Add-ins in Excel

Last Updated :

Blog Author :

Edited by :

Reviewed by :

Table Of Contents

What are Add-ins in Excel?

An add-ins is an extension that adds more features and options to Microsoft Excel. Providing additional functions to the user increases the power of Excel. An add-in needs to be enabled for usage. Once enabled, it activates as Excel is started.

For example, Excel add-ins can perform tasks like creating, deleting, and updating the data of a workbook. Moreover, one can add buttons to the Excel ribbon and run custom functions with add-ins.

The Solver, Data Analysis (Analysis ToolPak), and Analysis ToolPak-VBA are some essential add-ins.

The purposes of activating add-ins are listed as follows: -

To interact with the objects of Excel
To avail an extended range of functions and buttons
To facilitate the setting up of standard add-ins throughout an organization
To serve the varied needs of a broad audience

In Excel, one can access several Add-ins from “Add-ins” under the “Options” button of the "File" tab. In addition, one can select from the drop-down “Manage” in the “Add-ins” window for more add-ins.

By default, it might hide some add-ins. One can view the unhidden add-ins in the "Data" tab on the Excel ribbon. For example, it is shown in the following image.

What are Add-ins in Excel?

How to Install Add-ins in Excel?

If Excel is not displaying the add-ins, they need to be installed. The steps to install Excel add-ins are listed as follows:

First, click on the “File” tab located at the top left corner of Excel.
Click “Options,” as shown in the following image.
The “Excel Options” window opens. Select “Add-ins.”
There is a box to the right of "Manage" at the bottom. Click the arrow to view the drop-down menu. Select "Excel add-ins" and click "Go."
The “Add-ins” dialog box appears. Select the required checkboxes and click “OK.” We have selected all four add-ins.
The “Data Analysis” and “Solver” options appear under the “Data tab” of the Excel ribbon.

Types of Add-ins in Excel

The types of add-ins are listed as follows:

Inbuilt add-ins: These are built into the system. One can unhide them by performing the steps listed under the preceding heading (how to install add-ins in Excel?).
Downloadable add-ins: These can be downloaded from the Microsoft website (www.office.com).
Custom add-ins: These are designed to support the basic functionality of Excel. They may be free or chargeable.

The Data Analysis Add-in

The "Data Analysis Tools" pack analyzes statistics, finance, and engineering data.

The various tools available under the "Data Analysis" add-in are shown in the following image.

Create Custom Functions and Install them as an Excel Add-in

Generally, an add-in is created with the help of VBA macros. Let us learn to create an add-in (in all Excel files) for a custom function. For this, first, we make a custom function.

Let us consider some examples.

Example #1–Extract Comments from the Cells of Excel

We want to extract comments from specific cells of Excel. Then, create an add-in for the same.

The steps for creating an add-in and extracting comments from cells are listed as follows:

Step 1: Open a new workbook.

Step 2: Press the shortcut “ALT+F11” to access the “Visual Basic Editor.” The following image shows the main screen of Microsoft Visual Basic for Applications.

Step 3: Click “Module” under the “Insert” tab, shown in the following image.

Step 4: Enter the following code in the “module” window.

Function TakeOutComment(CommentCell As Range) As String

TakeOutComment = CommentCell.Comment.Text

End Function

Step 5: Once the code is entered, save the file with the type “Excel add-in.”

Step 6: Open the file containing comments.

Step 7: Select " Options " in the "File" tab and select "Options." Choose "Add-ins." In the box to the right of "Manage," select "Excel Add-ins." Click "Go."

Click the "Browse" option in the "Add-ins" dialog box.

Step 8: Select the add-in file that had been saved. Click “Ok.”

We saved the file with the name "Excel Add-in."

Step 9: The workbook's name (Excel Add-in) that we had saved appears as an add-in, as shown in the following image.

This add-in can be applied as an Excel formula to extract comments.

Step 10: Go to the sheet containing comments. The names of three cities appear with comments, as shown in the following image.

Step 11: In cell B1, enter the symbol "equal to" followed by the function's name. Type "TakeOutComment," as shown in the following image.

Step 12: Select cell A1 as the reference. It extracts the comment from the mentioned cell.

Since there are no comments in cells A2 and A3, the formula returns “#VALUE!.”

Example #2–Hide Worksheets in Excel

We want to hide Excel worksheets except for the active sheet. Create an add-in and icon on the Excel toolbar for the same.

The steps to hide worksheets (except for the currently active sheet) and, after that, create an add-in and icon are listed as follows:

Step 1: Open a new workbook.

Step 2: In the “Visual Basic” window, insert a “Module” from the Insert tab. The same is shown in the following image.

Step 3: Copy and paste the following code into the module.

