How to add excel in excel

Insert an object in your Excel spreadsheet

You can use Object Linking and Embedding (OLE) to include content from other programs, such as Word or Excel.

OLE is supported by many different programs, and OLE is used to make content that is created in one program available in another program. For example, you can insert an Office Word document in an Office Excel workbook. To see what types of content that you can insert, click Object in the Text group on the Insert tab. Only programs that are installed on your computer and that support OLE objects appear in the Object type box.

If you copy information between Excel or any program that supports OLE, such as Word, you can copy the information as either a linked object or an embedded object. The main differences between linked objects and embedded objects are where the data is stored and how the object is updated after you place it in the destination file. Embedded objects are stored in the workbook that they are inserted in, and they are not updated. Linked objects remain as separate files, and they can be updated.

Linked and embedded objects in a document

1. An embedded object has no connection to the source file.

2. A linked object is linked to the source file.

3. The source file updates the linked object.

When to use linked objects

If you want the information in your destination file to be updated when the data in the source file changes, use linked objects.

With a linked object, the original information remains stored in the source file. The destination file displays a representation of the linked information but stores only the location of the original data (and the size if the object is an Excel chart object). The source file must remain available on your computer or network to maintain the link to the original data.

The linked information can be updated automatically if you change the original data in the source file. For example, if you select a paragraph in a Word document and then paste the paragraph as a linked object in an Excel workbook, the information can be updated in Excel if you change the information in your Word document.

When to use embedded objects

If you don’t want to update the copied data when it changes in the source file, use an embedded object. The version of the source is embedded entirely in the workbook. If you copy information as an embedded object, the destination file requires more disk space than if you link the information.

When a user opens the file on another computer, he can view the embedded object without having access to the original data. Because an embedded object has no links to the source file, the object is not updated if you change the original data. To change an embedded object, double-click the object to open and edit it in the source program. The source program (or another program capable of editing the object) must be installed on your computer.

Changing the way that an OLE object is displayed

You can display a linked object or embedded object in a workbook exactly as it appears in the source program or as an icon. If the workbook will be viewed online, and you don’t intend to print the workbook, you can display the object as an icon. This minimizes the amount of display space that the object occupies. Viewers who want to display the information can double-click the icon.

Excel add-ins overview

An Excel add-in allows you to extend Excel application functionality across multiple platforms including Windows, Mac, iPad, and in a browser. Use Excel add-ins within a workbook to:

The Office Add-ins platform provides the framework and Office.js JavaScript APIs that enable you to create and run Excel add-ins. By using the Office Add-ins platform to create your Excel add-in, you’ll get the following benefits.

Excel add-ins are different from COM and VSTO add-ins, which are earlier Office integration solutions that run only in Office on Windows. Unlike COM add-ins, Excel add-ins do not require you to install any code on a user’s device, or within Excel.

Components of an Excel add-in

An Excel add-in includes two basic components: a web application and a configuration file, called a manifest file.

The web application uses the Office JavaScript API to interact with objects in Excel, and can also facilitate interaction with online resources. For example, an add-in can perform any of the following tasks.

The web application can be hosted on any web server, and can be built using client-side frameworks (such as Angular, React, jQuery) or server-side technologies (such as ASP.NET, Node.js, PHP).

The manifest is an XML configuration file that defines how the add-in integrates with Office clients by specifying settings and capabilities such as:

To enable end users to install and use an Excel add-in, you must publish its manifest either to AppSource or to an add-ins catalog. For details about publishing to AppSource, see Make your solutions available in AppSource and within Office.

Capabilities of an Excel add-in

In addition to interacting with the content in the workbook, Excel add-ins can add custom ribbon buttons or menu commands, insert task panes, add custom functions, open dialog boxes, and even embed rich, web-based objects such as charts or interactive visualizations within a worksheet.

Add-in commands

Add-in commands are UI elements that extend the Excel UI and start actions in your add-in. You can use add-in commands to add a button on the ribbon or an item to a context menu in Excel. When users select an add-in command, they initiate actions such as running JavaScript code, or showing a page of the add-in in a task pane.

