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Very strange add-in file behaviour

  1. #1
    RB Smissaert
    Guest

    Very strange add-in file behaviour

    Have developed a large Excel .xla add-in that now shows some very strange
    behaviour.
    This add-in works completely fine at home, but when I upload the file to a
    website and
    download it on a different location there are bits of code missing, for
    example all the code
    in the ThisWorkbook module and also code from normal code modules. When I
    download
    the same file at home everything is fine.
    It is a large file, 3.8 Mb with a lot of form and modules, but why would it
    be fine on one computer
    and not the other. The differences are:
    Home computer (all fine): Windows XP Pro, Excel 2002
    Other computer (not fine): Windows 2000, Excel 2003
    I have run the run Andrew Baker's Workbook Rebuilder several times.
    Thanks for any advice about this.

    RBS


  2. #2
    Bob Phillips
    Guest

    Re: Very strange add-in file behaviour

    Have you run Rob Bovey's Code Cleaner on it?

    You could also try building it anew, copying all code modules into a new
    workbook before compiling as an addin .

    --

    HTH

    RP
    (remove nothere from the email address if mailing direct)


    "RB Smissaert" <[email protected]> wrote in message
    news:[email protected]...
    > Have developed a large Excel .xla add-in that now shows some very strange
    > behaviour.
    > This add-in works completely fine at home, but when I upload the file to a
    > website and
    > download it on a different location there are bits of code missing, for
    > example all the code
    > in the ThisWorkbook module and also code from normal code modules. When I
    > download
    > the same file at home everything is fine.
    > It is a large file, 3.8 Mb with a lot of form and modules, but why would

    it
    > be fine on one computer
    > and not the other. The differences are:
    > Home computer (all fine): Windows XP Pro, Excel 2002
    > Other computer (not fine): Windows 2000, Excel 2003
    > I have run the run Andrew Baker's Workbook Rebuilder several times.
    > Thanks for any advice about this.
    >
    > RBS
    >




  3. #3
    Tom Ogilvy
    Guest

    Re: Very strange add-in file behaviour

    >I have run the run Andrew Baker's Workbook Rebuilder several times.

    is the same as Rob Bovey's code cleaner or doing it manually.

    --
    Regards,
    Tom Ogilvy

    "Bob Phillips" <[email protected]> wrote in message
    news:%[email protected]...
    > Have you run Rob Bovey's Code Cleaner on it?
    >
    > You could also try building it anew, copying all code modules into a new
    > workbook before compiling as an addin .
    >
    > --
    >
    > HTH
    >
    > RP
    > (remove nothere from the email address if mailing direct)
    >
    >
    > "RB Smissaert" <[email protected]> wrote in message
    > news:[email protected]...
    > > Have developed a large Excel .xla add-in that now shows some very

    strange
    > > behaviour.
    > > This add-in works completely fine at home, but when I upload the file to

    a
    > > website and
    > > download it on a different location there are bits of code missing, for
    > > example all the code
    > > in the ThisWorkbook module and also code from normal code modules. When

    I
    > > download
    > > the same file at home everything is fine.
    > > It is a large file, 3.8 Mb with a lot of form and modules, but why would

    > it
    > > be fine on one computer
    > > and not the other. The differences are:
    > > Home computer (all fine): Windows XP Pro, Excel 2002
    > > Other computer (not fine): Windows 2000, Excel 2003
    > > I have run the run Andrew Baker's Workbook Rebuilder several times.
    > > Thanks for any advice about this.
    > >
    > > RBS
    > >

    >
    >




  4. #4
    RB Smissaert
    Guest

    Re: Very strange add-in file behaviour

    Building it anew to a new workbook and then make it into an .xla file is the
    one thing I haven't done yet.
    Will give that a try.

