Problem in deploying Outlook 2003 Add-in

[vish]

I have developed the add-in using Visual studio 2005 in C#.


Outlook add-in is failing to load when Outlook starts on some machines.

It works absolutely fine on some other machine. On problematic
machines, some times the LoadBehavior is changing from 3 to 2 when
oulook starts. I can't even find my Addin either in the Disabled list
(Help_>About) or Tools->Options-Others->AdvancedOptions.


Could anyone please help me or point to any tutorial which will
help in developing the installer for this add-in using the Wise
Installer. (I want know what all files to be added to target
machine(other than add-in dll) and shall I have to set the registry
entries explicitly or the add-in register will add automatically).


Thanks in advance,


Regards,
VIsh

 

[Peter Hegelund]

I have the same problem so let me describe it in a little more detail.

Two systems have the the Outlook Add-in installed.

One PC works fine, the other fails to load the Add-in with this text
"Load error. A runtime error occurred during loading of the COM Add-in"

Where may I find more information about the runtime error?

The systems have similar SW baselines

XP Pro SP2
..NET 2.0
Outlook 2003 SP2
VSTO 2005 runtime
Office 2003 PIA's

Another post suggested that I disabled CAS but this doesn't help.

Registry looks fine excpet of course the Add-in's Loadbehaviour is changed
from 3 to 2.

I do not have vish's problem locating the Add-in thru Advanced options|COM
Add-ins
but it is unchecked.

Regards
Peter

 

[Ken Slovak - [MVP - Outlook]]

Usually that happens if the addin is not fully trusted on the target
machine, something that's required and usually requires a custom installer
action.

 

[vish]

I found that add-in works on all the machines with visual studio
2003/2005 installed.
Am i missing any dlls on which outlook add-in dependens. (My test addin
is simple one line application, it pops up the Hello World message box
on startup).

Regards,
Vish

 

[vish]

Now I found that the add-in developed in visual studio 2003 works on
all the machine, but the add-in developed with visual studio 2005 works
only onsystems which have either visual studio 2003/2005 installed.
So, is there any specifi dependency for 2005 Add-in? ("other than
the .net 2 framework requirement.")


Regards,
VIsh


Sorry for multiple posts!!!

 

[Peter Hegelund]

I am using a custom installer action. Code found on a Microsoft site and used
as is.
Without the customer install the add-in loads on neither mahcine A nor B.

CasPol.exe -s off
When you disable CAS as described above shouldn't it take care of trust
issues?

So, Ken, I hope that somewhere in the system there is more info to be had
Regards
--
C -> C++ -> C# (sigh of relief)

Usually that happens if the addin is not fully trusted on the target
machine, something that's required and usually requires a custom installer
action.

 

[Peter Hegelund]

I concur with your observation.

The add-in works on two machines both of which have VS 2005.

The add-in fails to load on a third machine which has a similar baseline but
no Visual Studio.
This machine of course has been equipped with the 2003 Primary Interop
Assembiles and the VSTO runtime.

So what is the missing ingredient?

Regards
Peter

 

[Ken Slovak - [MVP - Outlook]]

I'm not enough of a .NET expert to be sure of that. I believe you need a
fully trusted assembly and that disabling the CAS security won't do the
trick, but I'm not positive. The lack of an automated solution you don't
have to hack around for is one of the reasons I don't do many .NET addins.

I'd review all the information about distributing .NET addins on
www.outlookcode.com and see what turns up.

 

[Ken Slovak - [MVP - Outlook]]

Have you reviewed the dependencies for the project and made sure all are
either installation prerequisites or are included in the installation?

 

[vish]

Ken,
I have reviewed all the dependencies for the project and all are
included in the installation.

Regards,
Vish

 

[Ken Slovak - [MVP - Outlook]]

I'm not sure, see if any of the information at
http://kjellsj.blogspot.com/2005/06/outlook-2003-net-add-ins-with-vsto.html
helps at all.