XL: Add-Ins Don't Load When Using CreateObject

ID: Q108888

The information in this article applies to:

SYMPTOMS

When you access Microsoft Excel as an OLE Automation object using the CreateObject command, add-ins, files located in the XLStart directory, and the default new workbook are not loaded.

CAUSE

Add-ins, files in the XLStart directory, and the default new workbook are not loaded when Microsoft Excel is run as an OLE Automation object using the CreateObject command. This is by design. When add-ins and files are loaded, Microsoft Excel sends a message to the calling application, such as Visual Basic, that it is not ready to respond to the request and to try again later. The calling application may not be able to handle this request, and will not be able to continue with the rest of the commands.

WORKAROUND

Microsoft provides programming examples for illustration only, without warranty either expressed or implied, including, but not limited to, the implied warranties of merchantability and/or fitness for a particular purpose. This article assumes that you are familiar with the programming language being demonstrated and the tools used to create and debug procedures. Microsoft support professionals can help explain the functionality of a particular procedure, but they will not modify these examples to provide added functionality or construct procedures to meet your specific needs. If you have limited programming experience, you may want to contact the Microsoft fee-based consulting line at (800) 936-5200. For more information about the support options available from Microsoft, please see the following page on the World Wide Web: 

   http://www.microsoft.com/support/supportnet/refguide/
To load an add-in file when you run Microsoft Excel as an OLE Automation object, load the add-in manually. The following is an example of using this method: 

   Sub LoadAddin()

      ' Dimension variable xl as object type.
      Dim xl As Object

      ' Activate Microsoft Excel and assign to variable xl.
      Set XL = CreateObject("Excel.Application")

      ' Open the add-in file you want, in this example, XLQUERY.XLA.
      XL.Workbooks.Open (XL.librarypath & "\MSQUERY\XLQUERY.XLA")

      ' If you need to register the functions and commands
      ' contained in a resource (XLL), use the RegisterXLL method.
      ' In the example below, all functions of Analys32.xll are
      ' registered.
      ' XL.RegisterXLL "Analys32.xll"

      ' Run any auto macros contained in the add-in file
      ' Auto macros don't run when you open a file
      ' using the Open method.
      XL.Workbooks("xlquery.xla").RunAutoMacros 1

      Set XL = Nothing

   End Sub

MORE INFORMATION

Because Microsoft Excel does not load add-ins or files in the XLStart directory when you call it as an OLE Automation object, you have complete control of the loading process. If you want an add-in loaded, you can load it manually. This behavior also means that no macro errors, locked file alerts, or read-only file alerts will keep Microsoft Excel from loading when it is being called by the CreateObject command. Another benefit of this behavior is that it takes less time to load Microsoft Excel than it does when add-ins or files are loaded when you run Microsoft Excel.

REFERENCES

For an overview of controlling what happens when you start Microsoft Excel, click the Search button in Help and type: 

   startup workbook
For more information about Installing Or Removing An Add-in, click the Search button in Help and type: 

    add-ins
For additional information about getting help with Visual Basic for Applications, please see the following article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base: 

   ARTICLE-ID: Q163435
   TITLE     : VBA: Programming Resources for Visual Basic for Applications
Additional query words: 5.00 5.00c 7.00 8.00 97 personal.xls personal macro workbook xl97 
Keywords          : kbprg kbdta kbdtacode xladdins KbVBA 
Version           : WINDOWS:5.0,5.0c,7.0,97
Platform          : WINDOWS
Issue type        : kbprb

Last Reviewed: May 17, 1999