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General => The Campus => Topic started by: digelo on February 02, 2013, 11:36:04 AM

Title: Accessing Excel.xls files
Post by: digelo on February 02, 2013, 11:36:04 AM
Hi
Is there anyway to accessing Excel files without having excel or something installed? (for saving my data into excel sels)
Title: Re: Accessing Excel.xls files
Post by: dedndave on February 02, 2013, 11:40:49 AM
i think Open Office and Libre Office will open them
the XLS format is fairly well documented

for simple things, store it as a CSV file (probably what you want)
you can store the data, but not the cell formulas
Title: Re: Accessing Excel.xls files
Post by: Magnum on February 02, 2013, 11:53:29 AM
I would do an advanced search here using "freeware open xls" or xls file editor.

http://us.yhs4.search.yahoo.com/web/advanced?ei=UTF-8&fr=altavista&p=
Title: Re: Accessing Excel.xls files
Post by: digelo on February 02, 2013, 11:59:57 AM
Quote from: dedndave on February 02, 2013, 11:40:49 AM
the XLS format is fairly well documented

is there any Library that i can use it in my masm32 software?
Title: Re: Accessing Excel.xls files
Post by: dedndave on February 02, 2013, 12:57:31 PM
i am sure there are
i did a quick search and found one for C++ and one for .NET   ::)
you just have to look farther

i did come across these links that may be helpful

http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/cc313118.aspx (http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/cc313118.aspx)
http://www.openoffice.org/sc/excelfileformat.pdf (http://www.openoffice.org/sc/excelfileformat.pdf)
Title: Re: Accessing Excel.xls files
Post by: dedndave on February 02, 2013, 01:08:43 PM
i just remembered
seems like there was something in the old forum
let me look over there
Title: Re: Accessing Excel.xls files
Post by: dedndave on February 02, 2013, 01:20:52 PM
had a little luck, there

the ObjAsm32 project by BiteRider seems to include something called ExcelHost
BiteRider is a very active and proficient coder
the library uses COM, so it is not super-simple   :P
but, support is probably available - maybe a sub-forum for it, over there

http://www.asmcommunity.net/projects/objasm32/ (http://www.asmcommunity.net/projects/objasm32/)

some other links i found
there were 17 pages of people using the word "excellent" - lol
i didn't go through them all

http://www.masmforum.com/board/index.php?topic=14456.msg116567#msg116567 (http://www.masmforum.com/board/index.php?topic=14456.msg116567#msg116567)
http://www.masmforum.com/board/index.php?topic=14397.0 (http://www.masmforum.com/board/index.php?topic=14397.0)
Title: Re: Accessing Excel.xls files
Post by: Magnum on February 02, 2013, 02:00:20 PM
Microsoft Excel is a spreadsheet application developed by Microsoft for Microsoft Windows and Mac OS X. It features calculation, graphing tools, pivot tables, and a macro programming language called Visual Basic for Applications. It has been a very widely applied spreadsheet for these platforms, especially since version 5 in 1993, and it has replaced Lotus 1-2-3 as the industry standard for spreadsheets. Excel forms part of Microsoft Office. The current versions are 2013 for Microsoft Windows[1] and 2011 for Mac OS X.[2]

Is Excel now abandonware ?

Title: Re: Accessing Excel.xls files
Post by: dedndave on February 02, 2013, 02:03:03 PM
i doubt it - office is a big money maker
Title: Re: Accessing Excel.xls files
Post by: Magnum on February 02, 2013, 02:12:26 PM
SuperDave,

I reported you to m.s.   Just kidding.

You have nothing to worry about.

I suspect that I am on a m.s. hit-list.

I think a lot of folks are scared of m.s.

I have posted legitimate questions and tried my best to be objective.

I compliment good work.

There are times when the ten foot pole marks hurt.

Later gals and guys,
                                  Andy



Title: Re: Accessing Excel.xls files
Post by: jj2007 on February 02, 2013, 04:44:35 PM
Andy,

GelSheet (http://www.gelsheet.org/demos/offline/) might be worth a try:
GelSheet is a free and open source web spreadsheet that allow users to create, edit and export in many formats your everyday work.

It's intended to run either standalone or integrated within another web tool.
Similar: BlueShoes (http://www.blueshoes.org/en/javascript/spreadsheet/) and this impressive EditGrid demo (http://www.editgrid.com/explore/tnc/dave/CIA_Factbook?ro=1). Finally, Gnumeric (http://gnumeric-spreadsheet.software.informer.com/) seems interesting, too.

hth,
Jochen

@Dave: Use "excel" with brackets to tell Google that it is not excellent ;-)
Title: Re: Accessing Excel.xls files
Post by: Magnum on February 02, 2013, 05:02:50 PM
Quote from: jj2007 on February 02, 2013, 04:44:35 PM
Andy,

hth,
Jochen

@Dave: Use "excel" with brackets to tell Google that it is not excellent ;-)

So, are brackets code for P.O.S. ?

