Install .xla Excel add-on for all users?

Question

When you add a new .XLA add-on using Excel it only adds it for the current user. Is there a possibility to add it for all the users of the computer even with editing registry?

Answer 1

Excel normally loads addins based on per user example below:

[HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Office\11.0\Excel\Options] "OPEN"="c:\someapp\exceladdin.xla" "OPEN1"="c:\someapp1\exceladdin.xla"

For each excel addin there is an OPENn (where n is a number) e.g. OPEN, OPEN1, OPEN2 etc.

Note that it depends on the current version of Excel:

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Office\12.0\Excel\Options HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Office\11.0\Excel\Options

You can build a vb script that would do the trick. Here are the steps to follow:

1. Check how many OPEN keys you have for each user in the REG (users may already have an xla loading at startup)
2. Add an OPEN value (REG_SZ) with the path to the xla file

Note that some Excel addins use the following registry:

[HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Office\Excel\Addins

Answer 2

You can import ntuser.dat file from c:\users\default and name it something. Then modify that key HKEY_USERS\SOMETHING\software\Microsoft\Office\16.0\Excel\Options and make the add-in(s) start for any new user of the machine.

This trick works well for a lab admin who is refreshing the desktop after each student logs off.

Answer 3

The best solution I think came in a comment below from @cxw on Feb 25, 2017.

1. Create text file ending .reg containing this text:

[HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Office\16.0\Excel\Options] "OPEN99"="c:\someapp\exceladdin.xla"

2. Double-click to update registry.
3. Start Excel (this is where the magic happens OPEN99 is changed to OPENx where x is the next available slot in Add-Ins list)
4. Close & restart Excel and add-in will load.

Using OPEN99 or OPEN128 will work. I use this to push my add-ins into the user's list of add-ins without overwriting any existing OPEN, OPEN1, etc. I can have multiple add-ins opening for one user and not have to be concerned with existing config or order of loading. Simple. Thanks, cxw.