Installing and Updating BfX

F o r u m

Adding an add-in to Excel is easy

Excel 2003, 2007 and the 32 bits Excel 2010 use the same version of BfX.xll. BfX.xll  automatically detects which version of Excel is runnung and adapts. The 64-bit version of Excel 2010 uses BfX64.xll.(what is an .xll file? Should you check it for virusses?)

Using the Installer

The installation can be checked by starting Excel and trying to use BfX (e.g. enter =bfx_help() in a cell). When technically everything is allright one can start immediately (see right panel on this page) or download the Excel workbooks that illustrate the use of BfX. If you can't install BfX then start the trouble shooting here.

It is not nessecary to know all the ins and outs of add-in installation, but if you would like to know, start here. 

Uninstall 

To uninstall BfX.xll or BfX64.xll, you simply delete BfX from Excels add-in list, close Excel, and delete BfX.xll or BfX64.xll from your computer.

Setup procedure

1. Determine automatically the folder you want to put BfX.xll/BfX64.xll in. Download the Excel2003 workbook or the Excel2007/2010 workbook to find recommended default locations  automatically. These workbooks contain macros. Push the button on the worksheet to determine your recommended locations. Copy the locations (and paste them later).
   or
   simply choose a location
   c:/Programs Files/BfX
2. Download BfX (< 200kB). Use the  "Save" button to place it in the folder you have found or created in step 1.
   or
   You can also download the zipped installer programs for Excel2003, 2007 and 2010 32 bit or Excel2010 64 bit. Extract them in the same folder:
   Option 1 
   you put them in a special folder where you can keep them as long as you use BfX. Then you can unistall BfX from this folder . 
   Option 2
   use a or the default folder and remove this folder afterwards. You have to uninstall BfX via the configuration panel. 
   Double click BfXSetup.msi or BfXSetup64.msi to install. Move or copy BfX.xll/BfX64.xll to the folder determined in step 1.
   
   
3. Tell Excel where the .xll is
   

   Excel 2003	Excel 2007	Excel2010
   Click on the "Tools menu", expand the menu if nessecary.	Click the "Excel option" button that is located at the bottom of Excels start menu.	Click Options
   Click "Add-Ins ..."	Click "Add Ins" and then, check if manage "Excel Add Ins" is listed , then click "Go ...".	Click Add-Ins
   Click Browse... and surf to the folder where you have stored BfX.xll. Select BfX.xll and click "Open".	Click  Browse... and surf to the folder where you have stored BfX.xll. Select BfX.xll and click "Open".	Click  Browse... and surf to the folder where you have stored BfX.xll or BfX64.xll. Select the BfX.xll or the  BfX64.xll and click "Open".

To check the installation

1. Create a new worksheet.
2. Enter in an empty cell =bfx_help(). BfX is not installed correctly when you get an error.
3. To kick start, generate a table as displayed on the right pannel. Use =bfx_help(n)  where n=0, 1, 2, ..., to about 100. This generates a list and explanation of BfX functions.
4. Additional information can be found via =bfx_help2(n)  where n=0, 1, 2, ..., to about 70. With bfx_help2 you generate a list of units and drag functions that is supported.

When the installation goes wrong