PaXcel FAQ (all versions)

pdipaxcel?.dll not found

#NAME? reference / moving between users

pdipaxcel?.dll not found

When attempting to link the PaXcel add-in into Excel, after clicking the browse button and selecting the Paxcel?.xla file and then clicking the OK button on the Excel Add-in's screen, I receive the message "PDIPaXcel?.dll (where ? is the version number) missing. This should be installed into a directory which exists in the path environment."

There are various possible reasons for this error.

1. The most likely cause of this error is that the underlying database engine for Pastel Accounting™, viz: Pervasive, is not installed or is corrupt in some way. Ensure that Pervasive or Btrieve is installed. The best way to ensure this is the case is to install PaXcel on a computer running Pastel. It is also possible that the Pervasive installation is corrupt in some way. We would recommend in such cases to uninstall and reinstall the Pervasive software.

2. Check that the system folder (normally "C:\Windows", is indeed part of the path environment and that the file in question, pdipaxcel?.dll, is in fact in that folder. To do this go to a command prompt and type the command "Path". This will return a string showing the various folders in the path environment. Using Windows explorer, make sure that the pdipaxcel?.dll file is indeed in one of these folders (default installation would have placed this file in "c:\windows" or the equivalent system folder such as "c:\winnt".

3. The pdipaxcel?.dll file is corrupt. This may have occurred as a result of the download of PaXcel itself becoming corrupt. Try downloading PaXcel again and reinstalling, but only after first uninstalling the previous copy. When uninstalling ensure that the file pdipaxcel?.dll in the c:\windows folder and the file paxcel?.xla in the \Program Files\PDI Spirit\Addins folder have been deleted before reinstalling. Should you not be able to download a fresh copy of PaXcel from our website, contact us for a demo CD, which we will gladly post to you. 

   

#NAME? reference / moving between users

If you create a spreadsheet that is going to be moved between users or supplied to a user who does not have a PaXcel license then you should take the following points and issues in to consideration:-

1. On a network use a PaXcel.xla file that is on a mapped drive that all users have access to. Use this global PaXcel.xla when creating all spreadsheets.

2. If you open a spreadsheet that shows cells as #NAME? or does not update correctly check the PaXcel formulas to ensure that the XLA path is not included. Microsoft Excel saves the location of the file that contains the external formulas, if this points to a file that does not exist on your system then you will normally see the following message box when you first open the spreadsheet.

If you have a valid PaXcel license installed on your machine, then use the [Update] button to locate and change the location of the PaXcel.xla to the one you are using. If you do not have PaXcel installed and licensed on your machine press the [Don't Update] button.

Microsoft Excel 2003: If you are using Excel 2003 then you may see the #NAME? reference even if you select the [Dont' Update]. This is because Excel 2003 will always try and re-calculate the spreadsheet even if you select this function. If this is the case, then before you start turn the Automatic calcalution to Manual (you will need to have a worksheet open). This can be done via Tools|Options and selecting the Calculate tab as below:-

3. Use Excels Find & Replace to remove the PaXcel.xla file location from the formulas. Select this function from Edit|Replace or Ctrl+H function and then type the full path of the XLA that you wish to replace and replace it with a blank space. The image below shows an example using the full path as shown in the image above.