How to Fix an Excel XLAM Add-In That Will Not Save Changes
Question details
User needs to troubleshoot an Excel XLAM add-in that does not update its modified date after adding VBA modules, formulas, or formatting shortcuts.
- Product
- WPS Office Excel / Microsoft Excel XLAM add-in
- Device & OS
- not provided
- Scenario
- The user has added VBA modules, formulas, or formatting shortcuts to an Excel XLAM add-in and expects the file's modified date to update.
- Observed behavior
- The XLAM file appears not to save changes; its modified date does not update after the edits are made.
Before troubleshooting, note the exact folder location and current Date modified of the .xlam file, and make sure you can write to that folder. Close WPS Office or Excel completely before checking the timestamp again.
Save the Add-In Explicitly from the Visual Basic Editor
Use this first when the XLAM looks updated in the VBA editor but the file timestamp stays unchanged.
The add-in may be open in memory while the file on disk has not been saved. Saving from the Visual Basic Editor writes the modified VBA project back to the .xlam file.
Open the XLAM add-in in WPS Office Excel or Microsoft Excel, then press Alt+F11 to open the Visual Basic Editor.
In the Project Explorer pane, click the VBA project that matches the open XLAM add-in file.
Click File > Save on the Visual Basic Editor menu bar, or press Ctrl+S.
Close Excel or WPS Office completely, then in File Explorer right-click the .xlam file, select Properties, and check the Date modified value.
Compile the VBA Project to Clear Errors
Use this when a compile error may be preventing the add-in from saving cleanly.
Export Modules and Rebuild the Add-In as a New XLAM
Use this if the original file is locked, blocked, or still will not save after the above fixes.
Save Excel XLAM Add-In Changes in WPS Office
Open your .xlam add-in in WPS Office Excel, edit the VBA modules, formulas, or formatting shortcuts, and save the file from the Visual Basic Editor so changes are written to disk and the modified date updates.
- 1. Open the add-in: Launch WPS Office Excel, click File > Open, and select the .xlam add-in file you need to repair.
- 2. Open the Visual Basic Editor: Press Alt+F11 to open the editor, then select the correct add-in project in Project Explorer.
- 3. Edit and save the project: Make the required VBA, formula, or formatting shortcut changes, then click File > Save in the Visual Basic Editor.
- 4. Close and verify: Close WPS Office completely, open File Explorer, right-click the .xlam file, and confirm the Date modified has changed.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why does my XLAM add-in keep the old modified date after I edit it?
You may have saved the workbook view but not the VBA project, or Excel or WPS Office may still have the file open. Press Alt+F11, select the correct XLAM project, click File > Save in the Visual Basic Editor, close Office, and then check Date modified.
Can WPS Office open and save a Microsoft Excel .xlam add-in?
Yes. WPS Office Excel supports Excel add-in files. Open the .xlam, press Alt+F11 to edit VBA modules, and use File > Save in the Visual Basic Editor before closing WPS Office.
What should I do if antivirus software blocks saving the add-in?
Create an antivirus exclusion for the .xlam file or its folder in the security software, or temporarily pause real-time protection. Then retry saving from the Visual Basic Editor and verify the timestamp.
How do I rebuild an Excel add-in when it still will not save?
In the Visual Basic Editor, export each module as a .bas file. Create a new workbook, import the modules with Import File, reapply formulas or formatting shortcuts, then choose File > Save As > Excel Add-In (*.xlam).
