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
    2019-05-18T23:51:15+00:00

    Hi Charles,

    I do know the difference between Office 365 and stand alone versions.

    I thought ProPlus was used as the description in the Account screen for 365 licenses. Is this not the case?

    As a former Word MVP myself, I understand how the reporting to Microsoft works. I do hope you all report it to your contacts in MS.

    Thanks.

    Ah, you are that Astrid. I am still using a fair amount of your code snippets. I again thank you for your help in the past.

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  2. Doug Robbins - MVP - Office Apps and Services 323.6K Reputation points MVP Volunteer Moderator
    2019-05-18T22:35:29+00:00

    Hi Astrid,

    There is really only one.  ProPlus is an Office 365 Subscription Product and Microsoft no longer refer to it with a year designation (that is neither 2016 nor 2019)

    So your table should be:

    Version Automation not working correctly: <br><br>no ribbon customizations, no autoexec
    Office 2016 Professional Plus 32 bits problem exists
    Office 2016 Professional Plus 64 bits problem exists
    Office 365 ProPlus (365) 32 bits - Subscription Product problem exists
    Office 365 ProPlus (365) 64 bits - Subscription Product is working ok
    Office 2019 Professional Plus 32 bits problem exists
    Office 2019 Professional Plus 64 bits problem exists

    I am not sure what the situation is with the other Office 365 Subscription Products such as

    Office 365 Home

    Office 365 Personal

    Office 365 Business

    Office 365 Business Premium

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  3. Anonymous
    2019-05-18T13:02:08+00:00

    Thank you Doug!

    Seems like we are getting closer to where the problem might be.

    Is this the correct recap?

    Version Automation not working correctly: <br><br>no ribbon customizations, no autoexec
    Office 2016 Professional Plus 32 bits problem exists
    Office 2016 Professional Plus 64 bits problem exists
    Office 2016 ProPlus (365) 32 bits problem exists
    Office 2016 ProPlus (365) 64 bits is working ok
    Office 2019 Professional Plus 32 bits problem exists
    Office 2019 Professional Plus 64 bits problem exists
    Office 2019 ProPlus (365) 32 bits ?
    Office 2019 ProPlus (365) 64 bits ?

    I am not really sure if there are two official versions for Office 365 ProPlus for both 2016 and 2019, or is there only one?

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  4. Doug Robbins - MVP - Office Apps and Services 323.6K Reputation points MVP Volunteer Moderator
    2019-05-18T12:10:01+00:00

    Hi Astrid,

    I have just installed 64-bit Microsoft Office Professional Plus 2019 - Version 1904 (Build 11601.20204 Click-to-Run) and can confirm that when started by running the code that I had posted earlier in Excel, the Ribbon Customizations in an Add-in are NOT loaded.

    Thus, there is a difference between the behaviours in the 64-bit installation of Microsoft Office Professional Plus 2019 and that in a 64-bit installation of Microsoft Office 365 ProPlus,

    p.s. I had not realised that you were no longer an MVP.  However I will report this via the NDA mailing list.

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  5. Anonymous
    2019-05-18T11:12:10+00:00

    Hi Charles,

    I do know the difference between Office 365 and stand alone versions.

    I thought ProPlus was used as the description in the Account screen for 365 licenses. Is this not the case?

    As a former Word MVP myself, I understand how the reporting to Microsoft works. I do hope you all report it to your contacts in MS.

    Thanks.

    Was this answer helpful?

    0 comments