re 1:
no difference for local or network:
the addins need to be activated.

a difference between directories:
inside the UserLibraryPath and LibraryPath
they are automatically shown in the addins list.
outside these paths they need to be "browsed to".

admin can easily add a line to registry in
HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Office\11.0\E xcel\Add-in Manager
and browsing is taken care of. he does need to do it for all users.

if he wants a "silent" install, with addin not visible
in the browse list, he needs to add an open line in
HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Office\11.0\E xcel\Options
no point maybe.. but users cannot deactivate, only unload via vbe.

if a shared drive is not available you'll have lot's more to worry
about. prerequisite: a stable network. dont map but use UNC.

there's some resiliency options too.. that many people dont know about
HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Office\11.0\E xcel\Options

Value Name: NetworkResiliency
Value Type: DWord
Value Data: 0 or 1


As you know programmatic addin install/uninstall is troublesome.
and errorhandling is non-existent.
also why is there no method to install addin as readonly?
(except a manual edit of the OPEN line to add /R

... life ain't perfect and neither is excel..


--
keepITcool
| www.XLsupport.com | keepITcool chello nl | amsterdam


Bob Phillips wrote :


"keepITcool" wrote in message
ft.com...
Bob, I respectfully disagree.

Then let's respectfully discuss <bg

xlas can be installed in a shared network drive
without problems. I point to maintain.


PROVIDED
they do not contain tables and need to be saved.
(because then you run into multiuser or readonly issues.)

I agree that the file can be stored on a network drive (I do it myself
frequently, so I should have made that point). There are 2 issues
with this that need to be addressed though
1) the addin still needs to be installed on the desktop (which was my
real point), either the user does it, or some desktop administrator
does (I personally see no point in loading xla's as normal Excel
files) 2) the network drive has to be available (things get better,
but they aren't always there)

If you do store the xla on a network drive, you remove the version
issue of course, but you still need to address thge 2 points I
mention above, but this probably makes it worthwhile all things
considered.

Your point about links is well made, but as you point out, this
applies to local as well as to network files.

I don't think we are in disagreement, I was just incomplete in my
answer, for which you have clarified.

Regards

Bob