Distributing Excel Add-ins

SGevorgyan · May 4th, 2010, 11:58 am

Hi,I have created an Excel Add-In that I would like to distribute to several users over a network. I would like it done in away so that the Add-In can be stored in a central location on our network, and if the Add-In is updated all users will get the updated version when they re-start Excel. Any suggestions on the best way to do this?Thanks.

Hansi · May 4th, 2010, 1:35 pm

This might give one persons insight:http://www.excelguru.ca/node/45

SGevorgyan · May 4th, 2010, 3:02 pm

Thanks a lot Hansi! This was a very useful article,.. I was thinking something in this direction as well.. However I think saving the add-in as read-only solves part of the prblem, as only you (or one person) of all the users can now edit the add-in, and if it (accidently) requires access for a second person to be editing the add-in then I dont know how to proceed in this case. Do you think there is a way to solve this throu user groups??Thanks a lot, appreciate your response. S

Hansi · May 4th, 2010, 4:38 pm

Yes user groups are a possible solution. Another one would be to make the development version with r/w privs in one location on the network and then for deployment replace the read only version with the new one that originates from the r/w version but is again set to read only. That is basically replace the "local PC" placement of the development version in the article with a network location.

SGevorgyan · May 5th, 2010, 8:15 am

Thanks Hansi, appreciate your response! SG.

SGevorgyan · May 5th, 2010, 8:15 am

Thanks Hansi, appreciate your response! SG.

FastExcel · May 6th, 2010, 10:26 am

I use an automatically reversioning add-in loader.You install the small addin loader on the users PCs and it then loads the latest version of the real addin from a shared location.There is a fully working customisable demonstration version of this on my downloads page:http://www.decisionmodels.com/downloads.htm

Hansi · May 6th, 2010, 12:53 pm

QuoteOriginally posted by: FastExcelI use an automatically reversioning add-in loader.You install the small addin loader on the users PCs and it then loads the latest version of the real addin from a shared location.There is a fully working customisable demonstration version of this on my downloads page:http://www.decisionmodels.com/downloads.htmGood idea but the site's not working :/http://downforeveryoneorjustme.com/decisionmodels.com