Securing Visual Basic Code in Microsoft Excel

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In the example in this article, you compile an application into an add-in file. The interface for the application consists of two worksheets, which are copied into a new workbook when the add-in file is opened.

NOTE: To create an add-in that is compatible with Microsoft Excel 5.0 and 7.0 and Microsoft Excel 97, use the earliest version of Microsoft Excel in which the add-in will be used. For example, if you use Microsoft Excel 7.0 and Microsoft Excel 97, create the add-in in Microsoft Excel 7.0.

Microsoft provides programming examples for illustration only, without warranty either expressed or implied. This includes, but is not limited to, the implied warranties of merchantability or fitness for a particular purpose. This article assumes that you are familiar with the programming language that is being demonstrated and with the tools that are used to create and to debug procedures. Microsoft support engineers can help explain the functionality of a particular procedure, but they will not modify these examples to provide added functionality or construct procedures to meet your specific requirements.

Creating the Source Workbook File for the Add-In

To create the workbook, follow these steps:

1. Close and save any open workbooks, and then create a new workbook.
2. If the new workbook does not contain at least two worksheets, insert a new worksheet. To do this, click Worksheet on the Insert menu.
3. If the sheet tabs are not visible, click Options on the Tools menu, and then click the View tab. Click Sheet Tabs, and then click OK.
4. Double-click the Sheet1 tab. In the Rename Sheet dialog box, type "AddinSheet1" (without the quotation marks) in the Name Box, and then click OK.
5. Double-click the Sheet2 tab. In the Rename Sheet dialog box, type "AddinSheet2" (without the quotation marks) into the Name Box, and then click OK.
6. On the Insert menu, point to Macro, and then click Module to insert a Visual Basic module sheet into the workbook.
7. Type the following code into the module sheet:
   
   

          ' This subroutine copies the worksheets to use as the interface
          ' for the application into a new workbook each time that the
          ' add-in is opened.

   
   

          Sub Auto_Open()
   
              Dim NewBook As Workbook
              Dim Ctr As Integer
   
              Application.ScreenUpdating = False
              Application.DisplayAlerts = False
   
              ' Create a new workbook.
              Set NewBook = Workbooks.Add
   
              ' Copy the two worksheets into the new workbook.
              ThisWorkbook.Sheets(Array("AddinSheet1", "AddinSheet2")).Copy _
              before:=NewBook.Sheets(1)
   
              ' Delete all of the other sheets in the new workbook. The
              ' initial value of the counter is 1 greater than the number of
              ' worksheets that you want to copy into the new workbook.
              For Ctr = 3 To NewBook.Sheets.Count
   
                 NewBook.Sheets(3).Delete
   
              Next
   
          End Sub
   
          ' This sample demonstrates that any buttons that you place on the
          ' interface worksheets are still functional when the worksheets are
          ' copied into a new workbook.
          Sub Test()
   
              MsgBox "This is a test"
   
          End Sub
   						

8. Click AddinSheet1.
9. On the View menu, click Toolbars. In the Toolbars list, click Forms, and then click OK.
10. Draw a button on the worksheet using the Create Button tool.
11. In the Assign Macro dialog box, click Test in the list of available macros, and then click OK.
12. On the File menu, click Save. In the File Name box, type "Test.xls" (without the quotation marks), and then click Save.

Creating the Add-In File

To create the add-in file, follow these steps:

1. Switch to Module1.
2. On the Tools menu, click Make Add-In. In the File Name box, type "Test.xla" (without the quotation marks), and then click Save.
3. Close Test.xls.

You should have two files, Test.xls and Test.xla. The add-in file, Test.xla, is the file that you must distribute to your users. Microsoft recommends that you keep a copy of Test.xls because you will need it to update the add-in.

When you open Test.xla, a new workbook is created with two worksheets that are exact copies of the worksheets in the add-in file. If you click the button on AddinSheet1, the Test subroutine in the add-in file runs.

   add-ins, creating in Visual Basic