General
What versions of Excel does ExcelAnalyzer and ExcelCompare work with?
ExcelAnalyzer/ExcelCompare works with Excel 2016 and later, including Microsoft 365, on Windows 10 and later (32-bit and 64-bit).
It does not support macOS or Linux.
Is the application a COM add-in or a VBA add-in?
The applications are written in Visual Studio Tools for Office (VSTO) and installs as a COM add-in. No VBA code is used.
Does ExcelAnalyzer work alongside AI tools like Claude for Excel or Microsoft Copilot?
Yes. If Claude for Excel, Copilot, or a similar AI tool edits your worksheet directly — changing cell values or formulas — ExcelAnalyzer detects those changes and automatically updates its overlay so your analysis stays in sync, even though those edits don’t go through the normal Excel event flow. ExcelAnalyzer does not communicate with these AI services itself — it only observes the resulting changes in your workbook. Deeper AI integration is in active development.
Does any of my spreadsheet data get sent back to Spreadsheetsoftware?
No. Our applications follow a data-minimization approach:
– All spreadsheet analysis happens locally on your computer. Spreadsheet content never leaves your machine or your organization’s environment.
– The only information collected is what’s required for licensing — such as your email address and IP address — and this is encrypted in transit.
– We do not transmit spreadsheet content, or any other workbook data, to our servers or any third-party servers.
– The current version doesn’t communicate with any AI service either — it only detects and reacts to changes AI tools like Claude for Excel or Copilot make to your workbook (see above).
What's New in ExcelAnalyzer 2.2
Is ExcelAnalyzer being updated?
Yes. Each new release of ExcelAnalyzer installed the same way as always — your existing license stays active with no action needed on your part.
What's new in release 2.2
– Formula coloring is now live — no more working from copied sheets to see it.
– Dependent cells can also be live-colored, including information about inter-sheet links.
– All reports have been modernized.
– Various tools have been added or improved.
Installation
Which installation methods are supported?
ExcelAnalyzer can be installed via:
Standard setup — `Setup_ExcelAnalyzer.exe`. This is the simplest option;
MSI packages (for IT-managed rollouts) — three variants are available
- Setup_ExcelAnalyzer_SU.msi` — single-user installation (most commonly used)
- Setup_ExcelAnalyzer_LM_32.msi` — local machine install, 32-bit Office
- Setup_ExcelAnalyzer_LM_64.msi` — local machine install, 64-bit Office
Close all Office applications before installing.
With MSI packages, a prerequisite (the .NET framework 4.8) must already be in place on the target machine (they are not installed automatically).
What are the prerequisites?
The only prerequisite required is .NET Framework 4.8 or higher
The ExcelAnalyzer tab isn't visible in Excel.
Work through these steps in order:
1. Restart Excel. If Excel was open during installation, the tab won’t appear until you close every instance of Excel and reopen it.
2. Check the tab is enabled. Go to File → Options → Customize Ribbon. Under “Main Tabs,” confirm the ExcelAnalyzer checkbox is ticked. If not, tick it and click OK.
3. Check disabled items. Go to File → Options → Add-ins. At the bottom, next to “Manage,” select Disabled Items and click Go. If ExcelAnalyzer is listed there, select it and click Enable, then restart Excel.
4. Check the COM Add-ins list Go to File → Options → Add-ins, set “Manage” to COM Add-ins, and click Go.
– If ExcelAnalyzer isn’t in the list at all, it wasn’t installed correctly — try reinstalling.
– If it’s listed and ticked, check its Load Behavior. It should say “Load at Startup.” Some Excel versions have a bug where this resets — if so, check the registry at `HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Office\Excel\Addins\Spreadsheetsoftware.ExcelAnalyzer`, and confirm the `LoadBehavior` value is 3 (automatic loading). If it’s 0, 1, or 2, the add-in will only load manually. Back up the registry before making any changes, then set it to 3.
5. Check the Load Behavior error message. If Load Behavior instead shows “Not loaded. A runtime error occurred during the loading of the COM Add-in,” this has two common causes:
– Wrong bitness (32-bit vs 64-bit). The add-in must match your Office installation’s bitness, not your Windows installation’s. Check via any Office app → File → Account → About [Application Name] — this shows whether your Office is 32-bit or 64-bit. (Note: Microsoft switched the Office 365 default from 32-bit to 64-bit at one point, so don’t assume — check.) If you have the wrong edition installed, uninstall it and install the matching one.
– NET Framework version too low, if you see the message “Common Language Runtime could not be loaded” — install the required .NET Framework version (4.6 or higher).
– If the error persists and the cause still isn’t clear, detailed VSTO error messages can be enabled: add a system environment variable named `VSTO_SUPPRESSDISPLAYALERTS` with value `0`, then relaunch Excel and re-enable the add-in via COM Add-ins. This will show a more specific error message — include it when contacting support.
The installer doesn't run properly.