For more information about command capabilities, supported platforms, and best practices for developing add-in commands, see Add-in commands for Excel, Word, and PowerPoint.

Task panes

Task panes are interface surfaces that typically appear on the right side of the window within Excel. Task panes give users access to interface controls that run code to modify the Excel document or display data from a data source.

For more information about task panes, see Task panes in Office Add-ins. For a sample that implements a task pane in Excel, see Excel Add-in JS WoodGrove Expense Trends.

Custom functions

For more information about custom functions, see Create custom functions in Excel.

Dialog boxes

Dialog boxes are surfaces that float above the active Excel application window. You can use dialog boxes for tasks such as displaying sign-in pages that can’t be opened directly in a task pane, requesting that the user confirm an action, or hosting videos that might be too small if confined to a task pane. To open dialog boxes in your Excel add-in, use the Dialog API.

For more information about dialog boxes and the Dialog API, see Use the Dialog API in your Office Add-ins.

Content add-ins

Content add-ins are surfaces that you can embed directly into Excel documents. You can use content add-ins to embed rich, web-based objects such as charts, data visualizations, or media into a worksheet or to give users access to interface controls that run code to modify the Excel document or display data from a data source. Use content add-ins when you want to embed functionality directly into the document.

For more information about content add-ins, see Content Office Add-ins. For a sample that implements a content add-in in Excel, see Excel Content Add-in Humongous Insurance in GitHub.

JavaScript APIs to interact with workbook content

An Excel add-in interacts with objects in Excel by using the Office JavaScript API, which includes two JavaScript object models:

Excel JavaScript API: Introduced with Office 2016, the Excel JavaScript API provides strongly-typed Excel objects that you can use to access worksheets, ranges, tables, charts, and more.

Common API: Introduced with Office 2013, the Common API enables you to access features such as UI, dialogs, and client settings that are common across multiple types of Office applications. Because the Common API does provide limited functionality for Excel interaction, you can use it if your add-in needs to run on Excel 2013.

Next steps

Get started by creating your first Excel add-in. Then, learn about the core concepts of building Excel add-ins.

Add-ins in Excel

What are Add-ins in Excel?

An add-in is an extension that adds more features and options to Microsoft Excel. Providing additional functions to the user increases the power of Excel. An add-in needs to be enabled for usage. Once enabled, it activates as Excel is started.

For example, an Excel add-in can perform tasks like creating, deleting, and updating the data of a workbook. Moreover, one can add buttons to the Excel ribbon and run custom functions with add-ins.

The purposes of activating add-ins are listed as follows: –

In Excel, one can access several Add-ins from “Add-ins” under the “Options” button of the “File” tab. In addition, one can select from the drop-down “Manage” in the “Add-ins” window for more add-ins.

Table of contents

How to Install Add-ins in Excel?

If Excel is not displaying the add-ins, they need to be installed. The steps to install Excel add-ins are listed as follows:

Types of Add-ins in Excel

The types of add-ins are listed as follows:

The Data Analysis Add-in

The “Data Analysis Tools” pack analyzes statistics, finance, and engineering data.

The various tools available under the “Data Analysis” add-in are shown in the following image.

Create Custom Functions and Install as an Excel Add-in

Let us consider some examples.

Example #1–Extract Comments from the Cells of Excel

We want to extract comments from certain cells of Excel. Then, create an add-in for the same.

The steps for creating an add-in and extracting comments from cells are listed as follows:

Step 1: Open a new workbook.

Step 2: Press the shortcut Shortcut An Excel shortcut is a technique of performing a manual task in a quicker way. read more “ALT+F11” to access the “Visual Basic Editor.” The following image shows the main screen of Microsoft Visual Basic for Applications.

Step 3: Click “Module” under the “Insert” tab, shown in the following image.

Step 4: Enter the following code in the “module” window.

Function TakeOutComment(CommentCell As Range) As String

Step 5: Once the code is entered, save the file with the type “Excel add-in.”

Step 6: Open the file containing comments.

Step 7: Select ” Options ” in the “File” tab and select “Options.” Choose “Add-ins.” In the box to the right of “Manage,” select “Excel Add-ins.” Click “Go.”

