[Sample of June 29th] C++ application automates Excel application

[Sample of June 29th] C++ application automates Excel application:

Sample Download : http://code.msdn.microsoft.com/CppAutomateExcel-44214081 
The CppAutomateExcel example demonstrates how to write VC++ codes to create a Microsoft Excel instance, create a workbook, fill data into a specific range, save the workbook, close the Microsoft Excel application and then clean up unmanaged COM resources.
There are three basic ways you can write VC++ automation codes:
1. Automating Excel using the #import directive and smart pointers
The code in Solution1.h/cpp demonstrates the use of #import to automate Excel. #import (http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/8etzzkb6.aspx), a new directive that became available with Visual C++ 5.0, creates VC++ "smart pointers" from a specified type library. It is very powerful, but often not recommended because of reference-counting problems that typically occur when used with the Microsoft Office applications. Unlike the direct API approach in Solution2.h/cpp, smart pointers enable us to benefit from the type info to early/late bind the object. #import takes care of adding the messy guids to
the project and the COM APIs are encapsulated in custom classes that the #import directive generates.
2. Automating Excel using C++ and the COM APIs
The code in Solution2.h/cpp demontrates the use of C/C++ and the COM APIs to automate Excel. The raw automation is much more difficult, but it is sometimes necessary to avoid the overhead with MFC, or problems with #import. Basically, you work with such APIs as CoCreateInstance(), and COM interfaces such as IDispatch and IUnknown.
3. Automating Excel with MFC
With MFC, Visual C++ Class Wizard can generate "wrapper classes" from the type libraries. These classes simplify the use of the COM servers. Automating Excel with MFC is not covered in this sample.



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Pixlr Express Collage

Pixlr Express Collage:

I'm happy to say that I just uploaded a new version of express and with that update we added Collage.

Collage is one of the most requested features so I'm looking forward to see what you think of it.

Start creating new collage by clicking on the collage tile. (Pixlr Express)

This will bring up the default layout and the different settings can be seen the bottom.

Add images to your collage by clicking on the "Plus" button that hovers over the active tile. (Move your mouse over a square).

You can either select a single image or multi-select with your mouse (Hold down shift/cmd/ctrl).

You can move the image in the cell to show the part you prefer, you can also rearrange the images just by dragging and dropping them from one cell to another.













When you hover over an image there will be three controls visible in the top right corner.

Click replace to find a new image.

Edit will pull the image into edit mode, there you can rotate, crop, add effects and all the other things you find in the editor.

To remove the image just click the X.






In the settings panel you find different layouts, spacing, roundness, proportions and background color.

This is just the first release of Collage, I have more features in store for future releases so let us know what you think :)

Over and out!
Ola Sevandersson