You can install the Excel Add-in via the command line. This is useful if you want to install the add-in quickly and consistently.

Use an MSI file with command prompt to install the Excel Add-in

The MSI file for the relevant version of the add-in is required to install the add-in via the command line. Download the version for multiple users if you need to install the add-in for all users with Excel installed on a machine. 

You should be proficient with the command prompt before you install the add-in with it. This information is intended for IT teams who want to install the add-in for multiple users.

You must have administrator permissions for Windows Installer to install the add-in via the command line. Ensure that you open the command prompt as an administrator.

When you install the add-in via the command line, installation options are available. You can use a universal Windows command to see the options in Windows Installer.

To view the full list of options:

  1. Select the Start menu and enter Command Prompt
  2. Right-click Command Prompt and choose Run as administrator.
  3. Navigate to the folder that contains the MSI file for the version of the add-in you want to install.
    By default, this is the Downlads folder.
    You can specify the full file path for the installer after the msiexec command in the next step.
  4. Use the command msiexec to run the .msi file.
    The Windows Installer dialog displays. It contains a full list of the options you can use for your installation.
The Windows Installer dialog that provides a list of command line installation options.

An example command for this procedure is msiexec "C:\Users\AnaplanUser\Downloads\AnaplanExcelAddin.Release.msi"

This table contains some useful installation options from the full list. Some are universal options in Windows, and some apply only to the add-in.

Installation optionPurposeExample
/iInstall the add-in.msiexec /i "C:\Users\AnaplanUser\Downloads\AnaplanExcelAddin.Release.msi"
/qPerform a quiet installation of the add-in, with no installation wizard. msiexec /i "C:\Users\AnaplanUser\Downloads\AnaplanExcelAddin.Release.msi" /q
/qrPerform a quiet installation of the add-in, with only a progress bar and no final window. Also enables installation without administrator permissions.msiexec /i "C:\Users\AnaplanUser\Downloads\AnaplanExcelAddin.Release.msi" /qr
/xUninstall the add-in.msiexec /x "C:\Users\AnaplanUser\Downloads\AnaplanExcelAddin.Release.msi"
APPDIR=""Install the add-in to a specified directory.msiexec /i "C:\Users\AnaplanUser\Downloads\AnaplanExcelAddin.Release.msi" APPDIR="C:/Users/Anaplan/Add-in Folder"

You can double-click the MSI file in Windows to perform a standard installation. However, if you use the command line, you can customize your installation with further options explained on this page.

Use this procedure as a basis for other types of installation:

  1. In the start menu, right-click Command Prompt and choose Run as administrator.
  2. Locate the MSI file for the version of the add-in you want to install.
    By default, this is the Downloads folder.
    You can hold shift and right-click the file to copy its path.
  3. Use the command msiexec and additional tags to run the MSI file.
    The type of installation depends on the tags you use.

Perform an installation of the add-in with reduced UI to install with no installation wizard, only a progress bar. This type of installation does not require administrator permissions.

Use the command msiexec and the additional tags /i and /qr to perform a quiet installation of the add-in with reduced UI. Only a progress bar displays, with no installation wizard, because the /qr tag is used.

An example command for this procedure is:

msiexec /i "C:\Users\AnaplanUser\Downloads\AnaplanExcelAddin.Release.msi" /qr

The default installation location of the add-in is C:/Users/Username/AppData/Local/Programs/Anaplan/. However, you can install the add-in to any location.

Use the command msiexec and the additional tags /i and APPDIR="" install the add-in to a specific directory. Enter the directory to install the add-in between the quotation marks. When you execute the command, the PowerPointAddin Setup wizard displays.

An example command for this procedure is:

msiexec /i "C:\Users\AnaplanUser\Downloads\AnaplanExcelAddin.Release.msi" APPDIR="C:/Users/AnaplanUser/Add-in Folder"

You can copy the Settings file for the add-in to other machines to duplicate the SSO settings. 

Once a series 4 version of the add-in is installed, a Settings file is created in the following location:

%localappdata%\Anaplan\ExcelAddIn\4.x\Settings.xml

When you set up SSO through authentication settings, the Settings file updates to contain the SSO configuration.

Note that the Settings file changes between versions of the add-in. We recommend you copy the Settings file to another machine only if it has the same version of the add-in installed.