Click the “Browse” option in the “Add-ins” dialog box.

Step 8: Select the add-in file that had been saved. Click “Ok.”

We had saved the file with the name “Excel add-in.”

Step 9: The workbook’s name (Excel add-in) that we had saved appears as an add-in, as shown in the following image.

This add-in can be applied as an Excel formula to extract comments.

Step 10: Go to the sheet containing comments. The names of three cities appear with comments, as shown in the following image.

Step 11: In cell B1, enter the symbol “equal to” followed by the function’s name. Type “TakeOutComment,” as shown in the following image.

Step 12: Select cell A1 as the reference. It extracts the comment from the mentioned cell.

Since there are no comments in cells A2 and A3, the formula returns “#VALUE!.”

Example #2–Hide Worksheets in Excel

We want to hide Excel worksheets except for the active sheet. Create an add-in and icon on the Excel toolbar for the same.

The steps to hide worksheets (except for the currently active sheet) and, after that, create an add-in and icon are listed as follows:

Step 1: Open a new workbook.

Step 2: In the “Visual Basic” window, insert a “Module” from the Insert tab. The same is shown in the following image.

Step 3: Copy and paste the following code to the module.

Sub Hide_All_Worksheets_()
Dim As Worksheet
For Each Ws In ActiveWorkbook.Worksheets
If Ws.Name <> ActiveSheet.Name Then

Ws.Visible = xlSheetVeryHidden
End If
Next Ws

Step 4: Save this workbook with the type “Excel add-in.”

Step 5: Add this add-in to the new workbook. For this, click “Options” under the “File” tab. Select “Add-ins.” In the box to the right of “Manage,” select “Excel add-in” Click “Go.”

In the “Add-ins” window, choose “Browse.”

Step 6: Select the saved add-in file. Click “Ok.”

We have saved the file with the name “Hide All Worksheets.”

Step 7: The new add-in “Hide All Worksheets” appears in the “Add-ins” window.

Step 8: Right-click the Excel ribbon and select “Customize the Ribbon.”

In the box following this drop-down, choose the name of the macro. Then, click “Add” followed by “OK.” The tasks of this step are shown with the help of black arrows in the following image.

Step 10: A small icon appears on the toolbar. Clicking this icon hides all worksheets except for the currently active sheet.

Example #3–Unhide the Hidden Sheets of Excel

The steps to unhide the sheets and, after that, create an add-in and toolbar icon are listed as follows:

Step 1: Copy and paste the following code to the “Module” inserted in Microsoft Visual Basic for Applications.

Sub UnHide_All_HiddenSheets_()
Dim Ws As Worksheet
For Each Ws In ActiveWorkbook.Worksheets
Ws.Visible = xlSheetVisible
Next Ws

Step 2: Save the file as “Excel add-in.” Add this add-in to the sheet.

Right-click the Excel ribbon and choose the option “Customize the ribbon.” Then, in the “Quick Access Toolbar,” select “Macros” under the drop-down of “Choose commands from.”

Choose the macro’s name, click “Add” and “OK.” The tasks of this step are shown with the help of black arrows in the following image.

Step 3: Another icon appears on the toolbar. Clicking this icon unhides the hidden worksheets.

The Cautions While Creating Add-ins

The points to be observed while working with add-ins are listed as follows:

Note: It is possible to uninstall the unnecessary add-ins at any time.

Frequently Asked Questions

An add-in extends the functions of Excel. It provides more features to the user. It is also possible to create custom functions and insert them as an add-in in Excel.

An add-in can be created, used, and shared with an audience. One can find the add-ins in the “Add-ins” window of Excel.

The steps to access the add-ins in Excel are listed as follows:

a. Click “Options” in the “File” tab of Excel. Select “Add-ins.”
b. In the box to the right of “Manage,” select “Excel add-ins.” Click “Go.”
c. The “Add-ins” window opens. Click “Browse.”
d. Select the required add-in file and click “OK.”

