There are several ways to use the procedures in an add-in. By understanding the advantages and disadvantages of each technique, you can choose the method that's best suited to your work.
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Technique |
Advantages |
Disadvantages |
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Use the Open command (File menu) or the Open method in Visual Basic to open the add-in. |
This is the simplest way to load an add-in. Custom worksheet functions in the add-in can be typed into a worksheet, and the add-in can modify the user interface by using the Auto_Open procedure. |
Visual Basic procedures in the add-in aren't available to other workbooks, even though functions in the add-in are available to worksheets in other workbooks. In addition, all add-in resources are loaded into memory, whether or not they're required. |
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Use the References dialog box (Tools menu) to create a reference to the add-in. |
Visual Basic procedures in the add-in are available to other workbooks. Custom worksheet functions in the add-in are available to worksheets in other workbooks. |
No auto procedure (for example, auto_open) runs when the reference is created. In addition, there is no reliable way to create a reference using Visual Basic code. |
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Use the Add-Ins dialog box (Tools menu) to install the add-in. |
Microsoft Excel stores the location of the add-in in the system registry and can automatically load the add-in on startup. |
Visual Basic procedures in the add-in aren't available to other workbooks, even though functions in the add-in are available to worksheets in other workbooks. |
Placing the add-in the Xlstart folder (so that Microsoft Excel opens the add-in when it starts) results in the same behavior as opening the add-in any other way. Remember that Visual Basic procedures in the add-in aren't available to any other workbook unless you create a reference to the add-in using the References dialog box (Tools menu).