How do I update an Add-in

[bpeirson]

I have made an add-in for Excel with functions specific to our company. I am updating this add-in on a weekly basis. I am currently going to each workstation to copy the new version to the add-in folder.

How can I have the add-in automatically update for each work station?

Can I store the add-in on the server?
Can I move the default location for add-ins?

Any suggestions are appreciated (especially the convoluted or bizarre).

 

[joerd]

Yes you can keep the add-in on a network server, and setup each machine to look there. Browse for the addin in Tools/Addins, then answer "no" when Excel asks to copy the addin to the addin folder. You can also check the registry key where Excel stores the installed addins:[tt]
HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Office\9.0\Excel\Options\[/tt] (replace the 9.0 by your Office version, probably 11.0) in the entries named OPEN= , OPEN1=, etc.
Alternatively, you can set the alternate startup file location to some place on your network. That will allow you to add new add-ins as you develop them. This is specified under Tools/Options/General.

Cheers,
Joerd

Please see FAQ731-376 for tips on how to make the best use of Eng-Tips.

 

[bpeirson]

Thanks.

I had gone through that process before but I did not click "No". I didn't know that it was that simple.

 

[Panars]

I did this at my previous company. It works well, but be aware that everyone will have to have excel closed when you want to update the add-in. If even one person has Excel open, you will not be able to overwrite the add-in file on the network.

 

[bpeirson]

Panars, I just did an overwrite with some simple code included in the add-in for a test.

It was successful even though 2 other people are using Excel with the add-in active.

We are running Excel version 11.

 

[bpeirson]

Whoever logs in first gets the ability to save changes. This is usually me but sometimes not. I have now experienced the read-only message after updating the VBA code.

Brad.

 

[joerd]

Can you give read-only access to the add-in to everybody else, while maintaining read-write access to yourself?

Cheers,
Joerd

Please see FAQ731-376 for tips on how to make the best use of Eng-Tips.

 

[bpeirson]

I tried to do that with some VBA in the workbook object but I haven't been able to make it work. It's a low priority project.