Please Note: This article is written for users of the following Microsoft Excel versions: 2007, 2010, and 2013. If you are using an earlier version (Excel 2003 or earlier), this tip may not work for you. For a version of this tip written specifically for earlier versions of Excel, click here: Creating Add-Ins.

Creating Add-Ins

by Allen Wyatt
(last updated April 23, 2018)

15

Any Excel workbook can be converted to an add-in. The steps you need to follow to create an add-in are very precise, and may seem a bit overwhelming (particularly the first couple of times you do it). To create a protected add-in file, you need to do a little work in the VBA Editor and in Excel itself. First, here are the steps to follow to get the settings correct in the VBA Editor:

  1. Load the workbook that is destined to become your add-in.
  2. Press Alt+F11. Excel displays the Visual Basic Editor.
  3. At the very top of the Project window, select the bold entry that declares the name of the VBA project that is open.
  4. Choose the Properties option from the Tools menu. This displays the Project Properties dialog box.
  5. Make sure the Protection tab is selected. (See Figure 1.)

    6. Figure 1. The Protection tab of the project's Properties dialog box.

  6. Make sure the Lock Project For Viewing check box is selected.
  7. Enter a password in both fields at the bottom of the dialog box.
  8. Click on OK. The dialog box closes.
  9. Press Alt+Q. Excel close the Visual Basic Editor and returns to the Excel workbook.

Now it is time to do a little work in Excel. Follow these steps if you are using Excel 2010 or Excel 2013:

  1. Display the File tab of the ribbon.
  2. Make sure the Info option is selected at the left side of the dialog box.
  3. Click the Properties link near the right side of the dialog box and then click Advanced Properties. Excel displays the Properties dialog box for your workbook.
  4. Make sure the Summary tab is displayed. (See Figure 2.)

    5. Figure 2. The Summary tab of the workbook's Properties dialog box.

  5. Make sure the Title field is filled in. What you enter here will appear in the Add-Ins dialog box used by Excel.
  6. Make sure the Comments field is filled in. What you enter here will appear in the description area of the Add-Ins dialog box used by Excel.
  7. Click on the OK button.
  8. Press F12. Excel displays the Save As dialog box.
  9. Using the Save As Type pull-down list, specify a file type of Excel Add-In (*.xlam).
  10. Specify a name for your add-in file in the File Name field.
  11. Click on Save. Your add-in file is created.
  12. Close the workbook you just saved as an add-in.

The steps are slightly different in Excel 2007:

  1. Click the Office button, Prepare, and then Properties. Excel displays the Document Information Panel just below the ribbon and just above the worksheet.
  2. Make sure the Title field is filled in. What you enter here will appear in the Add-Ins dialog box used by Excel.
  3. Make sure the Comments field is filled in. What you enter here will appear in the description area of the Add-Ins dialog box used by Excel.
  4. Close the Document Information Panel.
  5. Press F12. Excel displays the Save As dialog box.
  6. Using the Save As Type pull-down list, specify a file type of Excel Add-In (*.xlam).
  7. Specify a name for your add-in file in the File Name field.
  8. Click on Save. Your add-in file is created.
  9. Close the workbook you just saved as an add-in.

Note:

If you would like to know how to use the macros described on this page (or on any other page on the ExcelTips sites), I've prepared a special page that includes helpful information. Click here to open that special page in a new browser tab.

ExcelTips is your source for cost-effective Microsoft Excel training. This tip (8528) applies to Microsoft Excel 2007, 2010, and 2013. You can find a version of this tip for the older menu interface of Excel here: Creating Add-Ins.

Author Bio

Allen Wyatt

With more than 50 non-fiction books and numerous magazine articles to his credit, Allen Wyatt is an internationally recognized author. He is president of Sharon Parq Associates, a computer and publishing services company. ...

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Comments

If you would like to add an image to your comment (not an avatar, but an image to help in making the point of your comment), include the characters [{fig}] in your comment text. You’ll be prompted to upload your image when you submit the comment. Maximum image size is 6Mpixels. Images larger than 600px wide or 1000px tall will be reduced. Up to three images may be included in a comment. All images are subject to review. Commenting privileges may be curtailed if inappropriate images are posted.

What is two more than 2?

