Info about updates:

• 2009-08-08:  New version available that support Windows XP, Windows Vista, Windows 7 and also Excel 2010
• 2009-08-02:  The present version does not support Windows 7 RC. A new version is under development.
• 2007-05-28:  Removed the "error" message when installing on Windows Vista and updated the installation file accordingly.
• 2006-07-03:  A minor general update of this article. 
• 2006-05-27:  A minor update to open files with the new file extension in Excel 2007.
• 2006-05-25:  A minor update to control add-ins created with Excel 2007.

Task

Excel Loader is a standalone utility that let the user choose which add-ins should be loaded or not when launching Microsoft Excel.

How to use Excel Loader in summary:

• Start Excel Loader
• Choose version of Microsoft Excel
• Choose if Microsoft Excel will start with a new workbook or with an existing workbook
• Choose which add-ins should be loaded (checked in the list) or not (unchecked) when Microsoft Excel is launched
• Click on the Load Excel button to start Microsoft Excel with the wanted settings for the add-ins

Initially the tool read the present settings for the available add-ins when an Excel version has been selected. In the first column (Name) the file name of the add-ins (XLA/XLL) and the ProgID (COM) are viewed. Additional information about pathways, type of add-in and their status are showed in the second column.

The following picture shows the main dialog of Excel Loader:

In order to locate the add-ins that are shipped with Microsoft Excel you must configure which main folders Excel Loader should look into. This is also valid for any personal add-ins stored in these main folders.

This is done in the following dialog:

The default settings in the dialog refer to the English version and if you use an English version then click on the Save settings button and close the dialog. If you use another language version you need to change them before saving the settings. The settings are stored in the Windows registry.

Excel Loader is available for download (please see below) and after having downloading it you open the Explorer and double click on file to begin the installation of the utility.

All of the files available for download are provided as-is, without any warranty or support. All use of these files is at your own risk.