We recommend adding the type library if possible, since Visual Studio will automatically add a reference to the corresponding PIA, think-cell Excel Object model overview - Visual Studio (Windows)
Dim data(1 To 100, 1 To 2) ' fill array Range("A1:B100").Value = data
On a standard 64-bit Windows installation with 64-bit Microsoft 365 / Office 2016+: microsoft excel 16.0 object library
The is a COM-based library used to programmatically control Microsoft Excel from external applications (like Word, Access, or Visual Studio) or within Excel's own Visual Basic for Applications (VBA) environment. Version 16.0 specifically corresponds to Office 2016, 2019, 2021 , and Microsoft 365 . Core Purpose & Capabilities
When referenced in a development environment (e.g., VBA editor, Visual Studio), the library is listed as with the corresponding GUID 00020813-0000-0000-C000-000000000046 . We recommend adding the type library if possible,
| Object | Description | |------------------|-------------| | | Represents the Excel application itself. Controls global settings, events, and contains Workbooks. | | Workbook | Represents an Excel .xlsx , .xlsm , or .xls file. Contains Worksheets and Charts. | | Worksheets | A collection of Worksheet objects. Each sheet contains cells, ranges, and shapes. | | Worksheet | Represents a single sheet within a workbook. Access to Range, Cells, Columns, Rows. | | Range | Most commonly used object. Represents a cell, a row, a column, or a selection of cells. | | Charts | Chart sheet or embedded chart object. | | PivotTable | Allows creation and manipulation of PivotTable reports. | | Shapes | Represents drawing objects, pictures, buttons, etc. | | Names | Named ranges and formula names. |
The "Microsoft Excel 16.0 Object Library" is a library that provides a set of objects, properties, and methods that allow developers to interact with Microsoft Excel from other applications, such as Visual Basic for Applications (VBA), Visual Studio, or other programming environments. Contains Worksheets and Charts
The library includes newer objects like Workbook.Queries (Power Query), WorksheetFunction.Xlookup , and Range.CurrentArray for dynamic array formulas.
The is a Component Object Model (COM) type library that provides programmatic access to the Microsoft Excel application and its components. It acts as an interface between external applications (or VBA scripts within Excel itself) and the internal objects, methods, properties, and events of Excel 2016 (and later versions, depending on compatibility).
Generating Excel reports from a web backend using .NET or PowerShell.
The is a powerful and mature COM library that provides deep programmatic control over Excel. It is essential for anyone automating Excel tasks across the Microsoft Office ecosystem. While it requires careful resource management and awareness of version differences, its comprehensive object model—from Application down to Range —makes it the standard choice for generating, manipulating, and analyzing Excel workbooks from code.