You may want to consider using a high level language such as Python,
adding your simple API/wrapper to access their a db. Basically, the
way it works is that your users would author/maintain scripts that do
whatever, so you'd just need to expose and maintain a simple API in
python that does what you need. Python is easy to pick up and sounds
perfect for the users you've described. At the same time, your more
advanced users could be start to use some of python's more advanced
mathematical tools, potentially adding a lot of value to your project.
If the existing macros are highly mathematical in nature, your could
embed python in a GUI app and then make a simple UI that allows them
to be just adding the meat of algorithms.
Andy
On May 19, 2008, at 4:28 PM, david craig wrote:
I am in need of some suggestions. My father is a toxicologist who
has a project that has outgrown its current tools, and is also a
victim of the axing of VBA from Mac Excel 08. They need to move
beyond Excel anyway, but the passing of VBA support means loss of
cross-platform capability, which is essential for this project. (I
do know about the recent annoncement signaling the return of VBA in
a future version, but given the uncertainties, that's not really
material at the moment.)
The project, as it currently exists, is (very) large Excel
spreadsheet that contains a (very) large quantity of data which is
processed by an increasingly complex sequence of VBA macros to
produce yet more data. Development work is done by a number of
individuals responsible for different portions, some using Mac OS
and some using Windows.
When data is to be distributed to end users, the macros are stripped
out and a version with only the final data in the spreadhseet is
made public.
As I said, the size and complexity has increased to near Excel's
breaking point even without the VBA issue. None of the people
involved are programmers per se, but I imagine the individual doing
the VBA coding would be willing to learn something new if it were
going to be of long term value to the project.
ANYWAY, the need is to find a program or environment which
(i) will enable continued cross-platform development
(ii) supports some form of fairly sophisticated macro programming
for processing the data
(iii) can handle processing of a large quantity of data.
(iv) Can ultimately output the results of said processing as a
spreadsheet containing just the results.
It doesn't have to be free. I'm sure the project grant can support
a new environment so long as it's something to which it can commit
long-term.
I have various vague notions of possibilities, but I've not done
anything quite like this, so I'm really not qualified to make expert
suggestions with any confidence.
PLEASE keep in mind that none of the people involved are programmers
or computer geeks. They're scientists with specialties in other
areas -- I'm still the one who solves most of my father's computer
problems, for example. The person who does the VBA programming
probably could handle something equivalent at that level, but I
think whatever I suggest can't reach much beyond that level of demand.
I hope I've said enough to make clear what the needs are. Is there
anything out there that fits the bill?
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