    RBS

    "Bob Phillips" <[email protected]> wrote in message
    news:%[email protected]...
    > Have you run Rob Bovey's Code Cleaner on it?
    >
    > You could also try building it anew, copying all code modules into a new
    > workbook before compiling as an addin .
    >
    > --
    >
    > HTH
    >
    > RP
    > (remove nothere from the email address if mailing direct)
    >
    >
    > "RB Smissaert" <[email protected]> wrote in message
    > news:[email protected]...
    >> Have developed a large Excel .xla add-in that now shows some very strange
    >> behaviour.
    >> This add-in works completely fine at home, but when I upload the file to
    >> a
    >> website and
    >> download it on a different location there are bits of code missing, for
    >> example all the code
    >> in the ThisWorkbook module and also code from normal code modules. When I
    >> download
    >> the same file at home everything is fine.
    >> It is a large file, 3.8 Mb with a lot of form and modules, but why would

    > it
    >> be fine on one computer
    >> and not the other. The differences are:
    >> Home computer (all fine): Windows XP Pro, Excel 2002
    >> Other computer (not fine): Windows 2000, Excel 2003
    >> I have run the run Andrew Baker's Workbook Rebuilder several times.
    >> Thanks for any advice about this.
    >>
    >> RBS
    >>

    >
    >



  5. #5
    RB Smissaert
    Guest

    Re: Very strange add-in file behaviour

    I didn't think there was a difference, but for completeness I will run Rob
    Bovey's code cleaner as well.

    RBS


    "Tom Ogilvy" <[email protected]> wrote in message
    news:[email protected]...
    > >I have run the run Andrew Baker's Workbook Rebuilder several times.

    >
    > is the same as Rob Bovey's code cleaner or doing it manually.
    >
    > --
    > Regards,
    > Tom Ogilvy
    >
    > "Bob Phillips" <[email protected]> wrote in message
    > news:%[email protected]...
    >> Have you run Rob Bovey's Code Cleaner on it?
    >>
    >> You could also try building it anew, copying all code modules into a new
    >> workbook before compiling as an addin .
    >>
    >> --
    >>
    >> HTH
    >>
    >> RP
    >> (remove nothere from the email address if mailing direct)
    >>
    >>
    >> "RB Smissaert" <[email protected]> wrote in message
    >> news:[email protected]...
    >> > Have developed a large Excel .xla add-in that now shows some very

    > strange
    >> > behaviour.
    >> > This add-in works completely fine at home, but when I upload the file
    >> > to

    > a
    >> > website and
    >> > download it on a different location there are bits of code missing, for
    >> > example all the code
    >> > in the ThisWorkbook module and also code from normal code modules. When

    > I
    >> > download
    >> > the same file at home everything is fine.
    >> > It is a large file, 3.8 Mb with a lot of form and modules, but why
    >> > would

    >> it
    >> > be fine on one computer
    >> > and not the other. The differences are:
    >> > Home computer (all fine): Windows XP Pro, Excel 2002
    >> > Other computer (not fine): Windows 2000, Excel 2003
    >> > I have run the run Andrew Baker's Workbook Rebuilder several times.
    >> > Thanks for any advice about this.
    >> >
    >> > RBS
    >> >

    >>
    >>

    >
    >



  6. #6
    RB Smissaert
    Guest

    Re: Very strange add-in file behaviour

    Now this is interesting.
    I moved all the code and forms from the add-in to a normal workbook and
    saved as an .xla file.
    The filesize moved up from 3.8 Mb to 6.7 Mb.
    Downloaded Rob Bovey's code cleaner, ran that and still 6.68 Mb.
    Then ran Andrew Baker's workbook rebuilder and I went down again to 3.8 Mb.
    Both files run fine, but what is the difference and what is the file to go
    for?
    I would like to keep the 3.8 file as the 6.7 one is too big to be uploaded
    even when zipped.
    The upper limit is 2 Mb and the 3.8 file will zip to 1.65.
    The 6.7 file will zip to 2.6.
    Would be very interested in any insights in this.

    RBS


    "Bob Phillips" <[email protected]> wrote in message
    news:%[email protected]...
    > Have you run Rob Bovey's Code Cleaner on it?
    >
    > You could also try building it anew, copying all code modules into a new
    > workbook before compiling as an addin .
    >
    > --
    >
    > HTH
    >
    > RP
    > (remove nothere from the email address if mailing direct)
    >
    >
    > "RB Smissaert" <[email protected]> wrote in message
    > news:[email protected]...
    >> Have developed a large Excel .xla add-in that now shows some very strange
    >> behaviour.
    >> This add-in works completely fine at home, but when I upload the file to
    >> a
    >> website and
    >> download it on a different location there are bits of code missing, for
    >> example all the code
    >> in the ThisWorkbook module and also code from normal code modules. When I
    >> download
    >> the same file at home everything is fine.
    >> It is a large file, 3.8 Mb with a lot of form and modules, but why would

