For Excel automation, look to SoftArtisans OfficeWriter.
You can basically
take your Excel sheet and turn it into a template that is
then populated
server-side with values based on (whatever you want -- user
input, some
wizard, etc). It's quite slick.
Steve
--
Steven A Smith
President, http://ASPAlliance.com
Microsoft Regional Director | Microsoft ASP.NET MVP |
ASPInsider
ssmith aspalliance.com
-----Original Message-----
From: Doug K. Wilson [mailto:dougfridge.com]
Sent: Wednesday, September 06, 2006 8:12 PM
To: aspnet-architectureaspadvice.com
Subject: [aspnet-architecture] RE: Complex Spreadsheet to
ASP.NET
Thanks for the responses so far!
> What is the output supposed to look like?
The application is a financial calculator. The output is a
series of graphs
and tables for monthly and annual performance ranging over a
period of 10-25
years. Over that range we need to compare the actual
performance against
the baseline, continually updating the actuals
(monthly/quarterly).
Additionally, some of the initial variables can change over
time as well,
for example, the prime interest rate. These changes must be
applied to both
the baseline and the actual from that point forward.
What I'm really looking for is ideas on how to approach the
Data Model, and
specifically, the bit where the computed values are
overridden with actual
values.
When I take a step back and look at this problem, the
existing spreadsheet
does the job really well. The reasons for turning it into
an application
(web or otherwise) are to protect the formulas from the
users and make it
safer to distribute. (Currently they get messed up quite
easily and because
of the need to override a computed value with an actual
value, we can't
simply apply protection to the cells. Well, that and a lot
of the users are
not technically savvy. Introducing a wizard like process
for initial setups
and regular updates will make a lot of people very happy.)
If there was a way to safely automate Excel server side,
that would be a
good solution. Unfortunately that is not the case and while
I'm sure I
don't need to create (or license) a "server
safe" spreadsheet, I am looking
to get part way there: spreadsheet like calculation
functionality without a
user interface.
Any more thoughts?
dw
-----Original Message-----
From: Tim Curtin [mailto:tjc_tekhotmail.com]
Sent: Wednesday, September 06, 2006 2:01 PM
To: aspnet-architectureaspadvice.com
Subject: [aspnet-architecture] RE: Complex Spreadsheet to
ASP.NET
if the # of input controls are fixed. then put a 'submit'
button and
double-click it to create a server-side event handler. Then
do a boat-load
of if statements based on each of the input fields storing
values/defaults
in variables. Then at the end of the routing do your
calculation.
What is the output supposed to look like?
>From: "Doug K. Wilson" <dougfridge.com>
>Reply-To: aspnet-architectureaspadvice.com
>To: aspnet-architectureaspadvice.com
>Subject: [aspnet-architecture] Complex Spreadsheet to
ASP.NET
>Date: Wed, 6 Sep 2006 13:28:23 -0700
>
>Hi All,
>
>I'm just starting down the road of converting a very
complex Excel
>spreadsheet into a multi-user web based application. As
you would
>expect, there are a lot of functions and formulas spread
across many
>worksheets that will need to be turned into business
logic and have a
>user interface applied. There is no need to emulate a
spreadsheet
here,
>as all of the calculations are based off about a dozen
user entered
>values. Where it gets interesting is that as time
progresses,
>calculated values need to be overridden with actual
values and
>re-incorporated into the remaining calculations.
>
>I'm a bit of a loss at where to start, specifically
with managing the
>sheer number of calculations that need to be done. I'd
appreciate any
>suggestions, especially regarding architecture and/or
book
>recomendations.
>
>TIA
>
>Doug Wilson
>
>
>
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