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How to deploy custom Excel Addin (NEWBIE ALERT)

So I successfully created an Excel Addin using these instructions:
http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/office/Video/bb649501

I was following these instructions:
http://clear-lines.com/blog/post/create-excel-2007-vsto-add-in-msi-installation.aspx

until I got to this point:

"Two other files are required with the deployment, the VSTO deployment manifest and application manifest. Let’s add these files, by right-clicking AnakinSetup > Add > Files, and browsing to ClearLines.Anakin > Bin > Release:"

there are no files there.

I know the addin works if I run the debugger in VSTO. but how do I create and deploy it for real?

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This is new from yesterday... I have some warnings (probably messing around with this too much):
Warning      1      Windows Installer is not included in any selected prerequisite      C:\Documents and Settings\<username>\My Documents\Visual Studio 2005\projects\XLContentTypeMapperSPVB\XLContentTypeMapperSPVBSetup\XLContentTypeMapperSPVBSetup      XLContentTypeMapperSPVBSetup
Warning      2      Two or more objects have the same target location ('[targetdir]\xlcontenttypemapperspvb.dll.manifest')      C:\Documents and Settings\<username>\My Documents\Visual Studio 2005\projects\XLContentTypeMapperSPVB\XLContentTypeMapperSPVBSetup\XLContentTypeMapperSPVBSetup      XLContentTypeMapperSPVBSetup
Warning      3      Two or more objects have the same target location ('[targetdir]\xlcontenttypemapperspvb.dll.manifest')      C:\Documents and Settings\<username>\My Documents\Visual Studio 2005\projects\XLContentTypeMapperSPVB\XLContentTypeMapperSPVBSetup\XLContentTypeMapperSPVBSetup      XLContentTypeMapperSPVBSetup
Warning      4      Two or more objects have the same target location ('[targetdir]\xlcontenttypemapperspvb.dll')      C:\Documents and Settings\<username>\My Documents\Visual Studio 2005\projects\XLContentTypeMapperSPVB\XLContentTypeMapperSPVBSetup\XLContentTypeMapperSPVBSetup      XLContentTypeMapperSPVBSetup
Warning      5      Two or more objects have the same target location ('[targetdir]\xlcontenttypemapperspvb.dll')      C:\Documents and Settings\<username>\My Documents\Visual Studio 2005\projects\XLContentTypeMapperSPVB\XLContentTypeMapperSPVBSetup\XLContentTypeMapperSPVBSetup      XLContentTypeMapperSPVBSetup

I thought I followed all the steps... but I cannot find a *.vsto file anywhere? How is that possible?

Attached is image of my solution explorer... not sure if that will give a clue or two...

I created my addin using this code. Saved it and build it. Then I got stuck at the point in the other instructions above while trying to add to the setup project - there's no vsto project. W

public class ThisAddIn

    Private Sub ThisAddIn_Startup(ByVal sender As Object, ByVal e As System.EventArgs) Handles Me.Startup
        ' Start of VSTO generated code

        Me.Application = CType(Microsoft.Office.Tools.Excel.ExcelLocale1033Proxy.Wrap(GetType(Excel.Application), Me.Application), Excel.Application)

        ' End of VSTO generated code

    End Sub

    Private Sub ThisAddIn_Shutdown(ByVal sender As Object, ByVal e As System.EventArgs) Handles Me.Shutdown

    End Sub

    Private Sub Application_WorkbookBeforeSave(ByVal wb As Microsoft.Office.Interop.Excel.Workbook, ByVal SaveAsUI As Boolean, ByRef Cancel As Boolean) Handles Application.WorkbookBeforeSave
        SynchProperties(wb)
        ' MsgBox("Hello World! Save")
    End Sub

    Private Sub Application_WorkbookOpen(ByVal wb As Microsoft.Office.Interop.Excel.Workbook) Handles Application.WorkbookOpen
        SynchRanges(wb)
        '   MsgBox("Hello World! Open")
    End Sub

    Private Sub SynchProperties(ByVal wb As Excel.Workbook)
        '   MsgBox("SyncProps")
        Dim props As Office.DocumentProperties = wb.BuiltinDocumentProperties
        '   MsgBox("props")
        Dim ctprops As Office.MetaProperties = wb.ContentTypeProperties
        '   MsgBox("ctprops")

        If props("Content Type").Value.ToString() = "Purchase Order" Then
            Dim wsMap As Excel.Worksheet = wb.Worksheets("CTMap")
            Dim wsPurchase As Excel.Worksheet = wb.Worksheets("Purchase Order")
            Dim rg As Excel.Range = wsMap.Cells(1, 1)

