We try to maintain XLTools user-friendly. But if you happen to get an error for any reason, it can be easily fixed. Find a solution for your problem below, or contact us for support.
There is no XLTools tab in Excel, although the add-in was successfully installed.
Cause: Excel has deactivated XLTools add-in.
Activate XLTools manually: open Excel > File > Options > Add-Ins > Select ‘Manage ‘Com Add-Ins’ on the bottom of the box > Go > Check the box ‘XLTools Add-in for Microsoft Excel’ > Ok.
I am having difficulty activating XLTools license.
Cause: the license code is not accepted; and/or the License box looks distorted.
1. Click the License button on the XLTools tab > click Clear All to clear any previous license entries > OK > License button > Paste your license key > OK.
2. Resize the License box until the buttons (Apply, Clear All, etc.) are visible. The view of the License box can get distorted when your Windows display settings are customized. Go to Control Panel\Appearance and Personalization\Display > If the size of text and other items is set to 100% (default), then all XLTools dialogue boxes will display properly.
Error: The customization cannot be installed because another version is currently installed.
Cause: XLTools did not uninstall properly the last time, or the online cache is corrupted.
1. Open a Command Prompt window: Press WIN + S > Type ‘cmd’ in the search box > Click to open the Command Prompt > Paste ‘rundll32 dfshim CleanOnlineAppCache’ > Press Enter > Close the Command Prompt.
2. Install XLTools again: Download > Save file > open This PC\Downloads > Find ‘XLTools.exe’ > right-click and ‘Run as administrator’.
Warning: The signature is corrupt or invalid / Running this program might put your PC at risk.
Cause: effective January 1, 2016, Microsoft has changed their security policy. Windows (version 7 and higher) and Windows Server no longer trust applications that are signed with a SHA-1 certificate, stipulating transition to the latest SHA-2 certificate.
XLTools Add-in is currently signed with the SHA-1 certificate. So you may get Windows warning message when you try to run and install ‘XLTools.exe’, especially when attempting installation directly from Internet Explorer. We guarantee that our add-in is malware free, and until we update our signature to a SHA-2 algorithm, please follow these steps to install XLTools:
1. Download > Save file > open This PC\Downloads > Find ‘XLTools.exe’ > right-click and ‘Run as administrator’.
2. If you get the security warning > Click ‘More Info’ and ‘Run anyway’.
In the meanwhile, we will keep working to find the most suitable solution for all XLTools users.
Error: The value of the property ’type’ cannot be parsed. Could not load file or assembly or one of its dependencies (Visual Studio Tools for Office Solution Installer).
Cause: it is a known problem with VSTO add-ins – they require administrator rights for installation; and/or there is a problem with the necessary Microsoft service packs.
1. Install XLTools again: Download > Save file > open This PC\Downloads > Find ‘XLTools.exe’ > right-click and ‘Run as administrator’.
2. If step 1 did not help: go to C:\Program Files (x86)\Common Files\Microsoft Shared\VSTO\10.0 (if you cannot find this folder, go to C:\Program Files\Common Files\Microsoft Shared\VSTO\10.0) > Find and rename the file ‘VSTOInstaller.exe.Config’ to ‘VSTOInstaller.exe.Config.old’ (add the extension “.old”) > Repeat step 1 to install XLTools.
3. If step 2 did not help: reinstall Visual Studio 2010 Tools for Office Runtime > Repeat step 1 to install XLTools.
4. If you do not have administrator rights, please contact your system administrator or IT support.
Error: Exception reading manifest: the manifest may not be valid or the file could not be opened (Microsoft Office Customization Installer).
Cause: your PC lacks the necessary Microsoft services packs.
1. Install automatic Windows Updates, if any: Control Panel\System and Security\Windows Update > Install updates.
2. Make sure that you have .NET Framework 4.5.2., install it manually if necessary.
3. Install XLTools again: Download > Save file > open This PC\Downloads > Find ‘XLTools.exe’ > right-click and ‘Run as administrator’.
Error: System.Security.SecurityException: Customized functionality in this application will not work because the certificate used to sign the deployment manifest or its location is not trusted (Microsoft Office Customization Installer).
Cause: you are trying to install or run an outdated version of XLTools; and/or your PC lacks the necessary Microsoft services packs.
