Any recommended C++ readings?

[Eric.Z]

Hey guys, I am teaching myself creating C++ dlls for excel. I find it hard to learn by myself. I am thinking i might miss some key knowledge underlying the ideas of creating C++ dlls. I have some experience of programming console applications using devC++ and CodeLite, but I am new to VS2010 and have no win32 programming experience before. Below is a list of cs courses I have taken. C++, data structure, assembly language and computer organization and algorithm analysis.

Would you guys recommend any readings for me to catch up? Any advice would be appreciated.

 

[Ilya W]

Hey guys, I am teaching myself creating C++ dlls for excel. I find it hard to learn by myself. I am thinking i might miss some key knowledge underlying the ideas of creating C++ dlls. I have some experience of programming console applications using devC++ and CodeLite, but I am new to VS2010 and have no win32 programming experience before. Below is a list of cs courses I have taken. C++, data structure, assembly language and computer organization and algorithm analysis.

Would you guys recommend any readings for me to catch up? Any advice would be appreciated.

Try this two:

XLL development (if I remember right first 4 or 5 chapters dealing with simple dll approach and explanation of difference b/w data types in vb/vba and c++)
Excel Add-in Development in C/C++: Applications in Finance

Excel Automation approach.
C# in Front Office: Advanced C# in Practice
Excel->C#->C++/CLI wrapper->C++ (Chapter 4)

Unfortunately, if you start from the scratch both ways is real headache and there is no much literature on both topics.

 

[Eric.Z]

Do you think any win 32 programming experience would be helpful? I am thinking maybe I should start from programming windows applications.

 

[Ilya W]

Do you think any win 32 programming experience would be helpful? I am thinking maybe I should start from programming windows applications.

Anything could be helpful, but it is very specific area, so hard to say here...
Also worth note that there are many products on market using which you can really simplify your life, couple of examples are:

http://exceldna.codeplex.com/
http://www.add-in-express.com/docs/net-excel-udf-tips.php#udf-choose