FAQ: Sharing Excel Workbooks Created with Kutools

Excel users love Kutools for the extra functionality it brings to their workbooks. However, if you create a workbook using Kutools-specific features and share it with someone who does not have Kutools installed, some features will not work correctly. It’s important to know that only certain Kutools features require the add-in. Any other features you use are compatible with standard Excel.

If your workbook includes any of the following features, the recipient will need to have Kutools for Excel installed to see them working properly:

• Kutools Functions: These are custom functions from the Formula group that are exclusively provided by Kutools.
  
  
• Custom Drop-Down Lists: This includes enhancements such as the Multi-Select Drop-Down List, Drop-Down List With Check Boxes, and Searchable Drop-Down List from the Ranges & Cells group.
  
  
• Enhanced Interface Elements: For example, the Bigger Formula Bar from the View group is only available when Kutools is active.
  
  

All other features in your workbook that do not fall into the three categories above are standard Excel features and will work normally even if the recipient does not have Kutools installed. This means you can safely share your workbook without concern if it does not contain the specific features that require the add-in.

If you know your workbook uses any of the key features listed above and you wish to share it with users who do not have Kutools installed, consider the following steps:

• Convert Formulas to Values: For any Kutools-specific calculations, copy the computed results and use “Paste Special → Values” so that the final values remain unchanged.
• Rebuild Drop-Down Lists: Replace enhanced drop-down features provided by Kutools with Excel’s native data validation techniques.
• Reset Interface Enhancements: Remove any custom interface enhancements (like the Bigger Formula Bar) to ensure your workbook displays correctly with standard Excel.
• Test in a Standard Excel Environment: Before sharing, open your file on a computer that does not have Kutools installed to verify its behavior.

If you have any further questions or need assistance with ensuring your workbook is fully compatible, please:

• Contact Kutools Support: Reach out via the Kutools website or through their support channels for personalized guidance.

In summary, only the following Kutools features require the Kutools for Excel add-in:

• Kutools Functions from the Formula group,
• Custom Drop-Down Lists (e.g., Multi-Select, With Check Boxes, Searchable) from the Ranges & Cells group, and
• Enhanced Interface Elements such as the Bigger Formula Bar from the View group.

All other workbook features are standard Excel functions and will work seamlessly for users even without Kutools installed. By following the tips above, you can ensure that your shared workbooks perform correctly in any Excel environment.