Frequently asked questions about ESK:
What is Excel Swiss Knife (ESK)?
Is the add-in free?
How do I install / uninstall it?
Does it work on macOS as well?
What do ESK’s features do?
How do I know which feature I need?
If I make a mistake when running a feature, can I undo it?
The ESK toolbar keeps disappearing every time I start Excel — what can I do?
I keep getting runtime errors related to the refRange object
My antivirus reports malware in the add-in!
I have a problem / request / report — can I contact the developer?
How can I thank the developer?
Q: What is Excel Swiss Knife (ESK)?
A: It is an add-in for Microsoft Excel, compatible with versions 2010 and later, both 32-bit and 64-bit. Once installed, it adds a new tab to the Excel ribbon, providing access to the add-in’s features, organized by category, as well as several contextual menus available via right-click on different objects (e.g. cells, rows, columns, PivotTables, etc.).
Q: Is the add-in free?
A: The add-in is released under the GPL v3.0 license, which governs its distribution, use of the source code, and related aspects. I originally started developing this project to meet my own work needs, and later refined it to make it suitable for a broader audience.
ESK was therefore not conceived as a commercial project, and it will remain free for as long as I am able to maintain it as such. Anyone who finds it useful is encouraged to share it and spread the word in any context they see fit.
Q: How do I install / uninstall it?
A: For more information, please refer to the installation and removal instructions page.
Q: Does it work on macOS as well?
A: Compatibility with Excel for Mac is partial and currently includes versions 2016, 365, and later. Some elements of the VBA language are not available on macOS, while others behave differently.
To minimize compatibility issues, it is recommended to download the portable version, which can be opened when needed or manually installed as an add-in.
Within the limits of the testing resources currently available to me, I am trying to improve macOS compatibility with each new release. Any feedback from Mac users will be greatly appreciated!
Q: What do ESK’s features do?
A: The features of the add-in cover a wide range of use cases, but they all share a common goal: speeding up data processing and data-cleaning tasks in Excel. These are operations that, when performed using Excel’s standard tools, would require a lot of time, be prone to errors, or in some cases not be possible at all.
To give a few examples, ESK includes tools for converting text to upper or lower case, concatenating rows or columns, finding duplicates (entire rows or individual cells), appending multiple worksheets into a single summary sheet, and more. Most of these features provide a dedicated graphical interface, offering multiple options and making them easier to use.
Q: How do I know which feature I need? There are so many in the menu!
A: ESK’s features are organized into categories, and wherever possible they include descriptions that summarize their purpose and behavior. Of course, at the beginning it will be necessary to explore the menus a bit and experiment, but once you become familiar with the features you use most often, the time saved will more than repay the initial effort!
On this page you can find an overview of the available tools, with descriptions and usage examples for each of them. You can also watch demonstration videos for some of the tools.
Finally, the “Find and run a feature” button helps you locate the desired function using a keyword-based search.
Q: If I make a mistake when running a feature, can I undo it?
A: No — or rather, “almost”. ESK is essentially a collection of VBA (Visual Basic for Applications) macros. In Excel, running any macro cannot be undone and, in fact, it clears the entire UNDO stack, making the effects of that macro on the data irreversible.
To mitigate this risk, all “destructive” features in ESK automatically create a backup worksheet called “ESK_Backup”, from which you can recover the data as it was before the last executed feature. Please note, however, that if another macro is run, the backup worksheet will be overwritten, and only the most recent action can be “undone”.
For these reasons, it is strongly recommended to always keep a backup copy of your data before starting to use the add-in, especially while you are still learning how it works.
A: In some cases, Windows marks files downloaded from the internet as “blocked” as part of its default security settings.
To fix the issue, locate the ESK installation folder on your hard drive, right-click the add-in file (Excel_SwissKnife.xlam), choose Properties, and then click Unblock, as shown in the image on the right (click to enlarge).
Another possible step, if unblocking the file is not sufficient, is to add the folder containing the add-in to Excel’s list of trusted locations via Options → Trust Center → Trusted Locations:
See also this video tutorial, at timestamp 9:08
Q: I keep getting runtime errors related to the refRange object
A: In Excel Options, go to Trust Center → ActiveX Settings and try enabling the controls, if they are currently disabled.
Q: My antivirus reports malware in the add-in!
A: This is a false positive — the add-in does not contain any malicious code. For more information, please read this page.
Q: I have a problem / request / report — can I contact the developer?
A: Absolutely! All feedback is welcome — you can use the Contact link available in the website’s navigation menu.
Q: How can I thank the developer?
A: A message on my Guestbook will be much appreciated! If you feel particularly generous, you can also buy me a coffee 🙂
