Excel XP won't run XLA properly

[Wendy]

Hi all,

I hope someone can help me here. I am an IT consultant
for a program called GoldMine.

GoldMine has recently created a new link between itself
and Excel (there has been a Word link for years already) -
in the form of an xla file (I can also find a subdirectory
containing a related xml file, but think this is part of
the install, not the actual running files). The link
file has been placed, during the install wizard in the
appropriate XLStart directory on the local C:/

GoldMine network version, and is installed on a mapped
network drive, with a single install accessed by all
computers via a desktop shortcut.

The purpose of this link is to be able to basically do
create a merge function between the database (dBase IV)
files in GoldMine, to place the information in the xls
template.

GoldMine works on BDE5.

The link to Excel has been created and works for Excel
versions 2000, XP and 2003, and I can confirm that it
usually works perfectly for these versions.

However, at some computers (in my case they have all been
XP - no specific SP or build), the link between Excel and
GoldMine simply cannot be started with a BDE -1 error
(can't connect to BDE). To start this link, you simply
click on the item added to the menu - GoldMine, and it
should start up.

This can happen on a network where all other computers can
do link up fine, but one will not, but according to the IT
person, all computers have been set up the same, and have
the same automatic updates from MS applied.

This leads me to think that there MUST be some kind of
local environmental issue on that computer ONLY that is
preventing the initial 'call' from the xla being clicked
on to start, and getting through to the BDE.

I have checked that the macro security is 'medium'
or 'low', that the addin is listed as a trusted source,
and that the source has not been disabled (in the Help
section).

I have had the user update to the SP3 version of Excel.

I have made multiple changes to the BDE SHAREMEMLOCATION
to ensure that multiple programs can definitely access the
BDE, and that these settings are the same as others who
have successful installs.

I am not able to contact the creator of this link
directly, and have also lodged this issue with FrontRange
(GoldMine program manufacturer) for assistance, with no
results to date.

Does anyone have any suggestions on what else I might
check, or look into to see why this link cannot connect
properly?

Thanks heaps,


Wendy

 

[Mark E. Philpot]

Gidday,
I am only guessing here but maybe the connection only
allows for x number of users.

 

[Charles Williams]

Try moving the XLA out of the XLSTART directory to some other directory and
then install it properly using the Excel addin manager
(Tools-->Addins).

I dont know why people use XLSTART for installing addins. Try suggesting to
Goldmine that it would be better if they use their Installer to copy the XLA
to their install directory and set the appropriate registry keys.

Charles
______________________
Decision Models
FastExcel Version 2 now available.
www.DecisionModels.com/FxlV2WhatsNew.htm

 

[Bob Phillips]

I dont know why people use XLSTART for installing addins. Try suggesting to
Goldmine that it would be better if they use their Installer to copy the XLA
to their install directory and set the appropriate registry keys.

Maybe because the xla is not invoked when Excel is run in Automation ?

 

[Rob Bovey]

Maybe because the xla is not invoked when Excel is run in Automation ?

Wouldn't make any difference. Files in the XLStart folder aren't loaded
when Excel is run via automation either.

--
Rob Bovey, MCSE, MCSD, Excel MVP
Application Professionals
http://www.appspro.com/

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[Bob Phillips]

Rob,

That is what I am suggesting as a reason for putting xla files in XLStart.

--

HTH

Bob Phillips
... looking out across Poole Harbour to the Purbecks
(remove nothere from the email address if mailing direct)

 

[Rob Bovey]

That is what I am suggesting as a reason for putting xla files in XLStart.

Hi Bob,

But no auto-loaded workbooks are opened, whether they're in the XLStart
directory or specified by the Tools/Add-ins menu. That makes that XLStart
directory a bad choice for the location of a third-party add-in as opposed
to the Tools/Add-ins menu because the former doesn't give the user the
option of deciding whether the add-in gets loaded.

Of course if you're trying to force the user to open a workbook every
time Excel starts....Excel macro viruses made great use of the XLStart
directory for this purpose. <g>

--
Rob Bovey, MCSE, MCSD, Excel MVP
Application Professionals
http://www.appspro.com/

* Please post all replies to this newsgroup *
* I delete all unsolicited e-mail responses *