Com AddIns deployment

[DavidE]

Hi,

I use vb6 to create Com Addins for outlook 2000 and 2003.
Usually, I run the setup.exe which I create with the Package and Deployment
Wizard, in a target machine and so I do to all users(One by one). When I have
to make a change in the AddIn I have to make a new package and then I have to
go to all users, one by one, and then using the windows Add/Remove programs
to remove the addin and then I run the new setup.exe.
I think that it is not a good way to deploy Add-Ins and to update them if I
make a change. I spend a lot of time to do this.

Is there a way more efficient to deploy AddIns and to update them ?
Is vs 2005 has better tools for this tasks.

Thanks,

David

 

[Ken Slovak - [MVP - Outlook]]

The P&D wizard also produces bloated packages that install everything but
the kitchen sink.

VS 6 has a free version of InstallShield that you can use, but it's a bit
out of date. Installers that use Windows Installer (as do the setups
produced by VS 2005) can install over an existing addin as long as the
properties for updating are set and a new guid is used for the product code.
The upgrade code remains the same.

I wouldn't call anything in .NET easier than VS 6, but the deployment story
is somewhat more up to date there. But you have to weigh the advantages of
..NET against its disadvantages.

If you want to stay with VB 6 code I'd suggest looking into commercial
installer packaging software. InstallShield and Wise are the biggest players
there and both produce installers that are compliant with Windows Installer.
I'm sure there are other players out there but I'm really only familiar with
InstallShield and Wise.

 

[DavidE]

Hi Ken,

Thanks for your reply.
I saw a simple way to install AddIn and I want to know what are you saying
about it.
I tried it and it works good.
The steps :
1. Create the dll with vb6.
2. Create a .bat file and put it on the network . This file contain two rows:
A. Copy the dll from the network to the local machine.
B. Use regsvr32 with the full path to the dll on the local machine.
I can use \s for silent registration, and \u to uninstall it.
C. If I update the dll, I replace the old dll on the network with the
new one(which
has the same name) and run the .bat file on the local machine
again. The
local machine will work with the new version.

Waiting for your advice

David.

 

[Ken Slovak - [MVP - Outlook]]

That will work but isn't as automated or flexible as a Windows Installer
solution. Just make sure you're also installing and registering all
dependencies. Your method only works if there are no dependencies.

For example, you're using a tab control in your code. You have to make sure
that TabCtl32.ocx is installed.

 

[DavidE]

Hi Ken,

Thanks a lot for your help.

David

That will work but isn't as automated or flexible as a Windows Installer
solution. Just make sure you're also installing and registering all
dependencies. Your method only works if there are no dependencies.

For example, you're using a tab control in your code. You have to make sure
that TabCtl32.ocx is installed.