Setup Instructions

All required files can be downloaded in a single distribution xlloop-alexa.zip. The files in the distributive and the setup instruction are described below.

• XLLoop addin. The addin includes the following files (included in the above distributive).
  
  
  1. XLLoop addin file: xlloop-win32-MT.xll;
  
  
  2. XLLoop configuration file: xlloop-win32-MT.ini.
  
  
• Local java server. All computations are performed on the java server and then transferred and displayed in the Excel application. Local server is required only if you plan to run Excel applications offline or need to perform computations locally on your own machine (as alternative to alexacomputing.com server). The distribution includes a copy of the java server. The latest version of java server can be downloaded from Java download webpage.
  
  On start the xlloop addin attempts to connect first to local server and then to alexacomputing.com server. If both connections fail, the addin starts the local server (by executing the .jar file) and connects to it.
  
  Warning: if your local java file is different from the file on the server, the results of calculations locally and on the server may be different. Currently local java server has priority in the order of addin connection. You can always modify the configuration .ini file to set a different connection priority or to restrict connection to either localhost or to alexacomputing.com server.


• Load Xlloop addin. Load the .xll addin in Excel as described in the XLLoop download webpage (File> Options> Add-Ins menu option in any Excel file). The addin is loaded only once in any Excel file and then can be used by all Excel files.
  (Note that xlloop-win32-MT.ini configuration file must be located in the same folder as the xlloop-win32-MT.xll file.)
  
  Note: if the xlloop addin is enabled, then it will attempt to connect to java server (and if fails it will start a new java server session) regardless of whether you are using the extended Excel functionality or you are working on a standard Excel file. We recommend to disable the addin if you are not using it. (The auto-start of java server can be disabled via the addin configuration file).


• Load and run Excel application. Load an Excel application (from Excel download page) and run it. The application connects to localhost or alexacomputing.com website and performes required computations.