Sam · Job 005

Mikros

Our in-house Excel shortcut add-in. Start with the instructions — Mikros runs on 64-bit Excel, and Part 1 confirms that's what you have before you download anything. About five minutes, once.

// Current Files — newest version, always
Add-in File
64-bit
—
No file uploaded yet
Use the menu to upload one
Shortcut Database
Required
—
No file uploaded yet
Use the menu to upload one
// Instructions — staff install, Excel on Windows

Mikros is our in-house Excel shortcut add-in. Setting it up takes about five minutes, once. Do the parts in order — Part 1 confirms Mikros will run on your Excel.

1
Check your Excel version — do this first
  1. Open Excel.
  2. Go to File → Account → About Excel.
  3. Look at the very top line — it ends in either 32-bit or 64-bit. (Most people are 64-bit.)

64-bit? Carry on to Part 2. 32-bit? Stop here — Mikros only comes as a 64-bit add-in, and it will not load in 32-bit Excel. Install the 64-bit version of Excel first, then come back and start again at Part 1. (Excel runs one bitness at a time, so the 64-bit install replaces your 32-bit one.)

2
Download the two files

Both files are at the top of this page — always the newest version.

  1. From Add-in File, download Mikros-AddIn64-packed.xll.
  2. From Shortcut Database, download mikros-shortcuts.txt.

You need both — the add-in reads its shortcuts from that second file, so Mikros won't do anything without it.

3
Create a folder and add the files
  1. Open your C: drive and create a new folder named Mikros, so it's C:\Mikros.
  2. Move both downloaded files — the .xll and mikros-shortcuts.txt — into C:\Mikros.

Keep them together in the same folder. The add-in reads the shortcut file from right beside itself.

4
Unblock the files

Windows blocks files downloaded from the internet, which stops Excel from loading them. Do this for each of the two files.

  1. Right-click the file → Properties.
  2. On the General tab, look at the bottom. If there's an Unblock checkbox, check it.
  3. Click OK.

No Unblock checkbox? The file is already fine — move on.

5
Load Mikros into Excel
  1. In Excel, go to File → Options → Add-ins.
  2. At the bottom, in the Manage dropdown, select Excel Add-ins, then click Go.
  3. Click Browse, go to C:\Mikros, select your .xll file, and click OK.
  4. If you get a security notice, choose to Enable it.
  5. Make sure the Mikros checkbox is ticked in the list, then click OK.

You should now see a Mikros tab in the Excel ribbon.

6
Quick test
  1. Type some text in a cell and keep that cell selected.
  2. Press Ctrl+Shift+C a few times — the font color should cycle blue → green → red → white → black, instantly.
  3. Try Ctrl+Shift+V (fill color) and Ctrl+Shift+S (save).

If those work, you're all set. Use the Mikros tab → Keyboard Shortcuts button any time to see the full list.

// Troubleshooting
No Mikros tab, or shortcuts don't do anything
Make sure mikros-shortcuts.txt is sitting in C:\Mikros right next to the .xll. Then in Excel, go to Mikros tab → Settings → Reload Shortcuts.
Excel won't load the add-in, or says it isn't valid
Recheck Part 1. The 64-bit add-in will not load in 32-bit Excel, and that's the usual cause. If About Excel says 32-bit, install the 64-bit version of Excel and then run through the setup again.