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Excel Add-in Distribution Worker

The Excel Add-in Distribution Worker lets you automatically generate and distribute SEI Excel Add-in reports from the server, either on a schedule or on demand. Set up the Distribution Worker only if you want to distribute Excel Add-in files directly from the server.

If you are using a version earlier than Version 2024 Release 3, restart the server after creating the SEI BI Account (NECBIAccount) for the first time or after changing the user running the SEI In later versions, the SEI Server package applies account changes automatically.

Macro-enabled Excel files that reference the Add-in directly are not supported for automatic distribution.

Prerequisites
  • Make sure a dedicated user account (basic or advanced install) already exists for the WebServer.Nectari service.
  • Install Microsoft Excel on the same server as the Distribution Worker.
  • Install the corresponding version of the Excel Add-in on this server.

Configure Excel Add-in distribution​

For environments that use the Excel Add-in, additional permissions are required.

  • Grant launch and activation permissions for the Microsoft Excel Application component service.
  • Grant access permissions for the Microsoft Excel Application component service.
  • Grant configuration permissions for the Microsoft Excel Application component service.
  • Assign full control rights to:
    • C:\Windows\System32\config\systemprofile
    • C:\Windows\SysWOW64\config\systemprofile
note

These permissions are necessary for proper launch, configuration, and use of the Excel Add-in in distributed environments.

Configure the server environment​

Configure DCOM for Excel​

  1. If you are running Microsoft Office 32-bit on a 64-bit computer, open a command prompt and run mmc -32 to launch the 32-bit version of DCOMCNFG. Otherwise, run mmc.
  2. From the File menu, select Add or Remove Snap-ins.
  3. Select Component Services and click Add, then click Ok.
  4. In the left panel, expand Component Services, then expand Computers, My Computer, and DCOM Config.
  5. Find Microsoft Excel Application 2010 and later. If it's not listed by name, look up its Class ID (CLSID) in the registry at:
    HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\Excel.Application\CLSID.
    Use this CLSID to locate the component in DCOM Config.
  6. Right-click Microsoft Excel Application 2010 and later and select Properties.
  7. On the Identity tab, select The launching user.
  8. On the Security tab, for each permissions section—Launch and Activation Permissions, Access Permissions, and Configuration Permissions—select Customize, then click Edit.
    Add the service user with all permissions, then save.
  9. Click Ok to apply the changes and close the properties window.

Verify required folders and permissions​

  1. Make sure the following folders exist on the server hosting the Distribution Worker:
    • C:\Windows\System32\config\systemprofile\Desktop
    • C:\Windows\System32\config\systemprofile\AppData\Local\Microsoft\Windows\INetCache
    • C:\Windows\SysWOW64\config\systemprofile\Desktop
    • C:\Windows\SysWOW64\config\systemprofile\AppData\Local\Microsoft\Windows\INetCache
    • C:\AppData\Nectari
  2. Ensure the user account used by the Web Server has Full Control permissions for these folders.
note

For a 64-bit computer, also check under C:\Windows\SysWOW64\config\systemprofile that both the Desktop and AppData\Local\Microsoft\Windows\INetCache folders exist.

Finalize Excel Add-in configuration​

  1. Log out and log back into the server using the same user account set for the Web Server.
  2. Open Excel and make sure the license is activated.
  3. Click File, then click Options, and select Add-ins.
  4. In the Manage dropdown, select Excel Add-ins and click Go.
  5. In the Add-ins dialog, click Browse, then select the SEI Add-in for Excel .xla file in:
    C:\Program Files\Nectari\Nectari Add-in for Excel (or C:\Program Files\SEI\SEI Add-in for Excel).
  6. Check SEI Add-in for Excel, then click Ok.
  7. In Excel Options, select Trust Center, then Trust Center Settings, and select Add new location.
  8. Add the installation path of the add-in and click Ok three times to finish.

Configure Central Point and test​

  1. In Excel, click the Add-ins tab.
  2. Click Change User, then click the + icon to add your Central Point path if not already set.
  3. Click Add to register the Central Point.
  4. Open an Excel file and verify that Data Extraction works.