Word addin not loaded when application is started with VBA from within Excel

Anonymous
2019-05-17T11:20:39+00:00

I have an add-in (dotm template) which is stored in Word's Startup folder. Among other things it contains a customized ribbon.

This works fine, no problems when Word is started from the menu, double clicking a document etc. The add-in is loaded and the customizations in the ribbon are visible.

However if Word is started from VBA within another application (Excel or Access) the customizations in the ribbon do not show. If I check in the Developer tab the Add-in is listed and is selected as well.

Even if I unselected it (unload) and select (load) it again from the interface, the customized ribbon does not show.

This worked fine in Office 2010 with the exact same Excel VBA code and the same add-in.

Why does it not work in Office 2016? 

Version 1904

Build 11601.20178

Microsoft 365 and Office | Word | For home | Windows

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  1. Anonymous
    2019-05-17T14:37:50+00:00

    I am not able to replicate here.

    • Word closed.
    • Ran my code from Excel.

    There are other Add-Ins that load earlier.

    It may be the other Add-Ins loaded first. They are loaded in alphabetical order.

    The arrow is to the one with your code.

    I am due in court and may not be back online until this evening. This weekend, I will try it on my system running 2016.

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  2. Anonymous
    2019-05-17T13:44:46+00:00

    Thanks.

    I can reproduce under very simple circumstances:

    • Create a dotm with no code
    • Add the following xml:

    <customUI xmlns="http://schemas.microsoft.com/office/2009/07/customui"

              xmlns:NsPROJECT="PROJECT Namespace">

      <ribbon startFromScratch="false">

        <tabs>

          <tab

          idQ="NsPROJECT:rxtabPROJECTHome"

          insertAfterMso="TabHome"

          label="TEST TAB">

            <group

             idQ="NsPROJECT:rxgrpPROJECTGeneral"

             label="TEST GROUP">

              <toggleButton idMso="ParagraphMarks" size="large"   />

            </group>

          </tab>

        </tabs>

      </ribbon>

    </customUI>

    • Use the code you provided for the Excel file
    • If I try this, the ribbon customizations don't show

    Can you reproduce this?

    I am very sure this has nothing to do with the normal.dotm since I reproduced on three different systems: Word 2016 32 bit, Word 16 64 bit and Word 2019 64 bit. All with their own normal.dotm

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  3. Anonymous
    2019-05-17T13:28:46+00:00

    Usually with Word problems safe mode is suggested but that does not address your problem. You could try renaming your normal.dotm file to see if that is the source of the problem.

    Does your Add-In modify the Ribbon using XML in the template or does it do it via vba?

    I am willing to work on this with you but would need your .dotm. I am not able to do much more today because I am due in court.

    If you want, save a sample document with the problem on OneDrive or Dropbox and paste a link here. Remove any confidential or sensitive information first. I or someone else can take a look at it.

    See https://answers.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/for...

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  4. Anonymous
    2019-05-17T13:19:15+00:00

    Hi Charles,

    Tried your code. Same result.

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