How to VBA sends an Async XMLHTTP request?

Question

To get data from a webservice in Excel, I have created an excel addin provide function to get it; user just need type in cell: =sendRequest(\"http://webservice.com\")<

Answer 1

As the downside of the solution stated here, the proper way to get the async return value for the function is to 1) cache your request's url => returned value to a collection/dictionary, and then 2) refresh your formula

Answer 2

This is my solution file for your question; indeed it is updated from your async test file.

Based on this discusion, you can change the display text of cell without changing its formula by using Range(yourCellAddress).NumberFormat = "0;0;0;""Value to display"""

So to your question, the solution is

1. In your sendAsyncRequest function replace the return line as

   sendAsyncRequest = "anything other than numbers"

2. In your ReadyStateChangeHandler sub, replace

   Application.Range(cellAddress).Value = XMLHttpReq.responseText 'return responseText to cell

by

cellDisplayText = XMLHttpReq.responseText
Range(cellAddress).NumberFormat = "0;0;0;""" & cellDisplayText & """"