ComAutoWrapper 1.1.5.2

.NET 9.0 This package targets .NET 9.0. The package is compatible with this framework or higher.
There is a newer version of this package available.
See the version list below for details. 
dotnet add package ComAutoWrapper --version 1.1.5.2
                    


                    

                
NuGet\Install-Package ComAutoWrapper -Version 1.1.5.2
This command is intended to be used within the Package Manager Console in Visual Studio, as it uses the NuGet module's version of Install-Package. 
<PackageReference Include="ComAutoWrapper" Version="1.1.5.2" />
For projects that support PackageReference, copy this XML node into the project file to reference the package. 
<PackageVersion Include="ComAutoWrapper" Version="1.1.5.2" />
                    


                            Directory.Packages.props
                        

                    

                
<PackageReference Include="ComAutoWrapper" />
                    


                            Project file
For projects that support Central Package Management (CPM), copy this XML node into the solution Directory.Packages.props file to version the package. 
paket add ComAutoWrapper --version 1.1.5.2
                    


                    

                
#r "nuget: ComAutoWrapper, 1.1.5.2"
#r directive can be used in F# Interactive and Polyglot Notebooks. Copy this into the interactive tool or source code of the script to reference the package. 
#:package ComAutoWrapper@1.1.5.2
#:package directive can be used in C# file-based apps starting in .NET 10 preview 4. Copy this into a .cs file before any lines of code to reference the package. 
#addin nuget:?package=ComAutoWrapper&version=1.1.5.2
                    


                            Install as a Cake Addin
                        

                    

                
#tool nuget:?package=ComAutoWrapper&version=1.1.5.2
                    


                            Install as a Cake Tool

ComAutoWrapper

ComAutoWrapper is a lightweight, zero-Interop, fluent C# helper library for automating COM objects such as Excel and Word — without relying on bulky Primary Interop Assemblies (PIAs).

✔️ Fully dynamic
✔️ Typed property/method access
✔️ Introspectable
✔️ Ideal for WPF / Console / WinForms projects
✔️ Just ~30 KB compiled DLL

🚀 Features

  • No Interop DLLs needed
  • Lightweight COM helper for C#
  • Elegant dynamic wrappers:
    • GetProperty<T>(), SetProperty()
    • CallMethod<T>()
  • COM introspection (ComTypeInspector)
  • Excel selection utilities (ComSelectionHelper)
  • Safe release of COM objects
  • Compatible with: .NET 6, 7, 8, 9+

🧠 Examples

Get/Set COM Properties

var excel = Activator.CreateInstance(Type.GetTypeFromProgID("Excel.Application")!);
ComInvoker.SetProperty(excel, "Visible", true);

var workbooks = ComInvoker.GetProperty<object>(excel, "Workbooks");
var workbook = ComInvoker.CallMethod<object>(workbooks, "Add");

Invoke COM Methods

var sheet = ComInvoker.GetProperty<object>(workbook, "ActiveSheet");
var cell = ComInvoker.GetProperty<object>(sheet, "Cells");
ComInvoker.SetProperty(cell, "Item", new object[] { 1, 1 }, "Hello");

Introspect COM Object

var (methods, propsGet, propsSet) = ComTypeInspector.ListMembers(sheet);
Console.WriteLine("Available methods:");
methods.ForEach(Console.WriteLine);

✨ Excel-Specific Helpers (Optional)

Provided via the built-in ComSelectionHelper:

Method Description
SelectCells(excel, sheet, "A1", "B3", "C5") Selects non-contiguous Excel cells
GetSelectedCellCoordinates(excel) Returns (row, column) for each selected cell
HighlightUsedRange(sheet) Highlights the used range with color

These helpers abstract away the quirks of Excel's COM object model.

📦 NuGet Package

Install via CLI:

dotnet add package ComAutoWrapper

Or via Visual Studio NuGet UI.

💻 Requirements

  • Windows OS (COM-based)
  • .NET 6 / 7 / 8 / 9
  • Microsoft Excel/Word must be installed

The library does not embed Interop DLLs. It uses late binding with proper error handling.

🔗 Related Project

📊 Comparison: OpenXML vs COM Automation

Feature OpenXML SDK ComAutoWrapper
Requires Excel Installed ❌ ✅
Works on Locked/Password Files ❌ ✅
Manipulate Active Excel Instance ❌ ✅
Word Automation ❌ ✅
File Size (DLL) >10 MB ~30 KB
API Simplicity Moderate High (fluent & dynamic)
Cell Selection / UI Interaction ❌ ✅
UsedRange / Borders / Colors ❌ ✅

🙏 Acknowledgment

This library is the result of an iterative collaboration between the author and ChatGPT.
Special thanks to all early testers and contributors who shaped the API.

📄 License

MIT

Product Compatible and additional computed target framework versions.
.NET net9.0 is compatible.  net9.0-android was computed.  net9.0-browser was computed.  net9.0-ios was computed.  net9.0-maccatalyst was computed.  net9.0-macos was computed.  net9.0-tvos was computed.  net9.0-windows was computed.  net10.0 was computed.  net10.0-android was computed.  net10.0-browser was computed.  net10.0-ios was computed.  net10.0-maccatalyst was computed.  net10.0-macos was computed.  net10.0-tvos was computed.  net10.0-windows was computed. 
Compatible target framework(s)
Included target framework(s) (in package)
Learn more about Target Frameworks and .NET Standard.

  • net9.0

    • No dependencies.

NuGet packages

This package is not used by any NuGet packages.

GitHub repositories

This package is not used by any popular GitHub repositories.

Version Downloads Last Updated
1.1.5.5 207 7/26/2025
1.1.5.4 553 7/23/2025
1.1.5.3 264 7/20/2025
1.1.5.2 102 7/19/2025
1.1.5.1 99 7/19/2025
1.1.5 105 7/19/2025
1.1.4 178 7/16/2025
1.1.3.2 178 7/15/2025
1.1.3.1 149 7/12/2025
1.1.3 132 7/12/2025
1.1.2 183 7/10/2025
1.1.1 189 7/6/2025
1.1.0 184 6/23/2025
1.0.0 195 6/23/2025