Thread: Add-ins not loading

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?

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

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

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