[davidwihl]

We did something like this in OfficeWriter [1]. We built a set of APIs to create, edit and generate Excel (and Word) files programmatically without the need for MS Office in the server. In addition, we had a "template mode" so a user could place datamarkers within an existing Excel spreadsheet. At run-time, our code would open the spreadsheet, populate data from a provider data source and then expand all associated cell references such as formulas, charts, etc.

so it was not fully declarative but would not have been difficult to map a high level language to our API. Some sophisticated customers did something to that effect with a web based wizard type interface.

Microsoft purchased the IP in 2007. The independent product is still sold and maintained for existing customers.

[1] www.officewriter.com