Note: The add-ins already present in the system can be accessed by browsing. Select the corresponding checkbox in the “Add-ins” window and click “OK” to activate an add-in.

For removing an add-in from the Excel ribbon, it needs to be inactivated. The steps to inactivate an add-in of Excel are listed as follows:

a. In the File tab, click “Options” and choose “Add-ins”.
b. From the drop-down menu of the “Manage” box, select “Excel add-ins.” Click “Go.”c.
c. In the “Add-ins” window, deselect the checkboxes of the add-ins to be inactivated. Click “OK.”

The deselected add-ins are inactivated. Sometimes, one may need to restart Excel after inactivation. It helps remove the add-in from the ribbon.

Note: Inactivation does not remove an add-in from the computer. For removing an inactivated add-in from the computer, it needs to be uninstalled.

The steps to add an Add-in to the Excel toolbar are listed as follows:

a. In an Excel workbook, press “Alt+F11” to open the Visual Basic Editor. Enter the code by inserting a “module.”
b. Press “Alt+F11” to return to Excel. Save the file as “Excel add-in” (.xlam).
c. In File, select “Options” followed by “Add-ins.” Select “Excel add-ins” in the “Manage” box and click “Go.”
d. Browse this file in the “Add-ins” window. Select the required checkbox and click “OK.”
e. Right-click the ribbon and choose “Customize the Ribbon.” Click “Quick Access Toolbar.”
f. Select “Macros” from the drop-down of “Choose commands from.”
g. Choose the required macro, click “Add” and” OK.”

The icon appears on the toolbar. This icon works in all Excel workbooks as the add-in has been enabled.

Recommended Articles

This article is a step-by-step guide to creating, installing, and using add-ins in Excel. Here, we also discuss the types of Excel add-ins and create a custom function. Take a look at these useful functions of Excel: –

Add or remove add-ins in Excel

Add-ins provide optional commands and features for Microsoft Excel. By default, add-ins are not immediately available in Excel, so you must first install and (in some cases) activate these add-ins so that you can use them.

Are you looking for information about Office Add-ins based on HTML, CSS, and JS? If you are, see Get an Office Add-in for Excel.

Some add-ins are built in to Excel, such as Solver and the Analysis ToolPak. Other add-ins are available from the Download Center and must first be downloaded and installed. Finally, there are add-ins that are created by third parties, such as a programmer in your organization or a software solution provider. These can be Component Object Model (COM) add-ins, Visual Basic for Applications (VBA) add-ins, and DLL add-ins. These add-ins must also be installed to use them.

Most add-ins can be categorized into three different types:

Excel add-ins These typically include Excel add-in (.xlam), Excel 97-2003 add-in (.xla), or DLL add-in (.xll) files or they are automation add-ins. Some Excel add-ins, such as Solver and the Analysis ToolPak, may be available after you install Excel or Microsoft Office. Typically, you only need to activate these add-ins to use them.

Downloadable add-ins Additional add-ins for Excel can be downloaded and installed from Downloads at Office.com.

Custom add-ins Developers and solution providers usually design custom Component Object Model (COM) add-ins, automation add-ins, VBA add-ins, and XLL add-ins. These must be installed for you to use them.

After you have installed or activated an add-in, the add-in and its commands may be available in one of the following locations:

Data tab. After you install and activate the Analysis ToolPak and Solver add-ins, the Data Analysis and Solver commands are available in the Analysis group.

Formulas tab. After you install and activate the Euro Currency Tools, the Euro Conversion and Euro Formatting commands are displayed in the Solutions group.

Add-Ins tab. Other add-ins may be added to the Add-Ins tab. This tab is added to the ribbon when you install and activate the first add-in that is shown in the Add-Ins tab. If you don’t see the Add-Ins tab, you should exit and then restart Excel.

Other add-ins, such as the Get Started tab, are available in other places in Excel, such as a tab on the ribbon, or through macros or customized menus.

Important: If you are a software developer, you can use this procedure to install or remove an automation program before you design installation and removal programs for your add-in.

To activate an Excel add-in

Click the File tab, click Options, and then click the Add-Ins category.

In the Manage box, click Excel Add-ins, and then click Go.

