Microsoft Office 2000 Developer

The tools included in this package

• Ease database-connectivity setup,
• allow you to archive code for reuse,
• manage code versions during development,
• enable you to distribute applications efficiently.

The COM Add-In Designer allows you to create COM-compliant Dynamic Link Libraries (DLL files) in the VBE without having to keep a copy of the full Visual Basic development environment on hand. The Designer also takes care of relevant Registry duties, enabling your Office applications to find and use your DLLs.

Also included is a project template, with which you can build Office 2000-aware COM Add-Ins in Visual Basic 6 (and maybe 5.0, if you're willing to do some finagling). COM modules are an important part of proper application design in the Microsoft universe, and this tool is a relatively inexpensive way to build them. Be aware that these COM Add-Ins are for Office applications only; you can't refer to a .DLL created with this tool from a regular Visual Basic executable.

Code Librarian is nifty in that it illustrates one of the key advantages of object orientation: reusability of code. This VBE add-in maintains a database of functions, modules, and code snippets (hundreds of such bits and pieces ship with this product, and you can add your own easily). You can sort through the elements using a category tree or a keyword search, get summary information on code elements (including the purpose, parameters, and return value of each), and easily copy them into your own projects.

Visual SourceSafe (VSS) provides professional-level code management capabilities, making it easy to check files in and out of a central registry. You need something like this if you're part of a busy development group, and Microsoft has integrated VSS into VBE rather well.

The database tools included in this package are cool too. You can use Microsoft Database Engine (MSDE) as a royalty-free bridge product for workgroups that probably will grow big enough for SQL Server someday but haven't yet. Data Environment Designer allows you to establish connectivity between an Office application and a remote database relatively easily.

If you're doing large-scale development work with VBA, you'll want the tools this kit provides (particularly if COM Add-Ins and remote data access are part of your plan). Despite some rather poor documentation, Microsoft Office 2000 Developer gets the job done. --David Wall