Trouble Planning Where to Install Add-ins in Visual Studio 2008

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Stewart Berman - 08 Nov 2008 20:31 GMT

The documentation says to put the DLL and XML file in a directory listed in:
    Tools\Options\Environment\Add-in/Macros Security

The only &...% item that appears to be standard in a user's environment when Visual Studio 2008 is
install on Vista is:
    %ALLUSERSPROFILE%
That resolves to C:\ProgramData\

The full path that is shown is:
    %ALLUSERSPROFILE%\Application Data\Microsoft\MSEnvShared\Addins

Unfortunately, C:\ProgramData\Application Data is a Junction Point that is totally locked down -- it
is not even readable for an administrator (unless upgraded via UAC) much less a normal user. It is
also empty.

So, assuming one wants to create a installation package that will work on a clean Visual Studio 2008
installed on a clean Vista installation where do you put the two files associated with the add-in?

Is the only way to install them under C:\Program Files\ and then tell the user to add the path to
Visual Studio 2008's Add-ins/Macros Security section?

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Hongye Sun [MSFT] - 10 Nov 2008 13:01 GMT

Good morning, Stewart.

According to Add-in Security documentation at
http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/1326zbk3.aspx.
The default add-in file search locations includes:
%ALLUSERSPROFILE%
C:\Documents and Settings\All Users\Application
Data\Microsoft\MSEnvShared\Addins

%APPDATA%
C:\Documents and Settings\<username>\Application
Data\Microsoft\MSEnvShared\Addins

%USERPROFILE%
C:\Documents and Settings\<username>\My Documents\Visual Studio
2005\Addins

%VSAPPDATA%
C:\Documents and Settings\<username>\Addins

%VSCOMMONAPPDATA%
C:\Documents and Settings\All Users\Addins

These paths are writable in Windows Vista by administrator.

In addition, you can also modify the add-in file search locations by
manipulating registry.
The information is located at
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\VisualStudio\9.0\AutomationOptions\Loo
kInFolders

Hope it helps.

Regards,
Hongye Sun (hongyes@online.microsoft.com, remove 'online.')
Microsoft Online Community Support

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Hongye Sun [MSFT] - 14 Nov 2008 09:29 GMT

Hi Stewart,

I have not heard from you for several days since my last reply. I am
writing check the status of the issue. Would you mind letting us know any
progress from your side.

In my last reply, I mentioned that according to Add-in Security
documentation, it includes five folders for placing add-in packages. Those
folders are writable in Windows Vista by administrator. Another way is to
change registry key when installing add-in and point the path to your
application folder.

Please feel free to let us know if you have any problem. I will be more
than happy to help. Thanks.

Regards,
Hongye Sun (hongyes@online.microsoft.com, remove 'online.')
Microsoft Online Community Support

Delighting our customers is our #1 priority. We welcome your comments and
suggestions about how we can improve the support we provide to you. Please
feel free to let my manager know what you think of the level of service
provided. You can send feedback directly to my manager at:
msdnmg@microsoft.com.

This posting is provided "AS IS" with no warranties, and confers no rights.

Reply to this Message

Trouble Planning Where to Install Add-ins in Visual Studio 2008

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