I am consious that this is a VBA discussion group. However I have a few
questions that pertain to the move away from VBA. Hopefully I am not too off
topic here.

Question 1:
Can someone explain to me the difference between creating and VBA Add-in
(xla) in Excel vs creating a Com Add-in vs creating a DLL? My understanding
is that as VBA is the embedded language in Excel, you can create VBA based
xla files (distributable personal workbooks). Whereas pure VB (VB 6.0 or VB
2005) is not embedded in Excel and thus the code which you create cannot be
in the form of an xla Add-in but some other type (i.e. Com or DLL). Is this
correct? The reason I ask this is I am playing around with VB 2005. I am
assuming it would no longer be an add-in. Can it be initiated through Excel
via menus (like an XLA)?

Question2:
I have been assuming that there would be some benefits from moving from VBA
to VB (aside from the negative issues of VB not being the imbedded language
in Excel). One being better security (i.e. strong password protection),
strong regular expression engine, distrubution/install options. Is this
correct?

Question3:
Lastly, I also hear alot about people wanting to create Excel Tools in C++
or in C# (rather than VB). What are people looking to gain by the C++ or C#
route? I have heard that C++ is faster but I don't really understand why and
how this would be evidient in Excel. Are the beneifts of C++ also found in
C#? Why chose C# vs C++?

Thanks