This is usually caused by one of the following:
– Incomplete download — the installer file must be fully downloaded before running (expect a file around 14 MB).
– Running from the wrong location — always run the installer from your local hard drive, not from a network drive, temporary internet files folder, or directly from the download location.
– Not unzipped first — if the installer was distributed as a zip file, extract it to a local drive before running the setup file.
My company has a restrictive firewall — what do I need to whitelist?
ExcelAnalyzer’s licensing runs through Devolens. If your network is heavily locked down, whitelist the following on port 443:
| IP address | Notes |
|---|---|
| 23.102.21.212 | app.cryptolens.io — currently in use |
| 40.113.70.59 | api.cryptolens.io — reserved for future use |
| 20.82.170.150 | api.cryptolens.io — reserved for possible future use |
Licensing
How do I register my software?
From the Licensing menu (ExcelAnalyzer tab → Help → License Details, or the first-run registration screen), you have four options:
1. Register your license key — if you’ve already received a license key.
2. Request a trial key — if you don’t have one yet.
3. Register company license server — if your organization runs its own ExcelAnalyzer license server (check with your IT team).
4. Offline registration — if this computer has no access to our license server.
How does offline registration work?
Offline registration takes two steps:
1. Get the activation file:
– From the registration menu, choose Offline registration.
– Copy the Machine code shown on screen.
– Go to our offline registration webpage, enter your license key, email address, and machine code, then download the license file.
– (If you don’t have web access at all, email the machine code to Support@spreadsheetsoftware.com and we’ll send the file back to you.)
2. Install the activation file:
– Back in Excel, continue to Step 2 of the Offline Registration screen.
– Upload the license file you downloaded (named something like `lc5781.SKM`).
– Click Upload and Validate license, then close the form.
You can confirm registration succeeded anytime via ExcelAnalyzer tab → Help → License Details.
Can license registration be automated for a company-wide rollout?
Yes — several registry values can be set after installation to automate or pre-fill the registration process for end users. These live under:
- Default (per-user):
HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Spreadsheetsoftware\ExcelAnalyzer\ - Local machine, 32-bit Office:
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\WOW6432Node\Spreadsheetsoftware\ExcelAnalyzer\ - Local machine, 64-bit Office:
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Spreadsheetsoftware\ExcelAnalyzer\
Key registry values:
| Value | Purpose |
|---|---|
LicenseKey |
The license key itself |
LicenseEmail |
Licensee email (for company-wide licenses, we recommend using your service desk address) |
LicenseServerURL |
URL of a company license server, if applicable |
LicenseServerMethod |
0 = register via our license server (default); 1 = register via a company license server |
LicenseAutoFill |
0 = normal registration screen with prefilled-but-editable defaults; 1 = fully automated — the registration screen is skipped and the appropriate screen is shown with key/URL already filled in and locked |
LicenseRotatingPool |
0 = normal; 1 = uses the encoded domain name + username as the license’s unique identifier — intended for non-persistent floating-pool machines. Contact support before using this, and note that the user’s Windows Documents folder must be in a consistent location for it to work. |
If none of these values are set, the standard registration screen is shown at first startup.
I can't register my software — what should I check?**
– Server contact error — if you have no internet access or your firewall is blocking our license server, ask IT to whitelist `app.cryptolens.io` on port 443, or use Offline Registration instead.
– Virtual machines — ExcelAnalyzer currently can’t be registered on a VM or Hyper-V server. Contact us for a temporary license if this applies to you.
– Device limit reached — this means the maximum number of activated machines for your license has been hit. Contact support to deactivate old machines or extend your license.
How do I move my license to another machine?
Email our support team and they’ll walk you through it. Mail to: Support@Spreadsheetsoftware.com
Can I extend my trial?
Yes — email Sales@spreadsheetsoftware.comand we can extend your trial by 15 days.
Security & Data Protection
How does ExcelAnalyzer protect my data?
– Data minimization: we only collect what’s needed for licensing (email and IP address) — never spreadsheet content.
– Local processing: all spreadsheet analysis runs on your own computer; sensitive data never leaves your environment.
– Encrypted license transmission: license-related information (email, IP address) is encrypted in transit.
– Secure license management: our license infrastructure uses access controls, encryption, and regular security audits.
– Regulatory compliance: our data practices are designed to meet GDPR, CCPA, and similar regulations.
– No AI data sharing (current version): ExcelAnalyzer does not send workbook data to Claude, Copilot, or any other AI service. It only detects and updates its overlay in response to changes those tools make locally in your workbook.
Support
How do I report a software fault?
Email support@spreadsheetsoftware.com with details of the issue (or copy/paste the fault message directly). We aim to respond within 24 hours on working days.
Can I request a feature or share feedback?
Yes — email support@spreadsheetsoftware.com; we’re happy to hear it.
How do I get help without leaving Excel?
From the ExcelAnalyzer tab, use Help to access the Online Manual, Online FAQ, Tutorial Videos, example workbooks, and options to request a personal demo or ask a question directly.