xlserialize.h

xlserialize.h contains classes that allow you to convert Excel argument and result types to and from a byte array.

This behavior is useful for several reasons:

Cacheing results. The byte array can be used as an efficient key to a map. This means you can very easily cache the results of an add-in function in a map keyed by its inputs. The CXlOperCache class implements this behavior.
Persistence. A byte array can be saved to file explicitly, or can be saved as binary data with any worksheet. You can use the CXllApp::SaveBinaryData() method with CXlSerialData to save hidden data in worksheets.
Messaging. The byte array can be passed along pipes or other simple channels, between threads, processes or machines.

Class	Description
CXlOStream	A stream wrapper that allows the output of Excel native types to STL output streams.
CXlOStrStream	A class that converts Excel native types to in-memory byte arrays.
CXlIStream	A stream wrapper that allows the input of Excel native types from STL input streams.
CXlIStrStream	A class that reads Excel native types from in-memory byte arrays.
CXlSerialData	A byte array containing native and Excel data types.
CXlInputKey	A specialised instance of serialized data, which contains all the inputs to an add-in function, as a byte array.
CXlOperCache	A data store holding the results of functions, keyed by the values of all inputs.
CXlCacheBinding	A connection between a function and a cache that automatically updates the cache as the function exits.