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Fix: “#NAME?” Errors in Excel (SmartWorkpapers Add-in)

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Short answer: #NAME? errors across SmartWorkpapers (HowNow) workbooks mean Excel has stopped loading the SmartWorkpapers Formulas add-in. Close Excel, run RegisterAddins.bat as administrator from the SmartWorkpapers install folder, re-enable the Formulas add-in and restart Excel. If it keeps coming back, unblock the add-in file and add its folder as a Trusted Location.

An accounting firm contacted us about a recurring issue where a senior accountant kept getting #NAME? errors across multiple Excel workbooks. The files worked fine on other machines but showed errors on one workstation. We had fixed it before, and when it came back we confirmed the Formulas add-in had dropped out of Excel again. Re-running the SmartWorkpapers registration script and re-enabling the add-in fixed it straight away. Because it kept recurring, we also recommended raising it with the vendor. Here is what we found and how to fix it.

Fixed by Ellen Sawa-an, IT Support Specialist at GCIT. Written up by Elliot Munro, CISO.

Symptoms

When opening Excel workbooks that rely on SmartWorkpapers (HowNow) custom formulas, affected cells display errors instead of calculated values.

#NAME? errors appear in cells that use SmartWorkpapers custom functions (for example, SW_LINK, SW_MAP, or other formula names provided by the Formulas add-in).

The issue typically appears after a Windows or Office update, an Excel crash, or a change to macro/add-in security settings. Checking File > Options > Add-ins in Excel reveals that the SmartWorkpapers Formulas add-in is missing or disabled.

Affected Software

  • Application: Microsoft Excel (any version) with SmartWorkpapers / HowNow Formulas add-in
  • Platform: Windows
  • Related Services: SmartWorkpapers by Business Fitness

Cause

Excel can silently disable or unregister third-party add-ins as a security measure. This commonly happens when:

  • A Microsoft Office or Windows update resets add-in registrations
  • Excel crashes or is force-closed while the add-in is loaded
  • Group Policy or security settings mark the add-in file (.xlam) as untrusted
  • The add-in file is “blocked” by Windows because it was downloaded from the internet or a network share

When the Formulas add-in is not loaded, Excel cannot resolve the custom function names, so every cell that uses them shows a #NAME? error.

Resolution

Quick Fix: Re-register the Add-in

  1. Close all Excel windows on the affected workstation.
  2. Open File Explorer and navigate to the SmartWorkpapers installation directory. The default path is typically C:\Program Files (x86)\Business Fitness\SmartWorkpapers or a similar location under Program Files.
  3. Locate RegisterAddins.bat (available in SmartWorkpapers version 2.2.0.30 and later).
  4. Right-click RegisterAddins.bat and select Run as administrator.
  5. Open Excel and go to File > Options > Add-ins. Choose Excel Add-ins in the Manage list, click Go and make sure the Formulas add-in is ticked. If it is listed under Disabled Items instead, choose Disabled Items in the Manage list, select it and click Enable.
  6. Restart Excel.
  7. Open one of the affected workbooks and confirm the #NAME? errors have been replaced with correct values.

Permanent Fix: Prevent the Add-in from Disappearing

  1. Unblock the add-in file:
    • In File Explorer, navigate to the SmartWorkpapers add-in folder (check C:\Program Files (x86)\Business Fitness\SmartWorkpapers\Addins or the path shown in Excel’s Add-ins list).
    • Right-click the .xlam file (for example, Formulas.xlam) and select Properties.
    • At the bottom of the General tab, tick the Unblock checkbox if it appears, then click OK.
  2. Add the add-in folder to Excel’s Trusted Locations:
    • Open Excel and go to File > Options > Trust Center > Trust Center Settings > Trusted Locations.
    • Click Add new location.
    • Browse to the folder containing the SmartWorkpapers .xlam file and select it.
    • Tick Subfolders of this location are also trusted.
    • Click OK to save.
  3. Re-run RegisterAddins.bat as administrator (following the Quick Fix steps above) to ensure the add-in is properly registered after unblocking.
  4. Restart Excel and confirm the Formulas add-in loads automatically.

Important Notes

  • RegisterAddins.bat is only available in SmartWorkpapers version 2.2.0.30 and later. If you are running an older version, contact Business Fitness support for an updated installer.
  • If the issue recurs after every Office update, consider deploying the Trusted Location via Group Policy so it persists across updates. Your IT provider can configure this centrally.
  • The #NAME? errors do not mean the workbook data is corrupted. Once the add-in is re-enabled, all formulas will resolve correctly.
  • If multiple workstations are affected, the RegisterAddins.bat script can be deployed remotely using your RMM tool.
  • If the add-in keeps dropping out on the same PC even after unblocking and trusting it, contact Business Fitness support with the dates it happened. Repeated drop-outs on one machine are worth a vendor investigation rather than re-registering forever.

If you need help with Excel add-in issues or SmartWorkpapers errors, get in touch with our team.

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About The Author

Elliot Munro building AI automation solutions at GCIT
Elliot Munro
Elliot Munro is GCIT's Chief Information Security Officer and leads GCIT's security and AI work. He holds Anthropic's Claude Certified Architect - Professional credential and is Microsoft Certified as a Cybersecurity Architect Expert, Microsoft 365 Administrator Expert, Identity and Access Administrator Associate and Security Operations Analyst Associate. Read Elliot's profile.
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