Data acquisition and real-time control using spreadsheets: interfacing Excel with external hardware
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Updated: Jun 13, 2026

A Computer-assisted Multi-electrode Patch-clamp System
Published on: October 18, 2013
1Dpto: Sistemas Informáticos y Automática, Universidad Europea de Madrid, Villaviciosa de Odón, Madrid 28670, Spain. nourdine.aliane@uem.es
Abstract:
Spreadsheets have become a popular computational tool and a powerful platform for performing engineering calculations. Moreover, spreadsheets include a macro language, which permits the inclusion of standard computer code in worksheets, and thereby enable developers to greatly extend spreadsheets' capabilities by designing specific add-ins. This paper describes how to use Excel spreadsheets in conjunction to Visual Basic for Application programming language to perform data acquisition and real-time control. Afterwards, the paper presents two Excel applications with interactive user interfaces developed for laboratory demonstrations and experiments in an introductory course in control.
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