Skip to main content

No FileDirector Tab in MS Office (Component Services)

Symptoms​

When installing File Director Component Services you should be seeing a File Director tab within Outlook, Excel and other Microsoft Office applications. However, you may not be seeing this.

Cause​

DLL not registered or incorrect version of adxloader*.dll​

The source of this problem could within the architecture version of adxloader installed, make sure tht the correct version is running in your environment:

  • Windows 32 or 64 bit with 32 bit MS Office** - **adxloader.dll needs to be installed
  • Windows 64 bit with 64 bit MS Office - ****adxloader64.dll needs to be installed

MS Office Plugin Behaviour​

Another likely cause it that the plugin itself may be not be set to run at startup:

Resolution​

We would recommend that you check you have installed the component services correctly by ticking the OfficeLink button in the [installation for FileDirector Component Services](https://drflow.freshdesk.com/en/support/solutions/articles/44002325173-installing-filedirector-component-services). You might consider reinstalling Component Services completely.

Check MS Office for the FileDirector tab. Close MS Office and check that it's still there.

To install the correct version of adxloader*.dll​

Before following the steps below, [make sure that you understand how to use the correct version of regsvr32](https://support.microsoft.com/en-au/topic/how-to-use-the-regsvr32-tool-and-troubleshoot-regsvr32-error-messages-a98d960a-7392-e6fe-d90a-3f4e0cb543e5).

Note On a 64-bit version of Windows operating system, there are two versions of the Regsvr32.exe file:

  • The 32-bit version is %systemroot%\System32\regsvr32.exe
  • The 64-bit version is %systemroot%\SysWoW64\regsvr32.exe To use regsvr32 make sure that you open a command line window as Administrator **searching for 'cmd', right click and **Run as Administrator.

The adxloader*.dll files are located at *`C:\Program Files (x86)\Spielberg Solutions GmbH\FileDirector Component Service*

To **`unregister **a DLL use the command:

\${NL}regsvr32 /i /u .dll \${NL}

And to register, use:

\${NL}regsvr32 /i .dll \${NL}

For instance, if you run 64-bit MS Office you should unregister the 32-bit DLL then register the 64-bit version as follows: regsvr32 /i /u adxloader.dll regsvr32 /i adxloader64.dll

Check MS Office for the FileDirector tab. Close MS Office and check that it's still there.

MS Office Plugin Behaviour​

In some cases, our Office add-ins may be disabled in Word, Excel, or Outlook. You can check this on the add-ins manager. Make sure you also check 'Slow and Disabled Add-ins' as well as Disabled Items.

Enabling Add-ins in MS Office​

  • Go to File > Options > Add-ins.
  • Under Manage, select Disabled Add-ins.
  • Highlight the add-in, then click Enable. If the add-in is not listed there, then just click close.
  • Go back to the Add-ins menu. Again, under Manage, select COM Add-ins. Here you can activate the add-in by checking the box.
  • Click OK.

Changing the Load Behavior​

If you have enabling, as above, add-ins are still not loading when the application is opened, then it may be due to a registry setting. This registry setting determines how the add-in is loaded within MS Office applications.

Under Add-ins in Word (or Excel) you will see the current load behavior of the particular add-in. The load behavior of the add-in should be set to "Load at Startup." 

If the load behavior is "Unloaded" then follow these steps:

  • Open your registry editor (open your Windows Start menu and type "regedit")
  • Go to the add-in settings for your application (see list below) e.g. HKEY_CURRENT_USER > Software > Microsoft > Office > Word > Addins > OfficeLink
  • Look for an entry called LoadBehavior with a type of REG_DWORD, it may not be there
  • Note what the LoadBehavior is set to. It will be a number like 0 or 1 or 3. If there is no LoadBehavior entry then you can create a REG_DWORD and give it the value 3.

Here are the full registry paths for each Office application:

  • HKEY_CURRENT_USER\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Office\Word\Addins\OfficeLink  
  • HKEY_CURRENT_USER\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Office\Excel\Addins\OfficeLink 
  • HKEY_CURRENT_USER\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Office\Outlook\Addins\OfficeLink 
  • HKEY_CURRENT_USER\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Office\PowerPoint\Addins\OfficeLink 

If the LoadBehavior is anything other than "3" then follow these steps:

  • Close Word (or Excel or Outlook). Make sure the "winword.exe" (or relevant) process is not running in the Windows Task Manager. 
  • Open the registry editor again. Double-click the registry key to edit it. If it does not exist then create a REG_DWORD key called LoadBehavior.
  • Change the Load Behavior to "3." Close the registry editor.
  • Re-open the registry editor to ensure "3" is still there.
  • Open Word. The add-in should now load automatically at startup.  

See this MSDN article or more information about the LoadBehavior values: https://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/bb386106.aspx#LoadBehavior