Dave will know what that means.  :t

Bis morgen,
                   Andy
Title: Re: Accessing Excel.xls files
Post by: Vortex on February 02, 2013, 08:58:05 PM
Gnumeric - The GNOME Office Spreadsheet

QuoteThe Gnumeric spreadsheet is part of the GNOME desktop environment: a project to create a free, user friendly desktop environment.

Gnumeric will import your existing Microsoft Excel files. Import filters also exist for Lotus 1-2-3, Applix, Sylk, XBase, Open Office, Quattro Pro, Dif, Plan Perfect, and Oleo files, but these import filters are less complete.

http://projects.gnome.org/gnumeric/

http://portableapps.com/apps/office/gnumeric_portable
Title: Re: Accessing Excel.xls files
Post by: dedndave on February 03, 2013, 12:07:22 AM
Jochen - yes - google is nice
in fact, there are a few nice tricks that can be used with google
although - lately, they have modified their format - it's going backwards, if you ask me

but the old masm forum search tool isn't as robust
Title: Re: Accessing Excel.xls files
Post by: Magnum on February 03, 2013, 01:34:59 AM
Speaking of Excel, it's hijacked all .csv files and insists on using their icon instead of the icon of a freeware program Anger Writer.

On a side note, I wonder why 168 icons of just one type are really necessary ?

I am working on a "variable shield harmonics discombobulater." CSV will not stay assimilated.  :t

I forgot the exact wording,  but "Sometimes you just have to get down to the hardware."

Andy
Title: Re: Accessing Excel.xls files
Post by: dedndave on February 03, 2013, 01:46:49 AM
use .TXT
Title: Re: Accessing Excel.xls files
Post by: Magnum on February 03, 2013, 05:29:19 AM
Since I bought the software, it's reasonable to expect it to work.

Andy

If necessary, a M.I.F. may be necessary.  :t

Title: Re: Accessing Excel.xls files
Post by: Vortex on February 03, 2013, 08:27:00 PM
Quote from: Magnum on February 03, 2013, 01:34:59 AM
Speaking of Excel, it's hijacked all .csv files and insists on using their icon instead of the icon of a freeware program Anger Writer.

Hi Magnum,

You will have to tweak the registry or play with the settings of the freeware application to restore the original file associations.
Title: Re: Accessing Excel.xls files
Post by: dedndave on February 03, 2013, 11:23:43 PM
QuoteSince I bought the software, it's reasonable to expect it to work.

you'll pardon me if that makes me laugh, a little   :biggrin:
Title: Re: Accessing Excel.xls files
Post by: Magnum on February 04, 2013, 12:43:41 AM
Glad you see some humor in this situation.

It's not all that funny for me right know.

I am finding freeware replacements for some of the Office 2010 functions that I like to use.

Then I will be able to give Office 2010 the heave ho and tell it "Don't let the door hit your ar*se on the way out.  :icon14:

Then my Office 2000 will be free of the "bully."

I found something humorous yesterday.

Microsoft has a page on how to revert back to sp2.

It says "sometimes some programs behave differently when a service pack is installed and reverting to an earlier service pack can be used in troubleshooting."

I think the non-lawyer version of that statement might be more understandable if it was worded thusly

In the process of making this service pack, we decided that some things had to go and we didn't have time to list what would not work anymore or blah blah blah in the service pack description.

When you buy our software, it is time limited. Regards, B.G.  ;)

Gotta get back to finishing an outline for a Bug-Hunter-Repairer-Surgeon program that I will be working on.

Andy (Bill G.s brother)




Title: Re: Accessing Excel.xls files
Post by: dedndave on February 04, 2013, 12:57:12 AM
if you have to remove XP SP3, you will be happier to rebuild from scratch - lol
Title: Re: Accessing Excel.xls files
Post by: Magnum on February 04, 2013, 07:58:09 AM
My install disk is sp2.

Are you suggesting going lower and manually installing security updates ?
Title: Re: Accessing Excel.xls files
Post by: dedndave on February 04, 2013, 08:09:57 AM
i always manually install them, although i go a little past SP3

what i am saying is - SP3 does not usually uninstall cleanly, as far as i know
you are likely to end up with a buggy system
Title: Re: Accessing Excel.xls files
Post by: Magnum on February 04, 2013, 08:52:04 AM
I am only considering going back to sp2 to ascertain if sp3 is interferring with some of the programs on my computer.

Some m.s. gurus and a few weinerheads predicted the "end of the world" if I did so.  :dazzled:

I recall sp3 caused problems with faxing documents and it stopped autoplay with pen drives.



