Using Excel 2013 x64 with the 2012 MDS add-in.  

The master data services add-in works but when I shut down Excel, the add-in is soft disabled and I have to re-enable it every time I start Excel. I've tried disabling everything and then just enable MDS and that doesn't help.

How can I troubleshoot this? I can't roll out 2013 to my users if this problem persists.

Hi,

From your descripiton, was there only 2012 MDS add-in encounter the issue? Which 2012 MDS add-in did you use? 2012 MDS add-in SP1 or 2012 MDS add-in RTM I installed 2012 MDS add-in SP1 to test, and it worked fine in my computer. If you install the 2012 MDS add-in RTM, I recommend you install the 2012 MDS add-in SP1 to check the issue:

http://www.microsoft.com/en-us/download/details.aspx?id=35581

Next,there will be disabled the add-in which loading too slow in starting Excel. We could check the event log which ever happend.

Please chick File>Options>Add-ins.The Master Data Services Add-in for Excel should be listed under the heading Active Application Add-ins as shown here at the top of the listing.
If it appears under the heading of Disabled or Inactive Application Add-ins. If it not, at the bottom of the dialog box, in the Manage list, select Disabled Items or COM Add-ins and click Go. The check box for the Add-in must be selected for the Add-in to be enabled.

Then, I suggest you could disable the other add-in, and enable 2012 MDS add-in to test.

For more detail information, please refer to the following link:

https://social.technet.microsoft.com/wiki/contents/articles/4520.troubleshooting-the-master-data-services-add-in-for-excel.aspx

 

Thanks,

George Zhao

Forum Support

________________________________________

Come back and mark the replies as answers if they help and unmark them if they provide no help. If you have any feedback on our support, please click here

• Edited by George.Zhao CHNMicrosoft contingent staff, Moderator Tuesday, October 22, 2013 4:45 AM

Hi,

Just checking in to see if the information was helpful. Please let us know if you would like further assistance.

Thanks,

George Zhao

Forum Support

________________________________________

Come back and mark the replies as answers if they help and unmark them if they provide no help. If you have any feedback on our support, please click here

I'm using the SP1 version of the add-in. I have tried all the steps you mention with no positive results.  The only error message I get in the client side log is this:

2013-10-29T11:18:35.063       14028 EXCEL.EXE            EXCEL.EXE                                Generic          EventType: Error, Message: MDS Excel plugin started successfully. Assembly version: 11.0.0.0, File version: 11.0.3368.0 ((SQL11_SP1_QFE-CU).130522-1657 )

Hi,

In regarding the log, the error message showed that it looked as though you or the app lacked permission to access some config files. I recommend you have to run this as admin to test again.

Could you re-install the add-in to test? I'll be appreciated for it.

Thanks,

George Zhao

Forum Support

________________________________________

Come back and mark the replies as answers if they help and unmark them if they provide no help. If you have any feedback on our support, please click here

I was skeptical since I am admin on my machine but that worked. Every time I run Excel as administrator the add in appears, but if I don't  I need to add it manually. Thanks for moving me forward on this.

Now the next logical question is, how do I determine what files Excel is trying to update that it is failing on? Any ideas?

• Marked as answer by George.Zhao CHNMicrosoft contingent staff, Moderator Wednesday, November 06, 2013 6:51 AM

Hi,

In order to avoid confusion and keep track of troubleshooting steps, we usually troubleshoot one issue per thread in order to find a resolution efficiently. Concerning your other question, I suggest we create a new post in the forum. I'll work for you in the new thread.

Thanks for your understanding.

George Zhao

Forum Support

________________________________________

Come back and mark the replies as answers if they help and unmark them if they provide no help. If you have any feedback on our support, please click here

It's not another issue. It is the same issue, we're just a little further along in troubleshooting it.

So now we know that the add-in is trying to write to a file it doesn't have access to, but we don't know what file. Same issue, still unresolved.

I have finally found a solution for this problem!  Every time I opened Excel (unless I ran as administrator) I would have to activate the MDS add-in; this was time-consuming and annoying. It seems like there was no solution posted online anywhere! Well after much aggravation, I have finally found a solution:

Fixing the Microsoft MDS Excel Add-In so it Stays Enabled

1.        Press the Start button (Windows button)
2.        In the search bar type REGEDIT
3.        Open regedit.exe
4.        A pop-up will ask permission for the Registry Editor to make changes to the computer, select Yes.
5.        In the Registry Editor expand HKEY_CURRENT_USER
6.        In the HKEY_CURRENT_USER folder, expand in the following order:  Software -> Microsoft -> Office -> Excel -> Addins
7.     Select Microsoft.MasterDataServices.ExcelAddIn
8.     Double-click on LoadBehavior in the right panel
9.     In the Edit Value popup, change the value to 
10.    Press OK
11.    Exit the Registry Editor
12.    The excel add-in should now be active anytime you open Excel. If multiple errors occur while using the add-in, the Load Behavior may change back to 0.  If that occurs simply follow these steps so the add-in will be active when Excel starts up.

I hope this helps some of you avoid the long hours of trying to find a solution to this silly problem.

Cheers!

Tony

• Proposed as answer by TonyCapo Friday, September 12, 2014 5:48 PM

Tony:

In step 9 of your instructions, "...change the value to" and then you stop, nothing more.

To WHAT does one change the value?

I think 3 works in my case, based on similar entries for other Add-Ins in the same folder in the Registry.