Requirement: Can I use a spreadsheet to perform calculations and get the results back in my application?

I want to use a spreadsheet as a rules engine for my application. I have a process that requires complex and constantly changing calculations to be performed. I figure that the best way to automate this is to have my app send some parameter values into a spreadsheet, have that do the calculations and then return the value to my app.

The question is, can I do this from code without a load of effort and also without calling into Office Automation?



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Calculation engine in your .NET application
With the FarPoint spreadsheet products for .NET (Spread for Windows Forms and also Spread for Web Forms), there is a built in calculation engine that can be used integrated within the Spread control or as a standalone piece. The FarPoint Spread calculation engine has 320 of the Excel functions already built into the assembly and also the ability to add custom functions for calculations.
(C#, VB.Net\WinForms 2.0)