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Our use case is a document that is generated according to some business rules, but the index is not updated. We've created a macro that updates the index, so we need a way to be able to run the macro from that document. Is there any way?
The only way I can think of is to use the new RPA Excel features.
https://docs.appian.com/suite/help/23.2/rpa-9.1/actions-excel-license-required.html
Actually, I had considered that. We have a UiPath team, and I had thought about creating an RPA to perform that function, but Stefan seems to be a solution that requires a lot of effort for the value it provides.
Another option that comes to mind is creating a plugin that executes macros based on a document, but I still think it requires a lot of effort for the value it brings.
Can you think of any other option? I don't believe we're the first ones to have the need to execute macros in Excel.
My secret to such "requirements" is, to push them back and provide an alternative way.
I think that trying to develop a Java plugin to execute macros in Excel is not exactly a simple task.
If you still "have to" do it this way, I think that RPA is your least painful option.
Thank you very much Stefan, I agree with you, we will surely use RPA, but it strikes me that appian does not have this common functionality, or that there is no plugin for this, I see it as a very common use case. What do you think ?
In my humble opinion, Excel has no place in Appian. I understand that business people love their Excel, but this is only because it is the tool they know best. With Appian, we can provide solutions far superior to anything you can build in Excel. At least when building a process driven application.
And, yes Excel has its use cases.
Read this blog post as context: https://appian.rocks/2022/12/05/make-software-conduct-the-process/