Uninstalling Excel add-in using VBScript

Question

I'm trying to create a MSI installer that installs an Add-In (.xla) into Microsoft Excel (2007 in my case). Installing it goes well. I use a 'Custom Action' that runs this VBScript file:

Dim SourceDir 
Dim objExcel 
Dim objAddin 
 
SourceDir = Session.Property("CustomActionData") 
Set objExcel = CreateObject("Excel.Application") 
objExcel.Workbooks.Add 
Set objAddin = objExcel.AddIns.Add(SourceDir & "addin.xla", True) 
objAddin.Installed = True 
objExcel.Quit 
Set objExcel = Nothing 

I pass the location of the addin to the script using the CustomActionData property. The Add-in is copied to a folder inside 'Program Files', where it will stay until it is uninstalled. This is handled by the installer itself.

The problem is when I use the uninstall script:

Dim objExcel 
Dim addin 
On Error Resume Next 
 
Set objExcel = CreateObject("Excel.Application") 
For i = 0 To objExcel.Addins.Count 
    Set objAddin= objExcel.Addins.item(i) 
    If objAddin.Name = "addin.xla" Then 
        objAddin.Installed = False 
    End If 
Next 
 
objExcel.Quit 
Set objExcel = Nothing 

The addin creates a custom toolbar in Excel u[ installation. The toolbar is not removed upon uninstall, and the entry of the add-in in the 'Add-in' section of Excel's settings isn't either.

Can anyone tell me if these two things can be done programmatically using VBScript?

thanks in advance

Answer 1

Assuming the addin has a routine to remove menus when Excel closes it might be called in Sub Auto_Close(). In an automated instance that will not run automatically but you could do something like this

On Error Resume Next
Set objWb = objExcel.Workbooks("myAddin.xla")
If Not wb Is Nothing Then
wb.RunAutoMacros xlAutoClose
End If
' existing code to uninstall the addin

If that doesn't work you might need to write your own code to remove its menus

Couple of points in passing -
- Best to ensure Excel is not running before doing createobject() which you can test with GetObject

- Uninstalling the addin does not remove it from the Addins collection, merely removes the tick in the addins manager such that it will load at start-up

Peter Thornton

Answer 2

Hi Peter,

So is there a way to completly remove it from the addins collection?

Thanks in advance.

Yassine