running a macro from an add-in

Question

i have an add-in called book1. inside the addin there is a module called module1 which has a sub called addin1

i would like to run the macro addin1 from a different workbook

i am trying to call this macro like this:

Call Addin1

but that's not working

and i tried:

Call book1.xlam.Module1.AddIn1

which is not working either

does anyone know how to run a macro that is within an add-in ?

Answer 1

(Assuming Office 2007) Here's an example:

1- Open a new Workbook.
2- Add a macro that contains the code MsgBox("Add-In")
3- Save as xlam file.
4- Open new Workbook.
5- Click Office Button -> Excel Options
6- Click the Add-Ins tab on the left.
7- At the bottom, next to the "Manage" dropdown, select "Excel Add-Ins" and click Go.
8- Click Browse and navigate to your xlam file.
9- Ensure the box next to your file is checked and click Ok.
10- Click the Office Button -> Excel Options.
11- Click Customize Tab.
12- Select Macros in the "Choose Commands From Dropdown."
13- Double click your AddIn and now a button will appear on the Quick Access Toolbar.
14- Click the button and your message box will now show.

Answer 2

In your workbook you write:

Sub test() 
    ' from other excel file
    Application.Run ("youraddin.xla!ShowForm") 
End Sub

And in the addin you have

Public Sub ShowForm() 
    loginform.Show 
End Sub 

Answer 3

In relation to how to run subroutines in installed add-ins (.xlam):

1. Make sure the VBA project associated with the add-in has a unique name (not VBAProject) - say Addin_1.

2. Within the VBA project for the workbook from which you wish to call the subroutines in the add-in, set a reference to Addin_1. Tools > References, find Addin_1 in the list of available references, and click on the adjacent box (a tick appears).

3. Within a subroutine in a code module of your workbook, you can now call a subroutine of the add-in, using:

     Call Addin_1.routine_name(routine parameters)
   

Since you have a reference to Addin_1, the names of the subroutines in the add-in will appear once you type Call Addin_1. and the parameter list for the specific subroutine will appear once you have typed Call Addin_1.routine_name(, which greatly assists in writing error-free code.

Tested with Excel 2013. Discovered when I was curious to see what happened when I set a reference to the VBA project of an installed add-in (.xlam). I have not seen this documented.