2016-09-27 10:31:33

Bernard Liengme

Needs a bit of updating for Excel 2016

2016-06-07 16:55:49

farzad

Thanks you so much

2016-04-26 06:37:07

Steve

Hans,
I keep my addin file in a Dropbox folder which I can share with my work computers. I then point Excel addin manager to the shared folder - bingo the same addin on all the computers I use, home, work, mobile ....
If I then think of an amendment or addition, I can make it wherever I am working & save it back. The amendments are then available on all machines when Excel is next loaded.

2016-04-25 05:39:39

Frank Morley

Hans Jensen:

Hans, save your macro file as an xlsm or xlsb file (xlsb is faster to load).
Make the file shared. Create this code in the Workbook_Open procedure:

ThisWorkbook.IsAddin= True

Create the following code in the Workbook_BeforeClose procedure:

With ThisWorkbook
.IsAddin = False
.Saved = True
.Close
End With

When the workbook is opened as an add-in it will be hidden for the user but all functionality will remain.

Now save or copy the workbook to a shared drive. Create a shortcut in every users XLSTART folder pointing to the file on the shared drive.

Next time the user start Excel your file will be loaded as an add-in.

You will now be able to maintain and debug your code in your loal copy of the shared file and overwrite the version on the shared drive when you want to publish changes.

2015-12-11 04:06:24

Hans Jensen

Since this page is apparently still read, I try with a question:
How do I manage a .xlam that I want a whole workgroup to be able to use? And I want to be able to maintain it (bug fixes and extentions). It seems to me, when you install an Add-In it is copied locally, so it seems not directly possible to maintain a "workgroup add-in"?

2015-09-02 06:20:51

Rod Grealish

Stuart Jackson:

Stuart, this message will probably not get through to you as you have decided not to return to the site.

I think your view is a bit over the top. You've condemned the whole ship because one of the cabins is not to your liking.

I find this a very useful and interesting site. I have no need to use most of the tips; some I like, some I don't, some I could do better myself. You can't always expect instant wisdom. You need to persevere.

2015-09-02 04:31:11

Stuart Jackson

Verging on pointless and very frustrating seeing as this thread tells you how to set the add-in up and then nothing; the point of an add-in in my mind is to have a macro to run against any workbook which can be fired from the toolbar and seeing as the 'firing' bit is missing off this thread I have a macro I can't use and will have to hunt elsewhere to find out how to set it up properly. a few extra notes on how to complete the job in full would have been expected. I will not be returning to this site.

2014-10-02 05:58:21

Kurukafa

Thanks you for this nice explanation. I was unable to find that add-in description is actually grabbed from the Comments field of the file. Fortunately I come across your page.

I also want to note that it is not possible to set the Publisher field of the add-in. It is always displayed as blank, unless your add-in is not an xlam file.

2014-08-06 11:21:19

Aldo

ADD-INs are one of the best tools available in MS Excel! I have created over the years many useful functions and macros for various tasks and requires. One in particular is a function that works with feet-inch measurements ie: 5'-4 3/4" converts to 64.75

I deal with a lot of field work measurements and is was always frustrating to do the conversions, so I created a function to do this for me and then saved it as in an add-in file. Now I have this function (among others now) available every time for any file. I can share with co-workers as well.

Add-ins are the best, and they are super easy to update as needed. I have over 20 custom functions I use on a regular bases!

Learn it, use it. It will greatly be worth it.

2014-07-01 08:11:29

rpurosky

Thanks, John, that's very clear.

2014-07-01 08:11:29

rpurosky

Thanks, John, that's very clear.

2014-06-30 20:10:31

johnjacobson

rpurosky:

one advantage of an add-in is it makes custom functions easier. If you want to use a custom function in a macro file, you have to have the file open and you have to preface the function name with the filename, like =personal.xlsm!BuildRange(). However if the custom function is in an add-in, it's always available and you don't have to type the filename, just =BuildRange().

2014-06-30 09:07:30

rpurosky

My main question is what is the purpose of creating an add-in? What can you do with an add-in that you can't with a macro or why would it be easier to use than a macro? Not seeing the "why" in this tip, just the "how".
(Jodi: I can see the graphics fine, so may be your browser settings.)

2014-06-30 08:26:24

Jodi

Figure images for the site do not appear even when selecting "show pictures" (rt click).. Any suggestions on how to get these to appear?

2014-06-28 10:59:19

pegstein

how does an add-in work with another worksheet? I want to create something that will automate formatting of data and worksheets. Is an add-in the right answer?

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