading Mail Add-ins
Mail Add-ins can be installed within the Outlook Web App. Browse to your Outlook Web App and login. Once logged in, click the gear icon in the top-right section and select Manage add-ins:
On the Manage add-ins page, select the + icon and then select Add from a file.
Locate the manifest.xml file for your custom Add-in and install it, accepting all prompts when installing it.
Once that's done, select an existing email and you will see a horizontal bar below the email header that includes the Add-in:
Next try creating an email, click the Add-ins or Apps menu item to get the Task Pane to appear:
Select the Add-in and see it appear in the Task Pane:
Deploying Add-ins to the Office 365 Tenancy's App Catalog
Visual Studio Code Create Excel Addin
All Office Add-ins (including Mail Add-ins) can be installed from your Office 365 tenancy's App Catalog site. Log in to your Office 365 portal. In the left-hand navigation, towards the bottom, select the Admin / SharePoint option:
From the SharePoint Admin Center, select the Apps option in the left-hand menu and then select the App Catalog. On the App Catalog page, select the Apps for Office option and upload the manifest.xml file.
Install Content & Task Pane Add-ins in Word / Excel / PowerPoint
Depending on the type of Add-in you created, you can add it to one of the Office applications. Task Pane and Content Add-ins can be installed in Word, Excel & PowerPoint. Mail Add-ins can be installed in Outlook.
To install an Add-in within an Office application, select the Insert tab and click the Office Add-ins button, as shown here using the Excel Web App:
Using the Office Add-ins dialog you can select Add-ins you've uploaded to your Office 365 tenancy's App Catalog (listed under My Organization) or acquire Add-ins from the Office Store.
Next steps
Check out the other pages on the VS Code site to find out how you can leverage more capabilities of the editor when creating custom Office Add-ins:
- Language Overview - You can write Office Add-ins in many languages. Find out what VS Code has to offer.
- User Interface - Just starting out with VS Code? This is worth reviewing.
- Basic Editing - Learn about the powerful VS Code editor.
Common questions
Can I create an Office Add-in with the generator and use VS Code regardless of the language or client-side framework?
Using Excel In Visual Studio
Yes, you can. You can use pure HTML, Angular, Ember, React, Aurelia... anything you like!
Visual Studio Excel Reference
Can I use TypeScript to create my Office Add-in?
Absolutely, VS Code has great support for TypeScript!