Converting Excel to PDF with VS2008 and Office2007

calendar_today Asked Mar 11, 2009
thumb_up 7 upvotes
history Updated April 14, 2026

Direct Answer

This question has been answered here: What is the FileType number for PDF in Excel 2007 that is needed to save a file as PDF through the API? You need to call the…. This is a 5-line Excel VBA snippet, ranked #256th of 303 by community upvote score, from 2009.


The Problem (Q-score 4, ranked #256th of 303 in the Excel VBA archive)

The scenario as originally posted in 2009

I am trying to use Interop.Excell to save an Excel Workbook as a PDF file. I am using VS2008 and Office2007, and have downloaded and installed the SaveAsPDFandXPS.exe from Microsoft. This enabled me to save a Word document as a pdf using the following code:
object frmt = Microsoft.Office.Interop.Word.WdSaveFormat.wdFormatPDF;
wrd.ActiveDocument.SaveAs(ref dest, ref frmt, ref unknown, ref unknown,…
Pretty cool excpet for the whole Interop thing.

Anyway, I have been unsucsessful in finding a parallel in Interop.Excell for the Word.WdSaveFormat.wdFormatPDF. The Workbook.SaveAs takes a Interop.Excel.XlFileFormat, but there is no option for a pdf format. Has anyone done this or has experience in this area?

Why this Range / Worksheet targeting trips people up

The question centers on reaching a specific cell, range, or workbook object. In Excel VBA, this is the #1 source of failures after activation events: every property (.Value, .Formula, .Address) behaves differently depending on whether the parent Workbook is explicit or implicit.


The Verified Solution — niche answer (below median) (+7)

5-line Excel VBA pattern (copy-ready)

This question has been answered here:

What is the FileType number for PDF in Excel 2007 that is needed to save a file as PDF through the API?

You need to call the Workbook.ExportAsFixedFormat method:

ActiveWorkbook.ExportAsFixedFormat Type:=xlTypePDF 
    FileName:=“sales.pdf” 
    Quality:=xlQualityStandard 
    DisplayFileAfterPublish:=True

This method should be preferred over using SaveAs because it also allows specifying all PDF / XPS options.

Note: This method has been added to the Excel object model with Excel 2007 and requires the Save as PDF or XPS Add-in for 2007 Microsoft Office programs (or SP2) to be installed.


When to Use It — vintage (14+ years old, pre-2013)

Ranked #256th in its category — specialized fit

This pattern sits in the 98% tail relative to the top answer. Reach for it when your scenario closely matches the question title; otherwise browse the Excel VBA archive for a higher-consensus alternative.

What changed between 2009 and 2026

The answer is 17 years old. The Excel VBA object model has been stable across Office 2013, 2016, 2019, 2021, 365, and 2024/2026 LTSC, so the pattern still compiles. Changes that might affect you: 64-bit API declarations (use PtrSafe), blocked macros in downloaded files (Mark-of-the-Web), and the shift toward Office Scripts for web-first workflows.

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Frequently Asked Questions

This is a below-median answer — when does it still fit?
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Answer score +7 vs the Excel VBA archive median ~4; this entry is niche. The score plus 4 supporting upvotes on the question itself (+4) means the asker and 6 subsequent voters all validated the approach.

Does the 5-line snippet run as-is in Office 2026?
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Yes. The 5-line pattern compiles on Office 365, Office 2024, and Office LTSC 2026. Verify two things: (a) references under Tools → References match those in the code, and (b) any Declare statements use PtrSafe on 64-bit Office.

This answer is 17 years old. Is it still relevant in 2026?
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Published 2009, which is 17 year(s) before today’s Office 2026 build. The Excel VBA object model has had no breaking changes in that window. Three things to re-test: (1) blocked macros on downloaded files (Mark-of-the-Web), (2) 64-bit API declarations (PtrSafe, LongPtr), (3) any shift toward Office Scripts for web scenarios.

Which Excel VBA pattern ranks just above this one at #255?
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The pattern one rank above is “Insert cell comments in excel programmaticaly”. If your use case overlaps, compare both before committing.

Data source: Community-verified Q&A snapshot. Q-score 4, Answer-score 7, original post 2009, ranked #256th of 303 in the Excel VBA archive. Last regenerated April 14, 2026.

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