Reference Libraries

Hi,

I'm developing an Add-In for microsoft office that will potentially
be used by many people. The Add-in needs to be compatible across
many versions of Microsoft Office products e.g. Office 97 onwards
(Although if it has to be office 2000 that is not so bad). It also
uses Word, Excel and Powerpoint.

I'm grapling with how to include Reference libraries, e.g. I know
how to manually include them in projects e.g. from the project
references choose the appropriate library e.g. "Microsoft Excel 11
Object Library", "Microsoft Access 8.0 Object Library" etc, etc.

I have developed the Add-in to work with the Office 97 reference
files, therefore it should be compatible (even if outdated) with
later versions of these files.

My first question is; If I compile the Add in with the latest
version of the reference files e.g. "Microsoft Excel 11 Object
library" (Office 2003), will that be backward compatible with
someone who has Excel '97 "Microsoft Excel 8.0 Object Library" on
their pc,

or

do I need to compile a separate version of the software for every
possible combination of office software that could be used on an end
users pc. aaaaahhhh!, please tell me this is not an option....

or

is there a way I can dynamically assign a reference library at
install time....


Any help would be appreciated, even point me in the direction of a
good book (I've searched for plenty, but can't seem to find
much).... maybe something on relaxation (attempted humour).....

Thanks in advance.
Peter Lilley

Anyone? Anyone?

I need the smae sort of thing anwered.

You need to use Late Binding. You can not set a reference to any other the versions.

For ex...

VB Code:

'Add a reference to MS Excel xx.0 Object library
 
Private Sub Command1_Click()
    dim oApp As Excel.Application
    Set oApp = New Excel.Application
    oApp.Visible = True
End Sub
 
'Late Binding:
'Do NOT add any references to any Office apps.
 
Private Sub Command1_Click()
    Dim oApp As Object
    Set oApp = CreateObject("Excel.Application")
    oApp.Visible = True
End Sub

Thanks Guys. I took the short cut. I put my VB code on a machine that had VB and EXCEL 97 made the link and compiled the code. This is not a distributable program but rather a one of a kind application that will only have to run on this one PC.

Yup, that will work too.
Just another way to skin a cat. :D

Thanks RobDog888 & GrilleGuy, I know I posted this way back in Feb (on multiple forums) and still didn't have an answer.

Much appreciated....

All Kudos go to RobDog888