Is it possible to return a string from a .net program using vba

Question

I have this vba code

Dim strpath As String
Dim this As String
strpath = "C:\Users\johbra\Documents\Visual Studio 2010\Projects\WindowsApplication6\WindowsApplication6\bin\Debug\WindowsApplication6.exe"
this = Shell(strpath)

MsgBox this

I also have this function in a .net program

Public Class Form1

Private Sub Form1_Load(sender As System.Object, e As System.EventArgs) Handles MyBase.Load
    dothis()
    Application.Exit()

End Sub

Function dothis()
    Return "HI"
End Function
End Class

Im trying to get the vba code to give me a messagebox that says "HI".. Is this possible?

Answer 1

The most accepted and reliable way to call .NET code from VBA is to expose the .NET class as a COM class (no extra code needed, just tick the appropriate box in project properties), then add a reference the COM class in your VBA project, the way you would for any other other COM class, and call the function.

Here's a guide on how exactly this is done.

Please let me know if you need more details on how to do this.