Add-ins not loading

[Nick Hebb]

I have several add-ins installed and noticed that they aren't loading
when I start Excel.

But, here's the weird part: if I start Excel by opening an Excel file
(e.g., double-clicking a file in Explorer), then the add-ins load.

(Note: My macro security setting is set to medium and the other
settings for trusted add-ins and accessing VBA project files are also
checked.)

Has anyone else come across this sort of problem and know how to
resolve it?

 

[GS]

Hi Nick,

What do you mean by "several", and by "loading"?

Note that the Add-ins Manager dialog will only "list" in the dialog the
first 10 add-ins entered in the Add-in Manager key of the Registry, according
to their respective "index" in the Add-ins collection. (the order they were
added via the Add-ins Manager dialog) This does not include the (Default)
entry. The "installed" (as in Open) add-ins will be found in the Options key.

You can have more than 10 from the Add-in Manager key "loaded" (as in
"Open"), but if you uninstall any >= to the 11th entry, they won't appear in
the list when Excel is reopened. They will still be listed in the Registry
key, but the Add-ins Manager seems to be limited to listing only the first 10
added to the collection.

When an add-in is checked in the dialog, it moves from the Add-in Manager
key to the Options key after Excel closes. The Options key enumerates them
like this: OPEN, OPEN1, OPEN2, ..and so on. Clearing the checkbox moves the
add-in back to the Add-in Manager key after Excel closes.

While Excel is running, checking/unchecking items listed in the dialog
respectively installs/uninstalls the selected add-in, but the Registry won't
update until you close the Excel session. This means all installed add-ins
will appear in the dialog when Excel reopens because they're listed in the
Options key. It doesn't matter what their index is in the Add-ins collection.

HTH
Regards,
Garry

 

[Nick Hebb]

Hi Garry - thanks for the response.

Quick answers:
"several" = 3
"loading" = command bar and menu items aren't loading & not in
Tools>Add-ins list

Some configuration details that shed some light:
- I have Excel 2002 (10.0) and 2003 installed side-by-side.
- The file association in Explorer points to the Excel 2002 exe.
- Quick Launch points to the Excel 2003 exe.
- Start menu item I mentioned above points to 2003 exe version.
- I also have a Start menu item for Excel 2002 (which I forgot about)
and it will load the add-ins.
- OPEN, OPEN1, OPEN2, etc. are all located in
HKCU\Software\Microsoft\Office\10.0\Excel\Options\ registry folder.
- There are no OPENX items in the ..\11.0\Excel\Options registry
folder.
- HKCU\Software\Microsoft\Office\10.0\Excel\Addin Manager has no
setting (is it supposed to?)

So the bottom line is, my add-ins load when I start Excel 2002 but not
when I start Excel 2003. 2 of these add-ins were installed after I
installed 2003. I seem to be having these quirks because I'm running
2002 and 2003 side-by-side.


- Nick

 

[GS]

Hi Nick,

Ok, the count isn't the issue.

As for the multiple version issue, I have 8, 9, 10, and 11 loaded and don't
have any problems with "installed" add-ins. By "installed" I mean I have
installed them in each version as required. Note that the Add-ins Manager is
proprietary to each version, as is indicated in the Registry listings.
There's no listings in ..\Office\11.0\Excel\.. because you probably haven't
installed any add-ins in that version. Try adding them via the Add-ins
Manager, ..it should fix itself!

HTH
Garry