We copy a number of add-ins to users machines and edit the registry to make
them active/inactive.

ie in
HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Office\12.0\E xcel\Add-in Manager\
and OPEN, OPEN1, OPEN2 etc. in
HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Office\12.0\O ptions\

This works fine.

Until the first time someone edits their add-ins manually. Without making
any changes clicking on 'OK' on the add-in popup rearranges the OPEN# string
values causing gaps to appear in the numbering and the add-ins after the gap
do not load next time Excel is open. This rectifies itself if one clicks on
'OK' in the options form. i.e the OPEN# string values rearrange themselves
again without gaps.


Can anyone shed any light on this?

I suspect that excel is storing the add-ins information elsewhere.