    > it
    >> be fine on one computer
    >> and not the other. The differences are:
    >> Home computer (all fine): Windows XP Pro, Excel 2002
    >> Other computer (not fine): Windows 2000, Excel 2003
    >> I have run the run Andrew Baker's Workbook Rebuilder several times.
    >> Thanks for any advice about this.
    >>
    >> RBS
    >>

    >
    >



  7. #7
    RB Smissaert
    Guest

    Re: Very strange add-in file behaviour

    OK, a bit less interesting now, because after running the code cleaner again
    the filesize has
    gone down to 3.8.
    This saves me the trouble of finding out what the right file is; they are
    both the same.

    RBS


    "Bob Phillips" <[email protected]> wrote in message
    news:%[email protected]...
    > Have you run Rob Bovey's Code Cleaner on it?
    >
    > You could also try building it anew, copying all code modules into a new
    > workbook before compiling as an addin .
    >
    > --
    >
    > HTH
    >
    > RP
    > (remove nothere from the email address if mailing direct)
    >
    >
    > "RB Smissaert" <[email protected]> wrote in message
    > news:[email protected]...
    >> Have developed a large Excel .xla add-in that now shows some very strange
    >> behaviour.
    >> This add-in works completely fine at home, but when I upload the file to
    >> a
    >> website and
    >> download it on a different location there are bits of code missing, for
    >> example all the code
    >> in the ThisWorkbook module and also code from normal code modules. When I
    >> download
    >> the same file at home everything is fine.
    >> It is a large file, 3.8 Mb with a lot of form and modules, but why would

    > it
    >> be fine on one computer
    >> and not the other. The differences are:
    >> Home computer (all fine): Windows XP Pro, Excel 2002
    >> Other computer (not fine): Windows 2000, Excel 2003
    >> I have run the run Andrew Baker's Workbook Rebuilder several times.
    >> Thanks for any advice about this.
    >>
    >> RBS
    >>

    >
    >



  8. #8
    Bob Phillips
    Guest

    Re: Very strange add-in file behaviour

    That is the opposite of my usual experience. I find that files bloat as you
    work on them, and rebuilding just before production usually takes a large
    lump off the size.

    --

    HTH

    RP
    (remove nothere from the email address if mailing direct)


    "RB Smissaert" <[email protected]> wrote in message
    news:[email protected]...
    > Now this is interesting.
    > I moved all the code and forms from the add-in to a normal workbook and
    > saved as an .xla file.
    > The filesize moved up from 3.8 Mb to 6.7 Mb.
    > Downloaded Rob Bovey's code cleaner, ran that and still 6.68 Mb.
    > Then ran Andrew Baker's workbook rebuilder and I went down again to 3.8

    Mb.
    > Both files run fine, but what is the difference and what is the file to go
    > for?
    > I would like to keep the 3.8 file as the 6.7 one is too big to be uploaded
    > even when zipped.
    > The upper limit is 2 Mb and the 3.8 file will zip to 1.65.
    > The 6.7 file will zip to 2.6.
    > Would be very interested in any insights in this.
    >
    > RBS
    >
    >
    > "Bob Phillips" <[email protected]> wrote in message
    > news:%[email protected]...
    > > Have you run Rob Bovey's Code Cleaner on it?
    > >
    > > You could also try building it anew, copying all code modules into a new
    > > workbook before compiling as an addin .
    > >
    > > --
    > >
    > > HTH
    > >
    > > RP
    > > (remove nothere from the email address if mailing direct)
    > >
    > >
    > > "RB Smissaert" <[email protected]> wrote in message
    > > news:[email protected]...
    > >> Have developed a large Excel .xla add-in that now shows some very

    strange
    > >> behaviour.
    > >> This add-in works completely fine at home, but when I upload the file

    to
    > >> a
    > >> website and
    > >> download it on a different location there are bits of code missing, for
    > >> example all the code
    > >> in the ThisWorkbook module and also code from normal code modules. When

    I
    > >> download
    > >> the same file at home everything is fine.
    > >> It is a large file, 3.8 Mb with a lot of form and modules, but why

    would
    > > it
    > >> be fine on one computer
    > >> and not the other. The differences are:
    > >> Home computer (all fine): Windows XP Pro, Excel 2002
    > >> Other computer (not fine): Windows 2000, Excel 2003
    > >> I have run the run Andrew Baker's Workbook Rebuilder several times.
    > >> Thanks for any advice about this.
    > >>
    > >> RBS
    > >>

