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Add-in programs are small modules that extend Excel's power by giving you access to an array of features and calculating functions not otherwise offered in Excel. There are three different types of Excel add-ins:
- Built-in add-ins available when you install Excel 2007
- Add-ins that you can download for Excel 2007 from Microsoft
- 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 are not loaded and therefore are not yet ready to use. To load any or all of these built-in add-in programs, you follow these steps:
1. Click the Office Button, then click Excel Options or press Alt+FI to open the Excel Options dialog box and then click the Add-Ins tab.
The Add-Ins tab lists all the name, location, and type of the add-ins to which you have access.
2. Click the Go button while Excel Add-Ins is selected in the Manage drop-down list box.
Excel opens the Add-Ins dialog box showing all the names of the built-in add-in programs you can load.
3. 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.
4. Click the OK button to close the Add-Ins dialog box.
An alert dialog box appears, asking you if you want to install each selected add-in.
5. 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 upon the type of add-in. For example, when you activate the Analysis ToolPak or Solver Add-in, Excel places their command buttons in the Analysis group on the Data tab. When you activate the Conditional Sum Wizard, Euro Currency Tools, or Lookup Wizard add-ins, Excel places their command buttons in the Solutions group on the Formulas tab.
 | If you end up never using a particular add-in you've loaded onto the Add-Ins tab, 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. |
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