Using Built-in Add-In Programs in Excel 2007

Add-in programs are small modules that extend the power of Excel 2007 by giving you access to a wide array of features and calculating functions not otherwise offered in the application. There are three different types of add-ins:

• Built-in add-ins available when you install Excel 2007.
• Add-ins that you download for Excel 2007 from Microsoft Office Online.
• Add-ins developed by third-party vendors for Excel 2007 that often must be purchased.

When you first install Excel 2007, the built-in add-in programs included with Excel 2007 are not loaded and therefore are not yet ready to use. To load any or all of these built-in add-in programs, follow these steps:

1. Click the Office button and then click the Excel Options button.
   The Excel Options dialog box appears.
2. Click the Add-Ins tab.
   The Add-Ins tab lists all the names, locations, and types of the add-ins to which you have access.
3. At the bottom, select Excel Add-Ins from the Manage drop-down box and click Go.
   Excel opens the Add-Ins dialog box showing all the names of the built-in add-in programs you can load.
   
   

   Activating built-in add-ins in the Add-Ins dialog box.
4. Click the check boxes for each add-in program that you want loaded in the Add-Ins Available list box.
   Click the name of the add-in in the Add-Ins Available list box to display a brief description of its function at the bottom of this dialog box.
5. Click OK.
   An alert dialog box appears, asking you if you want to install each selected add-in.
6. Click the OK button in each alert dialog box to install its add-in.

After activating add-ins in this manner, Excel automatically places command buttons for the add-ins in either an Analysis group on the Ribbon’s Data tab or in a Solutions group on the Formulas tab, depending on the type of add-in. In some cases, Excel inserts an Add-Ins tab on the Ribbon.

If you end up never using a particular add-in you’ve loaded, you can unload it (and thereby free up some computer memory) by following the previously outlined procedure to open the Add-Ins dialog box and then clicking the name of the add-in to remove the check mark from its check box. Then click OK.