XLL+ Class Library (7.0)

Testing & debugging in Visual Studio

Open the add-in

As soon as Excel starts, it will attempt to open the Debug build of your add-in. (This is because the XLL+ AppWizard set the "Command Arguments" property of the configuration to "$(TargetDir)/Tutorial1.xll" when the project was created.)

Use the add-in function

In Excel, type a NORMSDIST2(...) formula into a spreadsheet. Under Excel 2007 and above, you'll see your new function appear in the auto-complete list, as shown below:

Once the formula is entered, you'll see the result.

Set a break-point

Switch to Visual Studio - you do not need to close Excel to do so. Select Tutorial1.cpp and use the F9 key (or the right-mouse menu) to add a break-point to the add-in function, as shown below.

Force a recalculation

Force a formula cell to recalculate. The easiest way to this is to go to the cell you want to recalculate (in this case, cell B1) and click on the F2 key then the Enter key. (Alternatively, you can simply change the value in cell A1.)

After you press Enter, Excel will call the add-in function and the Visual Studio debugger will break at the break-point. You can step through the lines of the function (with F10 and F11) or continue (with F5).

Close Excel and return to Visual Studio. We are now ready to add another add-in function.

Next: Functions with variable return types >>