    > >
    > >

    >




  9. #9
    RB Smissaert
    Guest

    Re: Very strange add-in file behaviour

    I find the same, but what I did is have the add-in loaded and drag and drop
    modules
    from the add-in to an empty workbook. Maybe this is not the same as
    exporting to
    text and then reimporting.
    I have made some progress with this:
    The faulty .xla file always had 2 modules where the code was gone, one of
    them the
    ThisWorkbook module. The other one a normal code module where code was added
    most recently.
    By combining some normal code modules, one of them the last mentioned, I was
    able to
    fix this. Maybe there is a limit on the total number of modules. I did have
    a lot of modules:
    21 Forms
    77 Normal code modules
    6 Class modules
    Over 82000 lines of code
    Could the limit perhaps be 100 modules?

    RBS


    "Bob Phillips" <[email protected]> wrote in message
    news:%[email protected]...
    > That is the opposite of my usual experience. I find that files bloat as
    > you
    > work on them, and rebuilding just before production usually takes a large
    > lump off the size.
    >
    > --
    >
    > HTH
    >
    > RP
    > (remove nothere from the email address if mailing direct)
    >
    >
    > "RB Smissaert" <[email protected]> wrote in message
    > news:[email protected]...
    >> Now this is interesting.
    >> I moved all the code and forms from the add-in to a normal workbook and
    >> saved as an .xla file.
    >> The filesize moved up from 3.8 Mb to 6.7 Mb.
    >> Downloaded Rob Bovey's code cleaner, ran that and still 6.68 Mb.
    >> Then ran Andrew Baker's workbook rebuilder and I went down again to 3.8

    > Mb.
    >> Both files run fine, but what is the difference and what is the file to
    >> go
    >> for?
    >> I would like to keep the 3.8 file as the 6.7 one is too big to be
    >> uploaded
    >> even when zipped.
    >> The upper limit is 2 Mb and the 3.8 file will zip to 1.65.
    >> The 6.7 file will zip to 2.6.
    >> Would be very interested in any insights in this.
    >>
    >> RBS
    >>
    >>
    >> "Bob Phillips" <[email protected]> wrote in message
    >> news:%[email protected]...
    >> > Have you run Rob Bovey's Code Cleaner on it?
    >> >
    >> > You could also try building it anew, copying all code modules into a
    >> > new
    >> > workbook before compiling as an addin .
    >> >
    >> > --
    >> >
    >> > HTH
    >> >
    >> > RP
    >> > (remove nothere from the email address if mailing direct)
    >> >
    >> >
    >> > "RB Smissaert" <[email protected]> wrote in message
    >> > news:[email protected]...
    >> >> Have developed a large Excel .xla add-in that now shows some very

    > strange
    >> >> behaviour.
    >> >> This add-in works completely fine at home, but when I upload the file

    > to
    >> >> a
    >> >> website and
    >> >> download it on a different location there are bits of code missing,
    >> >> for
    >> >> example all the code
    >> >> in the ThisWorkbook module and also code from normal code modules.
    >> >> When

    > I
    >> >> download
    >> >> the same file at home everything is fine.
    >> >> It is a large file, 3.8 Mb with a lot of form and modules, but why

    > would
    >> > it
    >> >> be fine on one computer
    >> >> and not the other. The differences are:
    >> >> Home computer (all fine): Windows XP Pro, Excel 2002
    >> >> Other computer (not fine): Windows 2000, Excel 2003
    >> >> I have run the run Andrew Baker's Workbook Rebuilder several times.
    >> >> Thanks for any advice about this.
    >> >>
    >> >> RBS
    >> >>
    >> >
    >> >

    >>

    >
    >



  10. #10
    Tushar Mehta
    Guest

    Re: Very strange add-in file behaviour

    Another possibility to consider is that the download client machine has
    some kind of anti-virus software that strips out what it considers
    potentially malicious code.

