FYI: We absolutely *love* the WebUpdate component, and you people have the *correct* attitude: developers don't want to have to include any further dll's, ocx's, or other "bloatware"-related stuff. We want a simple, efficient, clean solution that works, and that's what we get from TMS!
Another vote for Flexcel here, since the rewritten and updated Flexcel came out a year or two ago, I only use that. Mostly I use it to read XLS and XLSX files, which it does much faster and more flexibly than Excel automation, in my experience. If you also need to write XLS and XLSX files (which I do occasionally) Flexcel has the most amazing utility named 'ApiMate'. You can design your output report in Excel, including only a minimum of actual data, but with all the detailed formatting, headings, and column, row and cell properties you need. Then point ApiMate at the Excel file, and it generates a Delphi program to write the entire XLS file using the Flexcel API, with all the attributes matching those you created in Excel itself. It is then the work of a few moments to adapt the ApiMate-created functions to handle your real data. Magic! Flexcel support is prompt and helpful, too.
- Tim Frost
3 minutes from submission of support question to supply of answer. Now how slow is that ? :) :) ;) I seriously just don't think you guys can get any better at this !!! ... I'm starting my weekend stunned !
- Pete Barrett via email
Wow, I'm really impressed that you found this out in such a short time!
Thanks especially for testing it with Softmaker Office itself and with some more elaborate spreadsheets, this makes me confident that it'll work with the "real life" files that I have to handle.
Super service!
- Arthur Hoornweg
The email was a genuine query but it was also a test as to how quick you were to respond to user questions and you passed that with flying colours. I am very impressed with your company and the quality of the controls you have to offer.
