VB.NET --> Excel --> Hyperion Essbase Plugin

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Has anybody had the occasion to to build a VB.NET 2008 application that will
manipulate an Excel workbook including the Hyperion Essbase Plugin? I was not
sure which forum to post this question in so that is why I have chosen the
General.
If anybody has any ideas on the "Best" way to execute the "Retrieve"
function found on the Essbase plugin for Microsoft Excel located on the

xlApp.CommandBa rs("Worksheet Menu Bar").Controls. Item

One funny thing I have run into with trying to automate this via VB.NET is
that when my VB.NET application opens the Excel spreadsheet it somehow
appears to not contain the Hyperion Essbase plugin. When I open Excel
manually the Essbase plugin is plainly visible on the Worksheet Menu Bar.

This is also seen when executing the following:

Debug.Print(xlA pp.CommandBars( "Worksheet Menu
Bar").Controls. Item(1).Caption .ToString()) '&File
Debug.Print(xlA pp.CommandBars( "Worksheet Menu
Bar").Controls. Item(2).Caption .ToString()) '&Edit
Debug.Print(xlA pp.CommandBars( "Worksheet Menu
Bar").Controls. Item(3).Caption .ToString()) '&View
Debug.Print(xlA pp.CommandBars( "Worksheet Menu
Bar").Controls. Item(4).Caption .ToString()) '&Insert
Debug.Print(xlA pp.CommandBars( "Worksheet Menu
Bar").Controls. Item(5).Caption .ToString()) 'F&ormat
Debug.Print(xlA pp.CommandBars( "Worksheet Menu
Bar").Controls. Item(6).Caption .ToString()) '&Tools
Debug.Print(xlA pp.CommandBars( "Worksheet Menu
Bar").Controls. Item(7).Caption .ToString()) '&Data
Debug.Print(xlA pp.CommandBars( "Worksheet Menu
Bar").Controls. Item(8).Caption .ToString()) 'A&ction
Debug.Print(xlA pp.CommandBars( "Worksheet Menu
Bar").Controls. Item(9).Caption .ToString()) '&Window
Debug.Print(xlA pp.CommandBars( "Worksheet Menu
Bar").Controls. Item(10).Captio n.ToString()) '&Help

There is no instance of the plugin acknowledged while I can visibly see it
inbetween the Window & Help...

Anythoughts on how I can perform the "Retrieve" function from the Excel
Essbase plugin Worksheet Menu Bar menu via VB.NET or directions to the
apropriate discussion group would be appreciated.

Thanks to all

~ SPARKER ~