How to Turn an Excel Spreadsheet into a Program (15 Steps)

By Chris Hoke

If you've created an Excel spreadsheet that performs calculations, you can create an executable program using the XCell Compiler utility. This will allow you to share the spreadsheet as a program file, obscuring the underlying formulas that make the calculations in binary format. You can also add your own splash screen, program icon and a license agreement that users must agree to in order to use the program.

Step 1

Download XCell Compiler (see Resources).

Step 2

Double-click the compressed file and extract it to a directory on your hard drive. Double-click the extracted "xcell.exe" file. Click the "Next" button, and then click "I Agree."

Step 3

Click the "Install" button, and then click "Finish" when the installation is complete.

Step 4

Click the "Start" button and choose "All Programs." Click "DoneEx," "XCell Compiler" and then "Click to Start." This will open the "Sample" spreadsheet file.

Step 5

Click the "File" menu and then "Open" to choose an Excel spreadsheet to convert to a program file. Click the file name, and then click "Open."

Step 6

Click the "Tools" menu, and choose "Macros -> Security." Choose the "Medium" security level, and then click "OK."

Step 7

Click the "DoneEx" menu, "XCell Compiler" and then "Compile."

Step 8

Click the "Close" button to dismiss the trial information message.

Step 9

Type a name in the "Application Name" text field. Type in an application version, if necessary.

Step 10

Type your email address or website URL into the "Author contact" text field. Click the "..." button next to the "Target path" to choose an output directory for the program file.

Step 11

Click the "..." button next to the "Splash image" text field, and choose an image file. The splash image is an image that appears on the screen for a few moments while the program is loading.

Step 12

Click the "..." button next to the "Icon" text field to choose an icon (ICO) file to use as the shortcut icon.

Step 13

Click the "..." button next to the "EULA," to choose a text file to display as the End User License Agreement.

Step 14

Type any program copyright information into the "Application legal copyright" text field. Click to place a check mark in the additional option boxes to allow users to save and import/export data from the program, or to include advanced protection when compiling the program

Step 15

Click the "Compile" button to create the executable program file from the spreadsheet.

References

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