The Add-Ins dialog box appears.

In the Add-Ins available box, select the check box next to the add-in that you want to activate, and then click OK.

If you cannot find the add-in that you want to activate in the Add-Ins available box, you may need to install it.

To install an Excel add-in

To install an add-in that is typically installed with Excel, such as Solver or the Analysis ToolPak, run the setup program for Excel or Microsoft Office and choose the Change option to install the add-in. After you restart Excel, the add-in should appear in the Add-Ins available box.

Some Excel add-ins are located on your computer and can be installed or activated by clicking Browse (in the Add-Ins dialog box) to locate the add-in, and then clicking OK.

Other add-ins that are not available on your computer can be downloaded and installed through a Web browser from Downloads or from other sites on the Internet or a server in your organization. Follow the setup instructions for the download as needed.

To inactivate an Excel add-in

Click the File tab, click Options, and then click the Add-Ins category.

In the Manage box, click Excel Add-ins, and then click Go.

In the Add-Ins available box, clear the check box next to the add-in that you want to inactivate, and then click OK.

In many cases, when you inactivate an add-in, it is removed from its group on the ribbon. In other cases, to remove the add-in from the ribbon, you may need to restart Excel.

Note Inactivating an add-in does not remove the add-in from your computer. To remove the add-in from your computer, you must uninstall it.

To remove an Excel add-in

Important: If you originally installed the Excel add-in from a network file server or from a shared folder, you might need to remove the add-in from that location. If you installed the Excel add-in from a CD and you mapped your CD drive to a new drive letter after installing the add-in, you need to reinstall the add-in from the CD. If you are running any Excel add-ins from the CD, you must uninstall the Excel add-ins, and then reinstall them from the CD.

Click the File tab, and then click Exit.

In Control Panel, click Programs and Features (Windows 7 and Windows Vista) or Add/Remove Programs (Windows XP).

Do one of the following:

If you installed Excel as part of Microsoft Office, click Microsoft Office in the list of installed programs, and then click the Change button.

If you installed Excel individually, click the name of your program in the list of installed programs, and then click the Change button.

If you installed the add-in from the Download Center, click the name of your program in the list of installed programs, and then click the Uninstall button.

Follow the instructions in the installation program.

Important: If you are a software developer, you can use this procedure to install or remove an automation program before you design installation and removal programs for your add-in. If you are not a developer, you should not need to use this procedure. Contact the system administrator who provided the add-in if you want installation and removal instructions.

Add a COM add-in

Click the File tab, click Options, and then click the Add-Ins category.

In the Manage box, click COM Add-ins, and then click Go.

The COM Add-Ins dialog box appears.

In the Add-Ins available box, select the check box next to the add-in that you want to install, and then click OK.

Tip If the add-in that you want to use is not listed in the Add-Ins available box, click Add, and then locate the add-in.

Remove a COM add-in

Click the File tab, click Options, and then click the Add-Ins category.

In the Manage box, click COM Add-ins, and then click Go.

The COM Add-Ins dialog box appears.

In the Add-Ins available box, clear the check box next to the add-in that you want to remove, and then click OK.

Note This removes the add-in from memory but keeps its name in the list of available add-ins. It does not delete the add-in from your computer.

To remove a COM add-in from the list of available add-ins and to delete the add-in from your computer, click its name in the Add-ins available box, and then click Remove.

Note: If you are a software developer, you can use this procedure to install or remove an automation program before you design installation and removal programs for your add-in. If you are not a developer, you should not need to use this procedure. Contact the system administrator who provided the add-in if you want installation and removal instructions.

Click the File tab, click Options, and then click the Add-Ins category.

In the Manage box, click Excel Add-ins, and then click Go.

The Add-Ins dialog box appears.

To install an automation add-in, in the Automation servers available box, click Automation, and then click the add-in that you want.

Tip If the add-in that you want isn’t in the list, click Browse, locate the add-in, and then click OK.

To remove an automation add-in, you must remove it from the registry. See your system administrator for details.