Sub Hide_All_Worksheets_()
Dim As Worksheet
For Each Ws In ActiveWorkbook.Worksheets
If Ws.Name <> ActiveSheet.Name Then

Ws.Visible = xlSheetVeryHidden
End If
Next Ws

End Sub

Step 4: Save this workbook with the type “Excel add-in.”

Step 5: Add this add-in to the new workbook. For this, click “Options” under the “File” tab. Select “Add-ins.” In the box to the right of “Manage,” select “Excel add-in” Click “Go.”

In the “Add-ins” window, choose “Browse.”

Step 6: Select the saved add-in file. Click “Ok.”

We have saved the file with the name “Hide All Worksheets.”

Step 7: The new add-in “Hide All Worksheets” appears in the “Add-ins” window.

Step 8: Right-click the Excel ribbon and select “Customize the Ribbon.”

Step 9: The “Excel Options” window appears. Click “Quick Access Toolbar.” Under the drop-down of “Choose commands from,” select “macros.”

In the box following this drop-down, choose the name of the macro. Then, click “Add” followed by “OK.” The tasks of this step are shown with the help of black arrows in the following image.

Step 10: A small icon appears on the toolbar. Clicking this icon hides all worksheets except for the currently active sheet.

Example #3–Unhide the Hidden Sheets of Excel

If we want to unhide the sheets hidden in the preceding example (example #2). Create an add-in and toolbar icon for the same.

The steps to unhide the sheets and, after that, create an add-in and toolbar icon are listed as follows:

Step 1: Copy and paste the following code to the “Module” inserted in Microsoft Visual Basic for Applications.

Sub UnHide_All_HiddenSheets_()
Dim Ws As Worksheet
For Each Ws In ActiveWorkbook.Worksheets
Ws.Visible = xlSheetVisible
Next Ws

End Sub

Step 2: Save the file as “Excel add-in.” Add this add-in to the sheet.

Right-click the Excel ribbon and choose the option "Customize the ribbon." Then, in the "Quick Access Toolbar," select "Macros" under the drop-down of "Choose commands from."

Choose the macro's name, click "Add" and "OK." The tasks of this step are shown with the help of black arrows in the following image.

Step 3: Another icon appears on the toolbar. Clicking this icon unhides the hidden worksheets.

The Cautions While Creating Add-ins

The points to be observed while working with add-ins are listed as follows:

First, remember to save the file in Excel's "Add-in" extension of Excel.
Be careful while selecting the add-ins to be inserted by browsing in the "Add-ins" window.

Note: It is possible to uninstall the unnecessary add-ins at any time.

Frequently Asked Questions

1. What is an add-in? where is it in Excel?

An add-in extends the functions of Excel. It provides more features to the user. It is also possible to create custom functions and insert them as an add-in in Excel.

An add-in can be created, used, and shared with an audience. One can find the add-ins in the u0022Add-insu0022 window of Excel.

The steps to access the add-ins in Excel are listed as follows:

a. Click "Options" in the "File" tab of Excel. Select "Add-ins."
b. In the box to the right of "Manage," select "Excel add-ins." Click "Go."
c. The "Add-ins" window opens. Click "Browse."
d. Select the required add-in file and click "OK."

Note: The add-ins already present in the system can be accessed by browsing. Select the corresponding checkbox in the "Add-ins" window and click "OK" to activate an add-in.

2. How to remove an Add-in from Excel?

For removing an add-in from the Excel ribbon, it needs to be inactivated. The steps to inactivate an add-in of Excel are listed as follows:

a. In the File tab, click "Options" and choose "Add-ins".
b. From the drop-down menu of the "Manage" box, select "Excel add-ins." Click
"Go."
c. In the "Add-ins" window, deselect the checkboxes of the add-ins to be inactivated. Click "OK."

The deselected add-ins are inactivated. Sometimes, one may need to restart Excel after inactivation. It helps remove the add-in from the ribbon.

Note: Inactivation does not remove an add-in from the computer. For removing an inactivated add-in from the computer, it needs to be uninstalled.

3. How to add an Add-in to the Excel toolbar?

The steps to add an Add-in to the Excel toolbar are listed as follows:

a. In an Excel workbook, press "Alt+F11" to open the Visual Basic Editor. Enter the code by inserting a "module."
b. Press "Alt+F11" to return to Excel. Save the file as "Excel add-in" (.xlam).
c. In File, select "Options" followed by "Add-ins." Select "Excel add-ins" in the "Manage" box and click "Go."
d. Browse this file in the "Add-ins" window. Select the required checkbox and click "OK."
e. Right-click the ribbon and choose "Customize the Ribbon." Click "Quick Access Toolbar."
f. Select "Macros" from the drop-down of "Choose commands from."
g. Choose the required macro, click "Add" and "OK."

The icon appears on the toolbar. This icon works in all Excel workbooks as the add-in has been enabled.