Hello all.
two weeks ago I'd contacted Ron deBruin about an issue that I'd had with an
add in ribbon tab menu that I did not want, and could not remove from my
ribbon. He gave very explicit instructions, and I've had two distinct
resolutions.
1- on my system, I followed his instructions and it has not returned. I.e.,
it's worked great.
2- On one of my colleague's system, I followed the same exact procedure, and
the unwanted add-in has consistently returned, regardless of what we try.

Today my colleague dropped by my desk to ask if I'd ever heard back about my
post to Ron, and after finding it, I remembered what we'd done, and how we
never went farther.

So.....

I have followed Ron's advice, and removed the xlb file from the appropriate
directory. The auto-replacement xlb file is now only 10kb in size-- before it
was 940kb.
I've checked the xlam files (using the UI Editor), and there are no
references-- that I can identify-- to show why this unwanted ribbon menu
keeps appearing after multiple attempts to remove it.
I've also looked in the VBA macros, one by one, looked using ctrl+f, and the
declarations pulldown, and found no references, or macros that would make a
menu.
Today, my colleague stopped by-- as mentioned-- and told me that he found an
option by which, if he right clicks on the unwanted tab, on a macro icon, it
allows for him to "delete the toolbar."
I thought this was strange, as you typically can't even modify the ribbon
menus by right clicking anywhere on them. Which I verified by trying it on
mine.
I asked him to demonstrate it for me on his system. He did, and upon seeing
it, I said-- delete it. After a few moments of discussing the implications,
he agreed, and did so.
The first thing that happens is that a warning window appears telling of
total loss to the menu. I told him to proceed. He did, and because there were
two rows on the tab, we did it twice, and after the second row departed, so
did the unwanted tab.
At this point we closed excel.
We then went into the appropriate directory and once again deleted the xlb
file.
We then opened excel again, and after a moment of looking for the xlam
add-in, the two tabs he'd made appeared, and alas.... so did the unwanted
tab! Argh.....!
We repeated this process again, and a third time. Still we received the same
results.
The unwanted tab keeps appearing.
I have two basic thoughts here.
1- somebody give me a shotgun....
2- it seems that because the unwanted tab appears when the two desired tabs
appear, it must somehow be connected to them.
I.e., if I go into excel options, and turn off the add-ins, both the tabs we
do want go away, as does the unwanted tab.
We then move the xlam files out of the directory they belong in, and reopen
excel. It then gives a warning window stating that the tab menus cannot be
found, and asks if we wish to delete them from the add-in directory-- to
which we respond in teh affirmative.
The process finishes, and no more tabs-- including the unwated one. All gone.
We then replace the add-in xlam files, reopen excel, go to excel options,
choose add-ins, and re-activate the tab menus we want. They appear as they
should. Then the unwanted add-in tab also appears.
Of course, we're then right back at the beginning.
1- has anyone else experienced this?
2- if so, how did you ultimately remove the unwanted tab?
3- if you haven't succeeded, have you blown up your computer yet? oops..
sorry. I just wanted to see how many others there were.
Thanks.