Some add-ins are built in to Excel, such as Solver and the Analysis ToolPak. Other add-ins are available from the Download Center and must first be downloaded and installed. Finally, there are add-ins that are created by third parties, such as a programmer in your organization or a software solution provider. These can be Component Object Model (COM) add-ins, Visual Basic for Applications (VBA) add-ins, and DLL add-ins. These add-ins must also be installed to use them.

Most add-ins can be categorized into three different types:

Excel add-ins These typically include Excel add-in (.xlam), Excel 97-2003 add-in (.xla), or DLL add-in (.xll) files or they are automation add-ins. Some Excel add-ins, such as Solver and the Analysis ToolPak, may be available after you install Excel or Microsoft Office. Typically, you only need to activate these add-ins to use them.

Downloadable add-ins Additional add-ins for Excel can be downloaded and installed from Downloads at Office.com.

Custom add-ins Developers and solution providers usually design custom Component Object Model (COM) add-ins, automation add-ins, VBA add-ins, and XLL add-ins. These must be installed for you to use them.

After you have installed or activated an add-in, the add-in and its commands may be available in one of the following locations:

Data tab. After you install and activate the Analysis ToolPak and Solver add-ins, the Data Analysis and Solver commands are available in the Data tab on the ribbon.

Home tab. Other add-ins may be added to the Home tab.

Other add-ins, such as the Get Started tab, are available in other places in Excel, such as a tab on the ribbon, or through macros or customized menus.

Important: If you are a software developer, you can use this procedure to install or remove an automation program before you design installation and removal programs for your add-in.

To activate a pre-installed Excel add-in

On the Tools menu, select Add-ins.

In the Add-Ins available box, select the check box for the Add-in you want to activate, and then click OK.

To install an Excel add-in

Some Excel add-ins are located on your computer and can be installed or activated by clicking Browse (in the Add-Ins dialog box above) to locate the add-in, and then clicking OK.

To install Add-ins from the Store

Click the Insert tab in the ribbon.

Click the Store button.

Use the Categories or Search field to find Add-ins.

Click Add to install the Add-in.

Note: Some Add-ins need to be purchased.

To remove an Excel add-in

Click the Insert tab, and then click My Add-ins.

In Office Add-ins, click the 3 dots menu next to the Add-in.

Read the notice that appears regarding other devices and click Remove.

How to embed Word objects into an Excel 2016 / 365 / 2019 workbook?

Applies to: Windows 11, 10, 8 and 7 and macOS operating systems.

Dorothy wanted to learn how to insert objects into her Excel spreadsheets:

I believe i have seen a Microsoft Excel worksheet that had a Word document embedded in it. Can you explain how can i insert Word files into Excel and in general how to embed file objects in Office? Just so you are aware, I am using Excel 365.

Thanks for the question. One of the key benefits of an integrated productivity suite, such as Office, is the ability to insert files of specific type into other files. For example – you can add Word document files into other Microsoft Office applications, namely Excel worksheets, Outlook emails and PowerPoint presentations.

This quick tutorial is aimed at explaining how you can embed Word objects (being a document, presentation, diagram, notebook) into Excel. You can use a similar process when adding docx files to PowerPoint or to other Word files.

Inserting Word docs into Microsoft Excel sheets

Adding Word as attachments into Excel files

In a similar fashion you are able to insert your Word doc as an attachment to the worksheet.

Follow steps 1-6 above, but be sure of highlighting the Display as Icon and Link to File check-boxes before moving to step 8. Your document will displayed as an icon on your spreadsheet, which you can double click to open it.

Linking to a file from Word and Excel

As shown above, by using the Link to File feature, you can easily link to any embedded file or icon in your spreadsheet or document.

Notes:

Embedding Word documents into Excel on macOS

Finally, now that you know everything about embedding Word documents into spreadsheets, you might want to learn how to insert Excel sheets into Word docs.

Copying Word content into an Excel spreadsheet

A reader asked whether he is able to copy and paste between Word an Excel. A very prevalent use case for that is when you have content in a Word table and you would like to paste it into your spreadsheet. This is possible, but with a couple caveats / tricks mostly related to the pasted content formatting: