Frequently Asked Questions

This topic contains a collection of frequently asked questions and troubleshooting tips related to older versions or specific configurations of XLS Padlock.

👉 For more questions, see our other FAQ here.

My application says “Excel not found.” What should I do? #

This error may occur if the customer installed Office 365 over an older version of Office.

Solution: Tell your customer to try performing a repair of their Office installation. If that doesn’t work, they should use the Office Scrub utility from Microsoft, then reinstall Office 365. The scrub utility is available here.

I get a “workbook has been modified” warning, but it is saved. Why? #

This can happen if your workbook is saved on a cloud-synced drive like OneDrive, even if it appears to be on your local desktop. XLS Padlock requires files to be on a true local drive during development to prevent issues with cloud synchronization.

Solution: Move the workbook file from the virtual/cloud-synced folder to a standard local directory (e.g., C:\MyProjects\).

How do I include and register XLL add-ins? #

It is possible to register add-ins in .xll format by listing them as companion files. You must provide both 32-bit and 64-bit versions of your add-in, renaming their extensions as shown below so XLS Padlock can register the correct version at runtime:

• myaddin.xll32 (for 32-bit)
• myaddin.xll64 (for 64-bit)

Then, to load the add-in, use the following VBA code in your Workbook_Open event:

Private Sub Workbook_Open()
    Dim success As Boolean
    ' The PathToCompiledFile function is required.
    success = Application.RegisterXLL(PathToCompiledFile("myaddin.xll"))
End Sub

How do I open a companion file like a DOCX or PDF in an external app? #

External applications cannot directly access companion files for security reasons. You must first copy the companion file to a temporary location and then open it from there.

Sub OpenWordDoc()
    Dim wordapp As Object
    Dim tempPath As String
    tempPath = Environ("temp") & "\MyCompanionDoc.docx"

    ' The PathToCompiledFile function is required.
    FileCopy PathToCompiledFile("MyCompanionDoc.docx"), tempPath

    Set wordapp = CreateObject("word.Application")
    wordapp.documents.Open tempPath
    wordapp.Visible = True
End Sub

Sub OpenPDF()
    Dim tempPath As String
    tempPath = Environ("temp") & "\MyPDFGuide.pdf"

    FileCopy PathToCompiledFile("MyPDFGuide.pdf"), tempPath
    ActiveWorkbook.FollowHyperlink tempPath
End Sub

Why is ThisWorkbook.Path not working correctly? #

XLS Padlock works with virtualization; the Excel file is never unpacked to a physical disk location. Therefore, ThisWorkbook.Path points to a virtual, non-existent path.

Solution: To get the real path of your application’s EXE file, use the PLEvalVar("EXEPath") function provided by the XLS Padlock API.

How can I avoid errors when loading .XLSCE files due to number formats (comma vs. point)? #

This error can occur if the user’s Windows regional settings for decimal and thousands separators differ from what was used when the file was created.

Solution: The user must change their Windows settings for number formatting. The decimal separator should be a point (.) and the thousands separator can be a comma (,) or an apostrophe (').

Is VBA obfuscation necessary? #

While you can use an obfuscator, it only makes code harder to read; it doesn’t prevent copying. For true protection, you should use the integrated VBA Compiler in XLS Padlock. This removes the original VBA code entirely and replaces it with secure bytecode that cannot be run outside of your protected application.

I get “Run-time-error 1004. No data was imported” with XML maps. How do I fix this? #

This can happen when using XML maps because the schema is not correctly recognized after compilation.

Solution: In the XLS Padlock settings, go to “Formulas and Passwords” and enable the option “Use Excel automation for formula protection“.

The XLS Padlock tab is missing in Excel. What should I do? #

This indicates the add-in is not correctly registered. Run the XLS Padlock Manager from your desktop. The first two indicators should be green. If not, follow the instructions provided by the manager. If the issue persists, reinstall XLS Padlock.

My custom ribbon is not showing. How can I access XLS Padlock tools? #

If your custom ribbon overrides the XLS Padlock tab, you can still access the tools by right-clicking on any worksheet tab. The context menu will contain an “XLS Padlock Tools” submenu.

I get a “Name Conflict / Print_Area” error. How do I fix this? #

This is a known bug with some Excel versions and locales.

Solution: Before saving your workbook, remove the Print_Area name from Excel’s Name Manager. Then, add the following VBA code to your workbook to clear it automatically:

Private Sub Workbook_Open()
    Dim Sh As Worksheet
    For Each Sh In ThisWorkbook.Worksheets
         With Sh
             .PageSetup.PrintArea = ""
             .PageSetup.PrintTitleRows = ""
         End With
    Next
End Sub

' Also add this for BeforeClose event
Private Sub Workbook_BeforeClose()
    Dim Sh As Worksheet
    For Each Sh In ThisWorkbook.Worksheets
         With Sh
             .PageSetup.PrintArea = ""
             .PageSetup.PrintTitleRows = ""
         End With
    Next
End Sub

How do I disable drag and drop? #

Add Application.CellDragAndDrop = False to the Workbook_Open VBA event. To prevent users from changing this, also enable the “Forbid access to the VBA editor” option in XLS Padlock’s security settings.

Where is the Developer ribbon tab? #

By default, XLS Padlock hides the Developer ribbon. You can re-enable it by going to the “UI Customization” page and enabling “Show Developer Tab”.

I updated my original workbook. How do my users get the changes? #

This depends on the save mode you selected:

• Full Save Mode: Saved .XLSC files are complete snapshots. When a user loads their old save file, they will see their old data, not the updates from your new EXE. To manage this, you can either switch to Cell Values save mode or provide a VBA macro to help users transfer their data from the old version to the new one.
• Cell Values Save Mode: This mode is designed for this scenario. When a user loads their .XLSCE file with your new EXE, their saved cell values will be loaded into your updated workbook structure.

Is it possible to update the EXE files automatically? #

Yes. If you update your source workbook, you must recompile it and deploy the new EXE to your customers. XLS Padlock includes a Web Update feature that can automatically check for, download, and install the new EXE file for your users.

Is my original Excel file stored on your server? #

No. XLS Padlock works entirely offline on your computer. We never have access to your original workbook files. Always make your own backups.

How do users open an .XLSC save file? #

Secure save files can only be opened by the protected EXE file. Users can:

• Run the EXE and click “Choose Save” when prompted.
• Drag the .XLSC file and drop it onto the EXE file’s icon.
• Use the command line: MYAPP.EXE "c:\my documents\mysave.xlsc"

Are there any keyboard shortcuts in the XLS Padlock UI? #

Yes:
– F1: Help
– F5: Build Application
– F7: Save Project and Close

What is the difference between an activation key and an activation token? #

This applies to the WooCommerce Integration Kit.

• An Activation Key is what the end-user enters to activate the application (e.g., 735DH-H12E7-DDH8F-…).
• An Activation Token is a unique identifier for the customer’s record in the online database (e.g., [email protected]). The token is used by the online activation system to find the customer and issue an activation key.

Activation keys can be deactivated and blocked; tokens are permanent identifiers.

How can I stop XLS Padlock from disabling add-ins in the XLStart folder? #

By default, these add-ins are disabled for security. You can allow them by going to the “Advanced Options” page and enabling the option “Do not disable the XLStart user folder“.