    --
    Regards,

    Tushar Mehta
    www.tushar-mehta.com
    Excel, PowerPoint, and VBA add-ins, tutorials
    Custom MS Office productivity solutions

    In article <[email protected]>,
    [email protected] says...
    > Have developed a large Excel .xla add-in that now shows some very strange
    > behaviour.
    > This add-in works completely fine at home, but when I upload the file to a
    > website and
    > download it on a different location there are bits of code missing, for
    > example all the code
    > in the ThisWorkbook module and also code from normal code modules. When I
    > download
    > the same file at home everything is fine.
    > It is a large file, 3.8 Mb with a lot of form and modules, but why would it
    > be fine on one computer
    > and not the other. The differences are:
    > Home computer (all fine): Windows XP Pro, Excel 2002
    > Other computer (not fine): Windows 2000, Excel 2003
    > I have run the run Andrew Baker's Workbook Rebuilder several times.
    > Thanks for any advice about this.
    >
    > RBS
    >
    >


  11. #11
    RB Smissaert
    Guest

    Re: Very strange add-in file behaviour

    That is what my first thought was as I had just added some code that would
    make a VB Script file.
    There was some other strange behaviour though that made me think it was not
    that, such as a never
    ending save of the .xla file, needing a Ctrl + Alt + Del.

    This is the code that makes the VB Script file and it would be clever
    software that would find that malicious:

    Sub MakeVBScriptAutoRunFile(strFile As String)

    Dim strVBS As String
    Dim strIndent As String

    strIndent = String(4, Chr(32))

    strVBS = "dim app" & vbCrLf & _
    "dim wb" & vbCrLf & vbCrLf & _
    "On Error Resume Next" & vbCrLf & _
    "Set app = GetObject(," & Chr(34) & "Excel.Application" &
    Chr(34) & ")" & vbCrLf & vbCrLf & _
    "if Err <> 0 Then" & vbCrLf & _
    strIndent & "set app = CreateObject(" & Chr(34) &
    "Excel.Application" & Chr(34) & ")" & vbCrLf & _
    strIndent & "app.Visible = True" & vbCrLf & _
    strIndent & "On Error GoTo 0" & vbCrLf & _
    "End If" & vbCrLf & vbCrLf & _
    "With app" & vbCrLf & _
    strIndent & ".DisplayAlerts = False" & vbCrLf & _
    strIndent & ".OnKey " & Chr(34) & "{F2}" & Chr(34) & ", " &
    Chr(34) & "StartReportForm" & Chr(34) & vbCrLf & _
    strIndent & ".OnKey " & Chr(34) & "{F4}" & Chr(34) & ", " &
    Chr(34) & "StartReadBrowser" & Chr(34) & vbCrLf & _
    strIndent & ".OnKey " & Chr(34) & "{F12}" & Chr(34) & ", " &
    Chr(34) & "LoadPatientFromID" & Chr(34) & vbCrLf & _
    strIndent & ".OnKey " & Chr(34) & "%z" & Chr(34) & ", " &
    Chr(34) & "MakeBPGraph" & Chr(34) & vbCrLf & _
    strIndent & ".Workbooks.Open(" & Chr(34) & strFile & Chr(34) &
    ")" & vbCrLf & _
    strIndent & ".UserControl = True" & vbCrLf & _
    strIndent & ".DisplayAlerts = True" & vbCrLf & _
    "End With"

    'done it this way to hopefully fool the v-checker
    '------------------------------------------------
    StringToTextFile Replace(strFile, _
    ".xls", _
    Chr(46) & Chr(118) & Chr(98) & Chr(115), _
    1, _
    1, _
    vbTextCompare), _
    strVBS

    End Sub


    Maybe I should change the name of the Sub and not mention VBScript !?


    RBS



    "Tushar Mehta" <[email protected]> wrote in message
    news:[email protected]...
    > Another possibility to consider is that the download client machine has
    > some kind of anti-virus software that strips out what it considers
    > potentially malicious code.
    >
    > --
    > Regards,
    >
    > Tushar Mehta
    > www.tushar-mehta.com
    > Excel, PowerPoint, and VBA add-ins, tutorials
    > Custom MS Office productivity solutions
    >
    > In article <[email protected]>,
    > [email protected] says...
    >> Have developed a large Excel .xla add-in that now shows some very strange
    >> behaviour.
    >> This add-in works completely fine at home, but when I upload the file to
    >> a
    >> website and
    >> download it on a different location there are bits of code missing, for
    >> example all the code
    >> in the ThisWorkbook module and also code from normal code modules. When I
    >> download
    >> the same file at home everything is fine.
    >> It is a large file, 3.8 Mb with a lot of form and modules, but why would
    >> it
    >> be fine on one computer
    >> and not the other. The differences are:
    >> Home computer (all fine): Windows XP Pro, Excel 2002
    >> Other computer (not fine): Windows 2000, Excel 2003
    >> I have run the run Andrew Baker's Workbook Rebuilder several times.
    >> Thanks for any advice about this.
    >>
    >> RBS
    >>
    >>



  12. #12
    Tushar Mehta
    Guest

    Re: Very strange add-in file behaviour

    The fact that you were having problems saving the file in the first
    place would give more weight, IMO, to problems with the upload-download
    phases of the transaction than corruption of the VBA modules.

    As far as the definition of malicious goes, the AV software may define
    it as 'anything in a VB module.' Also note that some firewall software
    (ZoneAlarm, for example) has also gotten into the business of vetting
    downloads.

    You may also want to check if the upload process worked successfully.
    Can you download the file onto the same machine from which you uploaded
    it? Does this downloaded version work? You will have to be careful to
    ensure you use the downloaded file and not the original one.

    Can you do the same test from some other machine? One that you know
    has no AV/firewall software. Or at least, one where you have turned
    both off.

    --
    Regards,

    Tushar Mehta
    www.tushar-mehta.com
    Excel, PowerPoint, and VBA add-ins, tutorials
    Custom MS Office productivity solutions

    In article <[email protected]>,
    [email protected] says...
    > That is what my first thought was as I had just added some code that would
    > make a VB Script file.
    > There was some other strange behaviour though that made me think it was not
    > that, such as a never
    > ending save of the .xla file, needing a Ctrl + Alt + Del.
    >
    > This is the code that makes the VB Script file and it would be clever
    > software that would find that malicious:
    >
    > Sub MakeVBScriptAutoRunFile(strFile As String)
    >
    > Dim strVBS As String
    > Dim strIndent As String
    >
    > strIndent = String(4, Chr(32))
    >
    > strVBS = "dim app" & vbCrLf & _
    > "dim wb" & vbCrLf & vbCrLf & _
    > "On Error Resume Next" & vbCrLf & _
    > "Set app = GetObject(," & Chr(34) & "Excel.Application" &
    > Chr(34) & ")" & vbCrLf & vbCrLf & _
    > "if Err <> 0 Then" & vbCrLf & _
    > strIndent & "set app = CreateObject(" & Chr(34) &
    > "Excel.Application" & Chr(34) & ")" & vbCrLf & _
    > strIndent & "app.Visible = True" & vbCrLf & _
    > strIndent & "On Error GoTo 0" & vbCrLf & _
    > "End If" & vbCrLf & vbCrLf & _
    > "With app" & vbCrLf & _
    > strIndent & ".DisplayAlerts = False" & vbCrLf & _
    > strIndent & ".OnKey " & Chr(34) & "{F2}" & Chr(34) & ", " &
    > Chr(34) & "StartReportForm" & Chr(34) & vbCrLf & _
    > strIndent & ".OnKey " & Chr(34) & "{F4}" & Chr(34) & ", " &
    > Chr(34) & "StartReadBrowser" & Chr(34) & vbCrLf & _
    > strIndent & ".OnKey " & Chr(34) & "{F12}" & Chr(34) & ", " &
    > Chr(34) & "LoadPatientFromID" & Chr(34) & vbCrLf & _
    > strIndent & ".OnKey " & Chr(34) & "%z" & Chr(34) & ", " &
    > Chr(34) & "MakeBPGraph" & Chr(34) & vbCrLf & _
    > strIndent & ".Workbooks.Open(" & Chr(34) & strFile & Chr(34) &
    > ")" & vbCrLf & _
    > strIndent & ".UserControl = True" & vbCrLf & _
    > strIndent & ".DisplayAlerts = True" & vbCrLf & _
    > "End With"
    >
    > 'done it this way to hopefully fool the v-checker
    > '------------------------------------------------
    > StringToTextFile Replace(strFile, _
    > ".xls", _
    > Chr(46) & Chr(118) & Chr(98) & Chr(115), _
    > 1, _
    > 1, _
    > vbTextCompare), _
    > strVBS
    >
    > End Sub
    >
    >
    > Maybe I should change the name of the Sub and not mention VBScript !?
    >
    >
    > RBS
    >
    >
    >
    > "Tushar Mehta" <[email protected]> wrote in message
    > news:[email protected]...
    > > Another possibility to consider is that the download client machine has
    > > some kind of anti-virus software that strips out what it considers
    > > potentially malicious code.
    > >
    > > --
    > > Regards,
    > >
    > > Tushar Mehta
    > > www.tushar-mehta.com
    > > Excel, PowerPoint, and VBA add-ins, tutorials
    > > Custom MS Office productivity solutions
    > >
    > > In article <[email protected]>,
    > > [email protected] says...
    > >> Have developed a large Excel .xla add-in that now shows some very strange
    > >> behaviour.
    > >> This add-in works completely fine at home, but when I upload the file to
    > >> a
    > >> website and
    > >> download it on a different location there are bits of code missing, for
    > >> example all the code
    > >> in the ThisWorkbook module and also code from normal code modules. When I
    > >> download
    > >> the same file at home everything is fine.
    > >> It is a large file, 3.8 Mb with a lot of form and modules, but why would
    > >> it
    > >> be fine on one computer
    > >> and not the other. The differences are:
    > >> Home computer (all fine): Windows XP Pro, Excel 2002
    > >> Other computer (not fine): Windows 2000, Excel 2003
    > >> I have run the run Andrew Baker's Workbook Rebuilder several times.
    > >> Thanks for any advice about this.
    > >>
    > >> RBS
    > >>
    > >>

    >
    >


  13. #13
    RB Smissaert
    Guest

    Re: Very strange add-in file behaviour

    When I downloaded the file to the home PC it worked fine. This was
    definitely the downloaded
    file. Now that I have reorganised the Project (I now only have 97 modules)
    it behaves better in that
    it saves quicker and the size has gone slightly down although there was code
    added.
    Also the reorganised file worked fine when downloaded to the other PC that
    had the trouble in the
    first place.
    All in all I think it is the number of modules that caused the problem, but
    I have no previous experience
    with this, so can't be sure.
    I know the size of individual modules ideally have to stay below 64 Kb, but
    what about the number of modules,
    what about the size of Form modules and what about the total size of the
    ..xla file?
    I could strip out all the comments in the distributed file, but I haven't
    found an easy way of doing this yet.
    Tried Rob Bovey's code cleaner, but that couldn't handle this.

    RBS


    "Tushar Mehta" <[email protected]> wrote in message
    news:[email protected]...
    > The fact that you were having problems saving the file in the first
    > place would give more weight, IMO, to problems with the upload-download
    > phases of the transaction than corruption of the VBA modules.
    >
    > As far as the definition of malicious goes, the AV software may define
    > it as 'anything in a VB module.' Also note that some firewall software
    > (ZoneAlarm, for example) has also gotten into the business of vetting
    > downloads.
    >
    > You may also want to check if the upload process worked successfully.
    > Can you download the file onto the same machine from which you uploaded
    > it? Does this downloaded version work? You will have to be careful to
    > ensure you use the downloaded file and not the original one.
    >
    > Can you do the same test from some other machine? One that you know
    > has no AV/firewall software. Or at least, one where you have turned
    > both off.
    >
    > --
    > Regards,
    >
    > Tushar Mehta
    > www.tushar-mehta.com
    > Excel, PowerPoint, and VBA add-ins, tutorials
    > Custom MS Office productivity solutions
    >
    > In article <[email protected]>,
    > [email protected] says...
    >> That is what my first thought was as I had just added some code that
    >> would
    >> make a VB Script file.
    >> There was some other strange behaviour though that made me think it was
    >> not
    >> that, such as a never
    >> ending save of the .xla file, needing a Ctrl + Alt + Del.
    >>
    >> This is the code that makes the VB Script file and it would be clever
    >> software that would find that malicious:
    >>
    >> Sub MakeVBScriptAutoRunFile(strFile As String)
    >>
    >> Dim strVBS As String
    >> Dim strIndent As String
    >>
    >> strIndent = String(4, Chr(32))
    >>
    >> strVBS = "dim app" & vbCrLf & _
    >> "dim wb" & vbCrLf & vbCrLf & _
    >> "On Error Resume Next" & vbCrLf & _
    >> "Set app = GetObject(," & Chr(34) & "Excel.Application" &
    >> Chr(34) & ")" & vbCrLf & vbCrLf & _
    >> "if Err <> 0 Then" & vbCrLf & _
    >> strIndent & "set app = CreateObject(" & Chr(34) &
    >> "Excel.Application" & Chr(34) & ")" & vbCrLf & _
    >> strIndent & "app.Visible = True" & vbCrLf & _
    >> strIndent & "On Error GoTo 0" & vbCrLf & _
    >> "End If" & vbCrLf & vbCrLf & _
    >> "With app" & vbCrLf & _
    >> strIndent & ".DisplayAlerts = False" & vbCrLf & _
    >> strIndent & ".OnKey " & Chr(34) & "{F2}" & Chr(34) & ", " &
    >> Chr(34) & "StartReportForm" & Chr(34) & vbCrLf & _
    >> strIndent & ".OnKey " & Chr(34) & "{F4}" & Chr(34) & ", " &
    >> Chr(34) & "StartReadBrowser" & Chr(34) & vbCrLf & _
    >> strIndent & ".OnKey " & Chr(34) & "{F12}" & Chr(34) & ", " &
    >> Chr(34) & "LoadPatientFromID" & Chr(34) & vbCrLf & _
    >> strIndent & ".OnKey " & Chr(34) & "%z" & Chr(34) & ", " &
    >> Chr(34) & "MakeBPGraph" & Chr(34) & vbCrLf & _
    >> strIndent & ".Workbooks.Open(" & Chr(34) & strFile & Chr(34)
    >> &
    >> ")" & vbCrLf & _
    >> strIndent & ".UserControl = True" & vbCrLf & _
    >> strIndent & ".DisplayAlerts = True" & vbCrLf & _
    >> "End With"
    >>
    >> 'done it this way to hopefully fool the v-checker
    >> '------------------------------------------------
    >> StringToTextFile Replace(strFile, _
    >> ".xls", _
    >> Chr(46) & Chr(118) & Chr(98) & Chr(115), _
    >> 1, _
    >> 1, _
    >> vbTextCompare), _
    >> strVBS
    >>
    >> End Sub
    >>
    >>
    >> Maybe I should change the name of the Sub and not mention VBScript !?
    >>
    >>
    >> RBS
    >>
    >>
    >>
    >> "Tushar Mehta" <[email protected]> wrote in message
    >> news:[email protected]...
    >> > Another possibility to consider is that the download client machine has
    >> > some kind of anti-virus software that strips out what it considers
    >> > potentially malicious code.
    >> >
    >> > --
    >> > Regards,
    >> >
    >> > Tushar Mehta
    >> > www.tushar-mehta.com
    >> > Excel, PowerPoint, and VBA add-ins, tutorials
    >> > Custom MS Office productivity solutions
    >> >
    >> > In article <[email protected]>,
    >> > [email protected] says...
    >> >> Have developed a large Excel .xla add-in that now shows some very
    >> >> strange
    >> >> behaviour.
    >> >> This add-in works completely fine at home, but when I upload the file
    >> >> to
    >> >> a
    >> >> website and
    >> >> download it on a different location there are bits of code missing,
    >> >> for
    >> >> example all the code
    >> >> in the ThisWorkbook module and also code from normal code modules.
    >> >> When I
    >> >> download
    >> >> the same file at home everything is fine.
    >> >> It is a large file, 3.8 Mb with a lot of form and modules, but why
    >> >> would
    >> >> it
    >> >> be fine on one computer
    >> >> and not the other. The differences are:
    >> >> Home computer (all fine): Windows XP Pro, Excel 2002
    >> >> Other computer (not fine): Windows 2000, Excel 2003
    >> >> I have run the run Andrew Baker's Workbook Rebuilder several times.
    >> >> Thanks for any advice about this.
    >> >>
    >> >> RBS
    >> >>
    >> >>

    >>
    >>



  14. #14
    Registered User
    Join Date
    05-18-2005
    Posts
    1

    by accident I think I have found a funny fix

    I have recently been developing an addin using xl 2003 sp1, and notice that
    the file size was slowly growing as with your addins.

    I recently had need to alter some code on a client' machine (which was running un service packed xl 2003) when I save the file it changed from 3.8mb down to a unbeliveable 952k .

    So I'm wondering if xl 2003 sp1 is failing to tidy up the 'structured storage'.......

    I'm off to have a look inside the xla with any structured storgage utility I can find..... will post what I discover !

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