OLE Automation Error 438 when installing an XLL as a custom action

Question

0.00/5 (No votes)

See more:

Hi,

I would like to register an XLL while installing a project using MSI.

I am using a VB.NET installer class to do this:

Imports System.ComponentModel
Imports System.Configuration.Install
Imports System.ArgumentException
Imports Microsoft.Office.Interop
 
Public Class Installer1
 
    Public Overrides Sub Install(ByVal stateSaver As System.Collections.IDictionary)
        MyBase.Install(stateSaver)
 
        Dim targetDir = Me.Context.Parameters.Item("targetdir")
        targetDir = targetDir.Substring(0, targetDir.Length - 1)
        MsgBox(targetDir)
 
        Dim myScript = targetDir + "MySuperAddin.xll"
        MsgBox(myScript)
 
        Dim objAddin As Object
        Dim objEXL As Excel.Application = DirectCast(CreateObject("Excel.Application"), Excel.Application)
 
        objEXL.Workbooks.Add()
        Try
 
            objAddin = objEXL.AddIns.Add(myScript, True)
            objAddin(myScript).Installed = True
 
        Catch ex As Exception
            MsgBox("cannot open addin. /n Error: " + ex.Message)
Err_Handler:
            MsgBox(Err.Description, vbCritical, "Error: " & Err.Number)
        End Try
        objAddin = Nothing
        objEXL.Quit()
        objEXL = Nothing
    End Sub
End Class

<pre></pre>

When I run this code as a VB script on my desktop I dont have any issue.

it is a very standard way to install an addin

please see the link
http://stackoverflow.com/questions/1130301/uninstalling-excel-add-in-using-vbscript

However when I run it during the installation I get

Error: 438 Member not found. (Exception from HRESULTS: 0x80020003 (DISP_E_MEMBERNOTFOUND))

I tried to find a solution using the following links:
1) http://support.microsoft.com/kb/172108

and

2) http://support.microsoft.com/kb/213489/

but NO success. it is a clear problem with OLE Automation Object. I would really appreciate a suggestion. MANY THANKS!!

Posted 10-Feb-12 6:31am

tagad

Add a Solution

Comments

Maciej Los 14-Feb-12 15:55pm

Which version of MS Excel?
Take a look here

tagad 16-Feb-12 8:41am

Hi,

Thanks for your reply.

It is interesting the fact that I created the very same above install class in C# and I don't get the error message any longer.

I am using Office 2003. The add-in is visible and (theoretically) installed in excel, but not working.

However if I untick the box of the excel add-in and I tick it back the add-in works, and its functions visible
among the excel functions.

When a XLL Add-in is installed on a user's system, registry entries are created for the Add-in.

Maybe the method Add of addins fails to create proper registry entries for the target addin and I need to
do it manually, by specifying on the user's system the addin PATH as environment variable or by defining the registry entries.

Help or ideas are very welcome.

1 solution

Add a Solution

Add your solution here

Treat my content as plain text, not as HTML

Preview 0

…

Existing Members

Sign in to your account

...or Join us

Download, Vote, Comment, Publish.

Your Email
Password
Forgot your password?

Your Email
This email is in use. Do you need your password?
Optional Password

I have read and agree to the Terms of Service and Privacy Policy
Please subscribe me to the CodeProject newsletters

When answering a question please:

Read the question carefully.
Understand that English isn't everyone's first language so be lenient of bad spelling and grammar.
If a question is poorly phrased then either ask for clarification, ignore it, or edit the question and fix the problem. Insults are not welcome.
Don't tell someone to read the manual. Chances are they have and don't get it. Provide an answer or move on to the next question.

Let's work to help developers, not make them feel stupid.

This content, along with any associated source code and files, is licensed under The Code Project Open License (CPOL)

Maciej Los · Answer 1 · 2012-02-17T10:28:00

Take a look at my code...

I have created windows application.
I have placed on the form:
1) 1x textbox - Name: TxtExcelAddin
2) 2x buttons: - a) CmdBrowse (browse for addin)
b) CmdInstall (install addin)

VB

Public Class Form1

    Private Sub CmdBrowse_Click(ByVal sender As System.Object, ByVal e As System.EventArgs) Handles CmdBrowse.Click
        Dim dlgOF As OpenFileDialog = Nothing
        Dim dRes As DialogResult = Windows.Forms.DialogResult.No

        Try
            dlgOF = New OpenFileDialog()
            With dlgOF
                .Filter = "Excel 2003 Addin file (*.xla)|*.xla|Excel 2007 Addin file (*.xll)|*.xll"
                .FilterIndex = 0
                .Multiselect = False
                dRes = .ShowDialog()
                If dRes = Windows.Forms.DialogResult.OK Then Me.TxtExcelAddin.Text = .FileName
            End With

            Me.CmdInstall.Enabled = (Me.TxtExcelAddin.Text.Length > 0)

        Catch ex As Exception
            MsgBox(ex.Message, MsgBoxStyle.Exclamation, "Error no. " & Err.Number)

        Finally
            dlgOF = Nothing
            dRes = Nothing

        End Try


    End Sub

    Private Sub CmdInstall_Click(ByVal sender As System.Object, ByVal e As System.EventArgs) Handles CmdInstall.Click
        Dim oExc As Object = Nothing, oAds As Object = Nothing, oAin As Object = Nothing
        Dim sFileName As String = String.Empty

        Try
            'get the name of Addin
            sFileName = Me.TxtExcelAddin.Text
            'Excel application
            oExc = CreateObject("Excel.Application")
            'to add addin, we need to create new workbook (to enable Addin manager)
            oExc.Workbooks.Add()
            'collection of Addins
            oAds = oExc.AddIns
            'add Addin to the list of Addins
            oAin = oAds.Add(sFileName, True)
            'install Addin
            oAin.Installed = True

            MsgBox("Excel Addin installed: " & oAin.Installed, MsgBoxStyle.Information, "Information...")

        Catch ex As ArgumentException
            MsgBox(ex.Message, MsgBoxStyle.Exclamation, "Error no. " & Err.Number)

        Catch ex As Exception
            MsgBox(ex.Message, MsgBoxStyle.Exclamation, "Error no. " & Err.Number)

        Finally
            oExc.Quit()
            oAin = Nothing
            oAds = Nothing
            oExc = Nothing

        End Try

    End Sub
End Class

I'm not using Interop and installer class. The code is executing without errors.
I hope it will be helpful for you.