Convert SAS datasets to Excel

I've recently posted code samples of using VSTO and some other means of getting SAS data into Excel. I thought I would compile a list of various techniques to move data from SAS to Excel.

These are the means (outside of SAS) that I am aware of using as well as pros and cons:

XML (for Office 2000 and better)

Pros

• Easily written
• Works pretty fast
• Excel not required on machine

Cons

• Creates enormous files. Have to open and then save as
  old Excel using COM to reduce file size
• Hard to work with the XML model due to its top to right
  formatting. No real random cell access that I can find.
  

VSTO (Visual Studio Tools for Office)

Pros

• Built-in support in Visual Studio (ie easy editing)
• Microsoft 'direction'
• Does not require Excel
  

Cons

• COM based (slow, 1 instance only)
• Requires Visual Studio
• Requires coding in a different language
  (VB.NET or C#)
• Only supported on Windows

VBA in Excel

Pros

• Well-documented. Fairly easy to use.
  

Cons

• VBA will be deprecated, probably in Office 12
  coming next year
• COM based (see above)
• Requires Excel to run and build
• Possibly opens up security concerns
• Only supported on Windows

.NET using 3rd party tools (Aspose is an example)

Pros

• Fastest generation method seen. Faster than
  COM by probably 1000x
• Able to run simultaneous threads
• Easy to code and edit in Visual Studios due to
  intellisense support
• Object model is simple and easy to use
• Random cell access
  

Cons

• Requires 3rd party product ($400) plus
  Visual Studios
• Requires a non-SAS language
• Only supported on Windows

Next up: web services and SAS data.