I have two workbooks each in its own instance. One workbook opens the other and needs to load a COM addin. The problem is the addin is not being loaded. Well, it is checked in the addins and load behavior is "load at startup", but the ribbon (and functionality) is not present.

However, when I active use the connect statement below inside the workbook open event AND open the workbook myself everything loads as desired. When the original workbook opens the workbook with this same connect in the open event, nothing happens.

Application.COMAddIns("MyStuff.Addin.1").Connect = True

How can I get the first workbook to successfully open and connect/activate/load this COM addin in the second workbook? I also tried changing the default COM load behavior to always load---same thing happens. Appears checked and loaded but no ribbon or functionality.