            While Not (rg.Value2 Is Nothing)
                '          MsgBox(rg.Value2.ToString)
                Try
                    ctprops(rg.Offset(0, 1).Value2).Value = wsPurchase.Range(rg.Value2).Value2.ToString()

                Catch ex As Exception
                    MsgBox(ex.Message)
                End Try
                rg = rg.Offset(1, 0)
            End While
        End If
    End Sub
    Private Sub SynchRanges(ByVal wb As Excel.Workbook)
        Dim props As Office.DocumentProperties = wb.BuiltinDocumentProperties
        Dim ctprops As Office.MetaProperties = wb.ContentTypeProperties
        '   MsgBox("SynchRanges")
        '   MsgBox(props("Content Type").Value.ToString())

        If props("Content Type").Value.ToString() = "Purchase Order" Then

            Dim wsMap As Excel.Worksheet = wb.Worksheets("CTMap")
            Dim wsPurchase As Excel.Worksheet = wb.Worksheets("Purchase Order")
            Dim rg As Excel.Range = wsMap.Cells(1, 1)

            While Not (rg.Value2 Is Nothing)
                Try
                    If rg.Value2.ToString <> "GrandTotal" Then
                        wsPurchase.Range(rg.Value2).Value2 = ctprops(rg.Offset(0, 1).Value2).Value
                    End If
                    '            MsgBox(rg.Value2)
                Catch ex As Exception
                    MsgBox(ex.Message)
                End Try
                rg = rg.Offset(1, 0)
            End While
        End If
    End Sub


End Class

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ASKER

Thanks! i would love to upload it but I don't think I'm allowed to upload a zip file. That appears to be the only output when exporting from VS2005?

How else can I get it to you?

I did perform a search for the vsto file on the entire drive and did not find anthing.

Someone told me all I have to do is 'Project/Properties/Publish' ? but I have errors now... probably too much messing with the code and I should probably just recreate everything.

ASKER

This is what is under my excel addins on my local machine. - just the manifest file.

I will upload the dll as well. XLContentTypeMapperSPVB.dll.manifest XLContentTypeMapperSPVB.dll

User generated image

ASKER

And it works for me... I just need to get it to a few people.

ASKER

PS THANKS CodeCruiser - I will definitely be reading all of those great resources you provided as well!! thank you

Glad to help :-)

ASKER

It makes sense to me that if I were creating an Excel Addin in Excel (*.xla) that I would have to copy the files to the xlstart directory...

If I create an Add-In in VS and 'Build' & 'Publish' it I should not have to do much more (from what I've been able to read). And IT DOES work for me.

But if I want to put it on another machine? That's where I'm stuck.

ASKER

So I did find this...http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/xc3tc5xx(v=VS.80).aspx

I will give it a shot.

ASKER

ok and I found this:
http://www.softinsight.com/bnoyes/PermaLink.aspx?guid=bd37cddc-3574-49fc-b226-a7df516ecb43

and even though it is step by step I have a few ?S

Step 1 - move your app files to the target machine.
- Which files?

ASKER

This is the release directory of my project:

C:\documents and settings\<username>\my documents\visual studio 2005\projects\XLContentTypeMapperSPVB\XLContentTypeMapperSPVB\bin\Release\XLContentTypeMapperSPVB.publish\XLContentTypeMapperSPVB_1.0.0.0

This is really the only directory I really care about correct?

Has 6 files:
releaseDIR.JPG

ASKER

How come ClickOnce publishing is greyed out?

ASKER

ALSO the only way to remove the addin from excel is to remove the registry entries?

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Thank you.

I think I need to reference this series:

http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/en/details.aspx?familyid=6991E869-8D5B-45F4-91E7-B527BD236F4C&displaylang=en

is that correct?

I'm currently designing this in VS 2005, Office 2007 to create a Excel Add-In to connect to a MOSS 2007 / WSS3 cerver?

I was told that VS2005 was preferable when dealing with MOSS2007

My VS 2008 is barely setup - there is nothing to create office projects/addins.

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thanks

ASKER

is there a reason why I'm not able to publish with Click Once? does something need to be installed?

ASKER

I give up

>>>Thanks! i would love to upload it but I don't think I'm allowed to upload a zip file. That appears to be the only output when exporting from VS2005?

>>>I give up

I don't :)

Ok do this. Zip the entire folder and rezip the zip file and then upload it :)

Sid

ASKER

So let me share with you what REALLY worked...

VS2008 not VS2005, rewriting the addin, following the MSI instructions above, except I had to set the prerequisitie install instructions from the 'vendors web site' as opposed to my applications location.

but I did successfully install this on another machine.

Now I get to do it all over again with real naming conventions and hopefully NO TYPOS.

Thanks for all of your help.