Installing and using X-Author for Excel requires you to install specific managed packages (for Salesforce) or solutions (for Microsoft Dynamics) in your environment (example: Salesforce, Microsoft Dynamics) and X-Author for Excel Add-in on your computer. Depending on your environment, refer to the specific sections below:

The Conga Push Upgrade is an automated tool that upgrades packages available in your Salesforce org (Production or Sandbox) to the latest versions. In addition, it ensures all the Conga published managed packages are on the latest versions for the registered orgs. To register your org for push upgrade, see Registering for Conga Push Upgrade.

Installing X-Author for Excel in Salesforce

The following table summarizes the components required to install and begin working with X-Author for Excel. Refer to the most recent X-Author for Excel Release Notes for the current versions.

ComponentTypeNotes

Conga X-Author for Excel (Apttus_XApps / Runtime).

Salesforce Managed Package

This package must be installed first.

Conga X-Author Designer for Excel (Apttus_XAppsDS / Designer).

Salesforce Managed Package


The following packages are optional and may be required in addition to the above components based on your license or licenses.

Conga X-Author for Excel (Admin)

Salesforce Managed Package

Required for Power Admin licenses or the legacy Data Migration product.

Conga Document Generation

Salesforce Managed Package

Required for X-Author Presto licenses. This package must be installed first.

Conga X-Author for Excel Document Generation

Salesforce Managed Package

Required for X-Author Presto licenses.

Salesforce Package Licenses

The following table describes the minimum Salesforce package licenses required for specific X-Author roles. For detailed information on required X-Author licenses and permissions, refer to Getting Started with X-Author for Excel.

RoleSalesforce Package License
Runtime UserX-Author for Excel
DesignerX-Author for Excel, X-Author Designer for Excel
Power AdminX-Author for Excel, X-Author Designer for Excel, X-Author for Excel (Power Admin)
Presto UserX-Author for Excel, Document Generation, X-Author for Excel Document Generation

To enable licenses in Salesforce

After you install the X-Author for Excel Salesforce packages, you must send your Org ID to Conga. By default, when X-Author for Excel is installed, the lowest level of license is provisioned. After Conga has upgraded functionality in your environments, take the following steps to enable X-Author functionality according to your license:

  1. Log in to Salesforce.
  2. Click on the Conga X-Author for Excel tab.
  3. Click Refresh License.


    All users connecting to X-Author for Excel are now able to use licensed product features.

Installing X-Author for Excel in Microsoft Dynamics

X-Author for Excel is comprised of both Microsoft Dynamics managed solutions and an Excel add-in for each user.

Designers will see both the X-Author Designer and X-Author for Excel tabs in the Excel menu. End users should install the runtime-only add-in and they will see only the X-Author for Excel tab.

Microsoft Dynamics Managed Solutions

The following Microsoft Dynamics managed solution must be installed: 

ComponentTypeNotes
XAuthorForExcelSolution_0_1Microsoft Managed SolutionThis solution must be installed first.

User must have System Administrator Role.

Installing X-Author for Excel in Apttus Omni

You must have an Apttus Omni hosted tenant and the Excel add-in for each user.

Designers will see both the X-Author Designer and X-Author for Excel tabs in the Excel menu. End users should install the runtime-only add-in and they will see only the X-Author for Excel tab.

Installing the X-Author for Excel Add-in

The installation process creates a folder on your computer that contains the files required to use both the X-Author Designer and the X-Author for Excel tabs in Excel. Depending on the version of Windows you are using, the folder is created either in your Program Files or Program Files (x86) directory.

  • For Designers, install the X-Author for Excel Add In : Designer + Runtime Microsoft Excel. 
  • For Runtime Users, install the X-Author for Excel Add In : Runtime Only version.

Refer to the most recent X-Author for Excel Release Notes for the correct version of the add-in to install.

Installation Requirements

Your computer must meet the minimum requirements listed below.

The Mac OS X operating system is not supported; however, X-Author can be used on a Mac that is running a Windows Virtual Machine in a VMWare or Parallels environment.

ComponentRequirement
MicrosoftMicrosoft Excel 2010 (32 bit & 64 bit), Microsoft Excel 2013 (32 bit & 64 bit), Microsoft Excel 2016 (32 bit & 64 bit)
MicrosoftMicrosoft .NET Framework 4.5
MicrosoftMicrosoft Visual Studio 2010 Tools for Office Runtime
MicrosoftMicrosoft Office 2010 Primary Interop Assemblies
EnvironmentAny environment (example: Salesforce, Microsoft Dynamics)  edition that provides API support for the objects that will be accessed in an X-Author for Excel App.

Before you install the X-Author add-in:

  • You must be connected to the Internet.
  • You must have access to the add-in executable file.
  • You must have Administrator permissions on the computer being used for the installation.
  • You must close all instances of Microsoft Excel.
  • You must have Conga provided login credentials to access the Conga Community Portal and download packages.

Downloading the X-Author Add-in: Designer + Runtime

  1. Log in to Salesforce.
  2. Click on the Conga X-Author for Excel tab.
  3. Click Download X-Authorâ„¢ For Excel. This navigates you to the Conga community portal and enter your login credentials.
  4. Go to Resources > Install Center on the community portal.
  5. Under My Packages, select Conga X-Author for Excel. 
  6. In the Conga X-Authorâ„¢ Enterprise Add-In: Designer + Runtime section, select the required version and click Download > Confirm Download. The executable installer is downloaded to your system.

To Install the X-Author Add-in: Designer + Runtime

  1. Double-click the installer executable to display the InstallShield Wizard. In rare instances, a restart of Windows may be required. Click Yes to confirm the restart. After you log in to Windows, the installer automatically resumes.
  2. Click Next to start the wizard.
  3. On the License Agreement screen, select I Accept and click Next. If you do not accept the terms of the agreement, X-Author will not be installed on your computer.
  4. Click Install to begin the installation process. If any components need to be installed for X-Author to work as expected, they will be automatically detected as missing and installed. If components are required but cannot be accessed through the Internet, an appropriate message will be displayed and the installation will need to be completed after all missing components have been manually installed.
  5. Click Finish to close the wizard and complete the installation.
  6. Open Microsoft Excel.

Designers: The X-Author Designer and X-Author for Excel ribbon tab should be available in Excel. If the ribbon tab is not displayed, you may need to register X-Author Designer or X-Author for Excel with Excel.

Runtime Users: The X-Author for Excel ribbon tab should be available in Excel.