Please Note: This article is written for users of the following Microsoft Excel versions: 97, 2000, 2002, and 2003. If you are using a later version (Excel 2007 or later), this tip may not work for you. For a version of this tip written specifically for later versions of Excel, click here: Using Custom Add-Ins.
After you have created your own add-in, you can use it in your system. Once the add-in has been loaded, the functions or features in the add-in become available to any other workbook you may have open, or any time you are using Excel. All you need to do to use your add-in is follow these steps:
Figure 1. The Add-Ins dialog box.
Note:
ExcelTips is your source for cost-effective Microsoft Excel training. This tip (2277) applies to Microsoft Excel 97, 2000, 2002, and 2003. You can find a version of this tip for the ribbon interface of Excel (Excel 2007 and later) here: Using Custom Add-Ins.
Professional Development Guidance! Four world-class developers offer start-to-finish guidance for building powerful, robust, and secure applications with Excel. The authors show how to consistently make the right design decisions and make the most of Excel's powerful features. Check out Professional Excel Development today!
Got an add-in that you don't want loaded each time that Excel starts up? Here's a few ways that you can exclude it.
Discover MoreWant to load a particular add-in for use with a specific worksheet? Here's a quick way to do it using macros.
Discover MoreThe primary way to extend what Excel can do is through the use of add-ins. This tip explains what they are and the ...
Discover MoreFREE SERVICE: Get tips like this every week in ExcelTips, a free productivity newsletter. Enter your address and click "Subscribe."
2015-11-04 10:37:57
Willy Vanhaelen
@Lucilla
You can't run an add-in. It loads automatically every time you run Excel. You can access it in the VB editor and insert macros in a module. However those macros are not visible in the Run macro dialog box but they can be assigned to a button in the QAT or you can assign a shortcut key to them via the OnKey method like this (insert it in the add-inn's 'ThisWorkbook' code sheet):
Private Sub Workbook_Open()
Application.OnKey "^+a", "ShowAll" 'Shift+Ctrl+A
End Sub
You can also run an add-in's macro from a custom command in the ribbon. For more info on this, see my website at: http://wv-be.com/Ribbon.asp
2015-11-03 12:13:12
Lucilla
Hi,
Thanks a lot for your tips! I am quite new with Add-Ins but also quite good with Macros. I have a macro that, with some files as input produce me a power point with graphs and tables. Now, I would like to create an Add-In from this macro. I saved the file as .xlam and I have added the Add-In on my excel... now??? how can I run the add-in? I cannot find it anywhere! I see it in the list of add-ins from the "option" menu, but from the workbook I cannot call it. I am using excel 2007.
Thanks a lot for any support you can give to me!
Best regards
Lucilla
Got a version of Excel that uses the menu interface (Excel 97, Excel 2000, Excel 2002, or Excel 2003)? This site is for you! If you use a later version of Excel, visit our ExcelTips site focusing on the ribbon interface.
FREE SERVICE: Get tips like this every week in ExcelTips, a free productivity newsletter. Enter your address and click "Subscribe."
Copyright © 2020 Sharon Parq Associates, Inc.
Please Note:
This article is written for users of the following Microsoft Excel versions: 97, 2000, 2002, and 2003. If you are using a later version (Excel 2007 or later), this tip may not work for you. For a version of this tip written specifically for later versions of Excel, click here: 
Comments