Title: Re: Accessing Excel.xls files
Post by: dedndave on February 04, 2013, 09:02:46 AM
well - give it a shot - see how it goes
i don't know about fax - haven't done that for some time

as for autoplay - that is a security issue
they probably turn it off because a pen-drive can have a virus on it
much of what SP3 installs has to do with security
and - they "fixed" a lot of security issues by disabling things and prompting the user   ::)
i don't remember what i did - i must have checked a box to enable it or something

worse comes to worse, autoplay handlers follow a chain in the registry
and you can always make your own chain
a bit involved - but a good way to learn about the registry   :P
Title: Re: Accessing Excel.xls files
Post by: Magnum on February 04, 2013, 09:21:20 AM
I would like to get back and fix the file handling problem.

I thought about getting a registry export from someone who is using XP Pro sp3.

I think importing someone else key entries for this using qeditor as the editor would narrow down the problem.

I plan on being on this problem "like white on rice."

HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\txtfile

I'll recap the problem.

Something is preventing the correct icon from being displayed in explorer.

I will attach a pic.

Andy
Title: Re: Accessing Excel.xls files
Post by: dedndave on February 04, 2013, 09:35:30 AM
and - you want it to be a QE icon ?

the easy way is to use Folder Options, File Types tab

(http://img832.imageshack.us/img832/7285/filetypes.png)

click the Advanced button and change the icon
you will have to browse to where QE.exe is and select one
Title: Re: Accessing Excel.xls files
Post by: dedndave on February 04, 2013, 09:36:54 AM
now - if the problem is something else....

let's say you want it to open with NotePad again, you can do that by editing the Open "action" in the actions list
and - make Open the default action
Title: Re: Accessing Excel.xls files
Post by: dedndave on February 04, 2013, 09:39:45 AM
if you change the actions or icons for .TXT files, it may change them for other file types that are perceived text files, as well
if this happens, you can create a new Programmatic Identifier for text files
when you do this using the snap-in, it names them something like ft0001, ft0002, etc
but - you can create your own programmatic identifier and name it any unique name you choose

this should be done in HKLM\Software\Classes

then - change the programmatic identifier in
HKLM\Software\Classes\.txt
that is the "default value" or "@" if you export it or merge it from a .REG file
edit it to point to your new programmatic identifier and edit the actions with the snap in (or manually)
Title: Re: Accessing Excel.xls files
Post by: Magnum on February 04, 2013, 10:51:59 AM
Look again at the picture and note the icon that is displayed.

There will be a short quiz.  :t
Title: Re: Accessing Excel.xls files
Post by: dedndave on February 04, 2013, 12:50:31 PM
unless my eyes are worse than i thought, it looks like the standard windows icon for text files
what am i missing ?   :biggrin:
Title: Re: Accessing Excel.xls files
Post by: Magnum on February 04, 2013, 02:18:25 PM
It's set to open with Qeditor which it does.

Even I set it to open with another editor, the icon is again unchanged. ??

I don't know if it's Microdaft or as Captain Picard's calls an "anomaly". 

I asked some M.S. C++ programmers for help with my PSDK installation where it kept trying to reinstall whenever I logged in.

They didn't know what a PSDK was..Maybe the O.S. is being farmed out.

I believe I read that many o.s.'s are written in C with some inline assembly.

I read where they lost one of their versions of DOS code.

Andy

Title: Re: Accessing Excel.xls files
Post by: japheth on February 04, 2013, 06:44:43 PM
Quote from: Magnum on February 04, 2013, 02:18:25 PM
Even I set it to open with another editor, the icon is again unchanged. ??

Perhaps it is because the new editor doesn't bother to change the entry DefaultIcon in the registry? It usually points to a resource in shell32.dll ( see the attached picture ).

If I change the resource from -152 to, say, -151, the icon will change after explorer has restarted ( to make explorer terminate, you'll have to a) select "Shut Down" in the Start menu, then b) hold down shift, ctrl + alt keys and click "Cancel". Once it's terminated, you can restart it via Ctrl-Alt-Del and Task Manager. ).



Title: Re: Accessing Excel.xls files
Post by: Magnum on February 05, 2013, 12:52:35 AM
Thanks for the info.

Will get back,

TinyWatcher just found some driver files that were created in my system32 directory. ??

I am investigating them.

Andy
Title: Re: Accessing Excel.xls files
Post by: japheth on February 05, 2013, 11:03:10 PM
Quote from: Magnum on February 05, 2013, 12:52:35 AM
Will get back,

TinyWatcher just found some driver files that were created in my system32 directory. ??

No problem. Actually, I would have been rather surprised if no distraction had occured. Like in the good, old soap operas of the old days it's always a good idea to have a handful of threads open concurrently - to ensure that the audience's attention will not fade away.

Btw., I'm still eager to learn how the "MS vs. msfn.org" challenge ( http://masm32.com/board/index.php?topic=1328.0  (http://masm32.com/board/index.php?topic=1328.0) ) is going on and can't wait to read how the riddle is finally solved. Would be uncool if the thread is just terminated so abruptly - in good soaps, there's always a "solution", an "explanation"; it doesn't matter if it's silly, bizarre or absurd. And you did promise not to give up, if I may remind you!