Addins Tab allow New Group

I think this is functionality by Excel. I have not seen any option that would prevent adding a group. I have seen that Excel is very particular about the control of tabs. For example, in my other Add-in where I am moving some of the code from VBA to C#, Excel creates two tabs called 'Add-in' because even though they both refer to the same tab name, because they are different code bases, Excel won't let them share the same tab, so I end up with two tabs of the same name. I imagine in your case that Excel did this so that your custom items would not be deleted when the tab is unloaded as your custom items are persistent, but the ones in the Add-In are not (the tab, groups and buttons are only created when Excel opens the add-in file).

Steve -- Light bulb came on --- I agree with what you said --- it would not make sense for me to put my other add-ins in the tab that Spreadsheet Compare is using. And the other add-ins are typically one command macros (Clear excess format; Resize comments) so adding them to a Custom Group works.

But I have a question. I installed "Essential Excel Add-in" and it installs in the User/Apps correct folder for Microsoft Addins. But it behaves differently from Spreadsheet compare. When I toggle it from Inactive to Active a new Tab shows in the tab row called "Essential." This is the same this that happens with other similar adds like "ASAP Utilities" and "Secure Zip." When activated they add a tab name to the row (Essential, ASAP Utilities, Secure Zip).

But none of these show up in the Options/Customize Ribbon list; which also means their position on the row (left or right) can't be changed. But the "tab" that Spreadsheet Compare create (Add-ins) does show in the ribbon customize Main Tab list. Which makes me think there is a difference between "Essential" add-in and "Spreadsheet Compare" add-in.

So, is there a way to simply change the name of the tab that Spreadsheet Compare is creating from "Add-ins" to a more descriptive "Spreadsheet Compare?"

My original confusion when I installed Spreadsheet was that I couldn't find it. And once I did (in the Add-ins tab) made me think that was where all the add-ins could be placed and you have explained why that wouldn't work.

I know I'm just drawing a parallel with the other similar add-ins (ASAP Utilities, Secure Zip and Essential) but it seems a logical way to make Spreadsheet Compare appear in the row of tabs and it looks to me like both of your add-ins are Visual Basic and they appear in the Developer/Visual Basic list along with the other add-ins and are running on the same version of Excel but create their tab differently.

Basically, can Spreadsheet Compare be made to work like your Essential Excel Add-in by creating a tab called "Spreadsheet Compare" and not a tab called "Add-ins?"

Thanks again for your quick response and answer.

Originally Essential was under Add-in, but grew so big that I had to move it to a separate tab. 'Add-ins' is a bit special in that any pre-2017 add-ins (before the ribbon UI) will automatically be applied to the default 'Add-ins' tab. So Excel has some knowledge of this tab and this might explain why it works differently. So in my Excel, there are other add-ins that are shown in the add-ins tab as well, some that are xla (pre-2017 add-ins) and some xlam (2017+) that I wrote. It is more useful to have these groups on one tab rather than four additional tabs with one group each. It did not make sense to have a tab for 3 buttons.

You do know that you can add macros to the QAT (the buttons above the ribbon)? At the end of the QAT, there is a drop down to customize, a more commands button. You can then choose from Add-ins tab, and select the compare tools to add the to QAT. As there are only 3 compare options, you can add the 3 buttons (or 1 or 2) to the QAT. As the buttons have images, the image will be used. This will give you quick access to the compare so you don't have to go to the tab at all.

Steve, too bad. I was hoping it was an easy fix to make Spreadsheet Compare behave the same as Essential.

I have notice that Excel 2016 will not put even the older xla in the Add-ins tab. I found that deactivating and activating would pop one into the tab but closing and reopening Excel 2016 it was gone again. So, that Add-ins tab sure does have strange behavior, even for the older xla and newer xlam files. Just not very stable to use on a regular basis.

I know I could use the Quick access toolbar with three additional buttons to what is already there but it would sure be nice to just see a tab labeled "Spreadsheet Compare" instead, just like the Essential, ASPS Utilities, etc. and not mess with the Add-ins tab or QAT.

Maybe if you ever have to update Spreadsheet Compare someday, something to consider.

Thanks

Steve --- I hate to bother you but I am totally confused with Add-ons. The two that I have (one xla and one xlam) are in the User Addon's folder correctly and when I go to Options/Add-ons I can activate them ---- but they never show up. When I start Excel I see them loading when they are set to active but they never appear on any tab that I can find.

When I go to Customize the ribbon, they aren't in the command list but they do appear in the Macro list. And, I can add the Macros to the custom group on the Home tab.

What is confusing me is that when I toggle these two "Add-ons" to inactive and restart Excel they don't load (which is what I expect) but when I click on the correct icon in the Custom group -- the addon works. Its like putting them on the ribbon as Macros bypasses the Addon Active/Inactive control. Why would they work if they are inactive?

Or, when I don't directly put the addons on as Macros are they really on some toolbar tab that I don't know about? Guess what I'm getting at is when a new addon is added to the system and shows on the Inactive list and is then marked active, how do you find out where it shows up and and run it?

Sorry to bother you --- this is totally new to me and I just want to know where these new addons show up.

If you want a workaround, the xlam is just a renamed zip file. If you make a back in another folder, rename the file extension, open the zip file, you can edit the 'customUI\customUI14.xml' file.

Change

        <tab  idMso="TabAddIns" >
            <group

to

        <tab 
            id="Tab2"
            insertBeforeMso="TabDeveloper"
            label="Compare">
            <group

Zip up again and rename back to original. This will then load the group into a tab 'Compare'.