1. Close all Excel files and uninstall XLTools like any other program: Control Panel\Programs\Programs and Features > Select ‘XLTools Add-in for Microsoft Excel’ > Uninstall. If you do not have XLTools in the list of installed programs, skip this step.
2. Install automatic Windows Updates, if any: Control Panel\System and Security\Windows Update > Install updates.
3. Make sure that you have .NET Framework 4.5.2., install it manually if necessary.
4. Install XLTools again: Download > Save file > open This PC\Downloads > Find the ‘XLTools.exe’ file you have just saved > right-click and ‘Run as administrator’.
Error: The following Microsoft Office solution cannot be installed due to a general installation error: XLTools.vsto. Error code 0x0800700E, or 0x8007007E, or 0x080070002 (Visual Studio Tools for Office Solution Installer).
Cause: your PC runs Windows 10 and lacks the necessary Microsoft service packs.
1. Make sure that you have .NET Framework 4.5.2., install it manually if necessary.
2. Make sure that you have Visual C++ 2010 Redistributable x64 and Visual C++ 2010 Redistributable x86. Download both files manually if necessary and install as administrator.
3. Install XLTools again: Download > Save file > open This PC\Downloads > Find the ‘XLTools.exe’ file you have just saved > right-click and ‘Run as administrator’.
Error: Specified argument was out of the range of valid values. Parameter name: entryValue (Microsoft Office Customization Installer).
Cause: multiple ClickOnce add-ins and repeated installations have corrupted cache on your PC.
1. Close all Excel files.
2. Open This PC\Downloads > Find any XLTools.exe installer files and delete those.
3. Open your browser settings (Internet Explorer, Google Chrome, Mozilla Firefox, Opera or any other you use by default) > Clear cache.
4. Open C:\Users\YourName\AppData\Local\Apps > Find the folder ‘2.0’ with ClickOnce cache > Delete the folder. Please note, if you have any other ClickOnce add-ins, you will have to reinstall them after this operation.
5. Install XLTools again: Download > Save file > open This PC\Downloads > Find ‘XLTools.exe’ > right-click and ‘Run as administrator’.
Any questions or suggestions? Please leave your comment below.
I have installed XLtool UnPivot Ad in . But all tool seems Disabled. Can you please suggest me how to Activate it
Hello Riyas,
The Free Trial should start automatically. If it did not happen, please open XLTools tab > Click the License button > Click the Free Trial button. This should enable all functionality, including the Unpivot table.
Activating a trial requires Internet connection, though. So I have emailed you the free trial license key just in case. Hope you’ll find XLTools useful for your tasks!
Hi,
I am interested in this MS Excel addon xltools for running sql queries. I have downloaded and started the installation, The installation went smooth for most of the time. .
At last it gave me following error. I checked the install.log file, here are the last few lines …please help. I am running the xltools setup as a administrator.
———————————————-
URLDownloadToCacheFile failed with HRESULT ‘-2146697208’
Error: An error occurred trying to download ‘https://xltools.net/clickonce/pro/en/XLTools.vsto’.
Status of package ‘Microsoft Visual Studio 2010 Tools for Office Runtime (x86 and x64)’ after install is ‘InstallSucceeded’
—————————————–
Hi Baiju,
Seems that your browser security settings are blocking XLTools from proper installation. Please try the following:
Option A:
1. Temporarily block browser security settings:
Clear security options temporarily or add an exception: Internet Explorer > Tools > Internet options > Security tab > Trusted sites icon > Sites button > paste “https://xltools.net/” > Add.
Internet Explorer > Tools > Internet options > Advanced tab > Clear Warn in changing between secure and non secure mode > Then reboot your PC.
2. Install XLTools again:
Open Internet Explorer > Click Ctrl + F5 (this should clear cache in your browser) > Download XLTools > Save file > open This PC\Downloads > Find the ‘XLTools.exe’ file you have just saved > right-click and ‘Run as administrator’. > After installation bring the security settings back.
Option B.
Try installing XLTools using the MSI installer. MSI is normally more flexible compared to EXE installers.
Download XLTools.msi for your type of Office > Double-click to run the file and follow the steps of the set-up wizard.
Guide and screenshots.
Although the MSI version was developed for terminal servers, it also works on individuals PCs.
Please let me know how it goes!