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in a readerExcel add-ins fail to load
Introduction
Lately (I wrote this page on August 17, 2016) I've been getting reports from people complaining that they can no longer use add-ins. In this article I describe the problem and a solution.
The problem
Even though an add-in has been "installed" into Excel using the Add-ins dialog its userinterface does not show. This is that dialog:
As you can see, some add-ins are checked. But sometimes the user-interface of an add-in fails to display. In fact, the add-in file will not open in Excel at all, even if you try from Windows Explorer, or from File, Open from within Excel. Without any error message.
The cause
A recent Office Security update has caused any file downloaded from the internet (so this includes add-ins) to be marked as Blocked. Even if those files were in a zip container, they are marked as blocked. And Excel will simply not open them.
Solution
Unblock the files! Like so:
1. Copy the file from the zip file to any folder
2. Right-click the file and choose properties:
3. Click the Unblock button:
Other resources
If you have a folder full of blocked files, this page describes a way to unblock all of them using Powershell.
And a great article by fellow-MVP Jon Acampora: Excel Add-in Ribbon Disappears After Installation.
This article describes the mechanics of the problem very well: http://www.howtogeek.com/70012/what-causes-the-file-downloaded-from-the-internet-warning-and-how-can-i-easily-remove-it/
Comments
Showing last 8 comments of 23 in total (Show All Comments):Comment by: Jan Karel Pieterse (5/25/2018 3:38:51 PM)
If you open Excel and subsequently the VBA Editor, is Name Manager listed in the list of projects?
Comment by: Ronald LaRiviere (5/25/2018 5:12:50 PM)
It is listed NameManager (Name Manager 2007.xlam)
Ron
Comment by: Jan Karel Pieterse (5/27/2018 11:32:28 AM)
Does control+shift+n open the name manager dialog? The UI can be normally found on the formulas tab of the ribbon, far right.
Comment by: Ron LaRiviere (5/29/2018 1:52:57 PM)
Comment by: Jan Karel Pieterse (5/29/2018 2:12:59 PM)
If you enable show add-in userinterface errors (Excel options) and you reboot Excel, do you get any error messages?
Comment by: Ronald LaRiviere (5/29/2018 2:55:25 PM)
The custom UI associated with this document has been disabled by policy.
Comment by: Jan Karel Pieterse (5/29/2018 3:19:28 PM)
Which is tech-speak which means your IT dept has decided for you that you do not want external tools to work properly. Unfortunately there isn't anything I can do about that :-(
Comment by: PhilUK (6/22/2018 10:44:37 AM)
Like many of your followers I have used your addin since Excel 2003 and have appreciated your work for many years
I am now using Excel 2016
When I try to add a new name I get an error message headed "API Clipboard Copy", which states "Memory location could not be Unlocked. Clipboard copy aborted"
The added name is then listed but typically shows as referring to the active cell only
I have tried to edit the "refers to" but the same error message appears
Can you offer any advice?
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