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Hi,

I have been giving this tool a try for the last two weeks. It has pretty much done all that I need it to do except one major issue.

When I use the "Launch Excel" task, the Excel Add-in that I am using in my automation is not showing up. Nothing I do seems to get it to cooperate. If I just load the spreadsheet on my own or simply load Excel the Add-in is there. It's just when I use the 'Launch Excel" task in  WinAutomation.

Have you see this before? Any suggestions?

Thanks

 What kind of extension does your file have? Is it an xla or xll file? Also, did you try running it with the "Run Application" action? If so, what were the results? Did the add-in show up? 

I'm having a similar problem except my macros aren't showing up when I use 'Lauch Excel'. They do when 'Run Application' is used (although with an error), but then I can't take advantage of any Excel Instances. When I open the spreadsheet (csv file) manually the macro shows up and runs perfectly.

 Basically, a csv file cannot contain macros. A csv file is a text file with a predefined format. This means that the file that you are opening is automatically detected when Microsoft Excel starts manually but it may have problems when it is being launched by WinAutomation (I'm guessing through COM). Try saving your file as an xla or xll file and then use the "Launch Excel" action again.

Sorry if this is only a partial answer. I'm at the office and unable to see my script. 

When you ask what extension does my file have I assume you are talking about the "Excel Extension" that I installed? It is an .xla file. More specifically it is the IIF Transaction Creator extension provided by Big Red Consulting.

Anyway, I have been using the "Run Application" action since I wrote the original post. The add-in shows up fine when I use that. I had to write a macro to do the tasks I need, but it works great. I was hoping to simplify things by using Winautomate for as much as I could, but alas I was forced to use VB. I find Automate to be the framework to keep everything moving forward and that is good enough for now.

 

Yes - I should've mentioned the macro was saved in a separate xls file.  Using xla & xll files causes the same problem when using the "Launch Excel" action. I've also tried copying the macro file to the XLStart directory, manual works fine again but not "Launch Excel". Using Run application will really complicate things for me because then I won't be able to use the Excel Instances. I guess I'll have to do it the hard way.

 I'm not quite sure why this is happening to you guys. I have created some sample jobs with the "Launch Excel" action and macros in my xla file, and it worked absolutely fine. My guess is that the files that you are using or your Excel installation have an option that disallow the Macros being used through COM. 

If anyone of you could post a very simple Excel file with macros that does not work with the "Launch Excel" action, I will be able to examine the specific issue in depth and see if I can reproduce the issue in my machine. There is no need to be a complete Excel file with a lot of information in it, I just need a file that reproduces the issue.

Hello! Well.. from my point of view, any time i had problems with Macros, it was due to macro being disabled or user defined from the global options. When you manually open an Excel file, there's a small toolbar that pop's up saying that macros are not enabled, click here to enable them and then you click and that annoying toolbar disappears enabling all macros! When you open an excel through WinAutomation, you do not have that ability (Enabling the macros), unless you have automated that procedure as well. My workaround for Excel in Office 2007 (same applies for MS Access too), was to go to the Excel Options, click on the Trust Center > Trust Center Settings Macro Settings > (check) enable all macros About Office 2003 you can also check out this link about enabling macros http://office.microsoft.com/en-us/excel/HP011195791033.aspx Give it a try and let me know whether it works!

Has anyone figured out how to get the Excel add ins to load through WinAutomation yet? I can get the add ins to load when I start Excel manually. I tried setting the security settings to allow macros, add ins and all virus' but to no avail!

 

Everything loads when I use 'Run Application' but then I can't use the Excel actions in WinAutomation. Does anyone have the answer to the problem? I am using Excel 2010.

 

The last post on this problem was from back on June 2010 I was hoping someone would have an answer by now!

Hi there, I do not recall this issue, I think that I read about it somewhere, that you could manually run excel or use the command line to run it, and then you should be able to run the add-ins. If that's not the case, please do let me know what addin you are trying to run, and i'll give it a try. PS. What Office version are you running? What Windows? :) Samantha