Browse » Home
Wednesday, May 23, 2012
How to Create an Excel XLA Add
1. Launch the Microsoft Excel software. Click 'File' in the top navigational bar and select 'New' from the drop-down menu. A Workbook Options window will be displayed. Press 'Blank Workbook.' Excel will create a new workbook.
2. Select 'File' in the top menu again. Select 'Properties' from the drop-down menu. Look in the Document/Name Properties box and press the tab labeled 'Summary.' Name the new workbook. This name will be what is shown in the add-ins window after you are finished.
3. Click 'Tools' in the top menu bar and select 'Macro'; then click 'Visual Basic Editor.' The editor will appear on the screen.
4. Click 'Insert' in the top menu bar and click 'Module' from the drop-down menu. A code module box will be displayed. Enter in the function code with which you want the Excel add-in to work. For example, you may type 'Function' followed by a space, then 'Age(DoB As Date).' This add-in, if activated in an Excel worksheet, will convert any references to DoB to the numbers listed in the Date column. If you are unsure of how to structure a function code, browse the Microsoft Excel help site (see Resources).
5. Save the file. You may now add it to a current worksheet by selecting 'Tools' in the worksheet and choosing 'Add-Ins.' Navigate to the hard drive folder in which you saved the XLA file and click it; then press 'Open.'