User FAQs

If you have a question, please send it to us.

1) Are there any user options that are specific to add-ins ?
(Advanced tab, At start-up, open all files in) - This can be used as an alternative folder to the xlstart folder.
(Advanced, General, Show add-in user interface errors) - Error messages will be displayed when Excel starts if there are any errors.

2) Can I hold down Shift when Excel opens to stop add-ins loading ?
When you open a workbook you have the option to hold down the Shift key to prevent any startup macros from running.
Holding down the Shift key will not prevent add-ins loading (and running) when Excel is opened.
Any event handling procedures cannot be bypassed by using the Shift key.
It is not possible to bypass the automatic Workbook_Open() event by holding down the Shift key.
You can however open your Excel is safe mode to prevent all add-ins from loading.

3) An add-in is loading but I cannot find it ?
When searching for installed add-ins also check the 2 XL Start folders: machine folder and personal folder.

4) What is the difference between the file extensions '.xla' and '.xlam' ?
.xla - Excel 97-2003 add-in file that uses a Binary (BIFF8) file format.
.xlam - Excel 2007-Excel 365 add-in file that uses an XML based default file format.

5) What is the loading order for add-ins ?
How can you tell which add-in will load first.
For Excel Add-ins the order is defined by the OPEN, OPEN1, OPEN2 registry entries

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Office\16.0\Excel\Options 

The add-ins are loaded in numerical order.
OPEN, OPEN1, OPEN2, etc
Excel VBA add-ins are loaded before COM Add-ins
For COM Add-ins the order is alphabetical by node

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Office\Excel\Addins\ 

They are loaded in alphabetical order

6) Do you have any add-ins that can be downloaded ?
Yes. We have a number of Add-ins available.
More information can be found here: Productivity Add-ins

7) What are COM Add-ins ?
These are add-ins that are written using C#, VB.NET or other programming languages.

8) What are JavaScript Add-ins ?
Frequently referred to as Office Add-ins these are written using JavaScript or TypeScript.

9) What are XLL Add-ins ?
These are DLL files that can be turned into add-ins using the Excel C API.