outlook shared addin won't load in outlook 2003 if VS 2008 not ins BatKing 12/2/2008 11:03:01 PM Hi Everyone, I am fairly new to office add-in development. I developed a outlook addin with VS 2008 with shared add-in templated in C#. the plugin was developed for both outlook 2003 and 2007. so in all the references within the project I used all office version 11. everything works fine. but the add-in won't load for office 2003. I used the VS 2008's auto generated setup project to install this add-in in another 2 newly build machines. one with XP and office 2007 one with XP and office 2003 and office 2003 PIA (can someone tell me if a normal installation of office 2003 will install the PIA just like 2007 ? or I have to install the PIA seperately?) My development machine has office 2007 installed so during development I tested everything on outlook 2007 on the office 2007 machine, everything works fine. use the .msi file created by the VS2008 and the add-in setup fine and loads correctly. However on the office 2003 machine, the add-in won't load. it won't even call the Connect method. I checked the registry entry. initially the load behavior value in the registry was 3 right after the setup program finished. however once I launch outlook then the registry value changed to 2. (I installed office PIA already). Now the funny part, since my development machine already has Office 2007 installed, so I can't test it on my dev machine. so I used the office 2003 machine as a Dev machine and installed VS 2008 on it and try to debug. but once VS 2008 is installed, everything works fine. in VS debug mode, VS release mode or clean all the builds and use the .msi file created on my original dev machinea and install the add-in. it works fine on all the above 3 ways. then I uninstall VS 2008, everything won't work again. it seem VS 2008 has some files or reference or assembly which is needed to load the addin and just installing office 2003 and PIA is not enough. am I doing something wrong? anything I should know? I am totally lost now. Thanks.

Re: outlook shared addin won't load in outlook 2003 if VS 2008 not ins "Ken Slovak - [MVP - Outlook]" <kenslovak[ at ]mvps.org> 12/2/2008 11:48:00 PM Office 2007 installs the PIA's if the Framework is already installed when Office 2007 is installed unless a custom installation disables installation of the PIA's. If the Framework is not installed Office 2007 doesn't install the PIA's. The Framework is not required for Office 2007. For Office 2003 the PIA's are installed only for a custom installation where they are selected for installation. The redistributable PIA package for Office 2007 includes extensibility and stdole. The Office 2003 redistributable package for the PIA's does not include either extensibility or stdole and those plus possibly a registry lockback key need to be installed separately. There's a KB 908002 for that. When you install VS you most likely got stdole and extensibility installed for you during installation. -- Ken Slovak [MVP - Outlook] http://www.slovaktech.com Author: Professional Programming Outlook 2007. Reminder Manager, Extended Reminders, Attachment Options. http://www.slovaktech.com/products.htm "BatKing" <BatKing[ at ]discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message news:599E153C-AC23-45D6-807A-C7601F4F6D5C[ at ]microsoft.com... [Quoted Text] > Hi Everyone, > > I am fairly new to office add-in development. I developed a outlook addin > with VS 2008 with shared add-in templated in C#. the plugin was developed > for > both outlook 2003 and 2007. so in all the references within the project I > used all office version 11. > > everything works fine. but the add-in won't load for office 2003. I used > the > VS 2008's auto generated setup project to install this add-in in another 2 > newly build machines. one with XP and office 2007 one with XP and office > 2003 > and office 2003 PIA (can someone tell me if a normal installation of > office > 2003 will install the PIA just like 2007 ? or I have to install the PIA > seperately?) My development machine has office 2007 installed so during > development I tested everything on outlook 2007 > > on the office 2007 machine, everything works fine. use the .msi file > created > by the VS2008 and the add-in setup fine and loads correctly. > > However on the office 2003 machine, the add-in won't load. it won't even > call the Connect method. I checked the registry entry. initially the load > behavior value in the registry was 3 right after the setup program > finished. > however once I launch outlook then the registry value changed to 2. (I > installed office PIA already). > > Now the funny part, since my development machine already has Office 2007 > installed, so I can't test it on my dev machine. so I used the office 2003 > machine as a Dev machine and installed VS 2008 on it and try to debug. but > once VS 2008 is installed, everything works fine. in VS debug mode, VS > release mode or clean all the builds and use the .msi file created on my > original dev machinea and install the add-in. it works fine on all the > above > 3 ways. then I uninstall VS 2008, everything won't work again. it seem VS > 2008 has some files or reference or assembly which is needed to load the > addin and just installing office 2003 and PIA is not enough. > > am I doing something wrong? anything I should know? I am totally lost now. > > Thanks.

Re: outlook shared addin won't load in outlook 2003 if VS 2008 not BatKing 12/3/2008 1:33:01 AM Thanks Ken, KB908002 is for VS 2005 and I am using VS2008. so I thought this should already be fixed in VS 2008? and the fix in KB908002 won't install on my dev machine as I don't have VS2005 installed. what should I do now? "Ken Slovak - [MVP - Outlook]" wrote: [Quoted Text] > Office 2007 installs the PIA's if the Framework is already installed when > Office 2007 is installed unless a custom installation disables installation > of the PIA's. If the Framework is not installed Office 2007 doesn't install > the PIA's. The Framework is not required for Office 2007. > > For Office 2003 the PIA's are installed only for a custom installation where > they are selected for installation. > > The redistributable PIA package for Office 2007 includes extensibility and > stdole. The Office 2003 redistributable package for the PIA's does not > include either extensibility or stdole and those plus possibly a registry > lockback key need to be installed separately. There's a KB 908002 for that. > > When you install VS you most likely got stdole and extensibility installed > for you during installation. > > -- > Ken Slovak > [MVP - Outlook] > http://www.slovaktech.com > Author: Professional Programming Outlook 2007. > Reminder Manager, Extended Reminders, Attachment Options. > http://www.slovaktech.com/products.htm > > > "BatKing" <BatKing[ at ]discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message > news:599E153C-AC23-45D6-807A-C7601F4F6D5C[ at ]microsoft.com... > > Hi Everyone, > > > > I am fairly new to office add-in development. I developed a outlook addin > > with VS 2008 with shared add-in templated in C#. the plugin was developed > > for > > both outlook 2003 and 2007. so in all the references within the project I > > used all office version 11. > > > > everything works fine. but the add-in won't load for office 2003. I used > > the > > VS 2008's auto generated setup project to install this add-in in another 2 > > newly build machines. one with XP and office 2007 one with XP and office > > 2003 > > and office 2003 PIA (can someone tell me if a normal installation of > > office > > 2003 will install the PIA just like 2007 ? or I have to install the PIA > > seperately?) My development machine has office 2007 installed so during > > development I tested everything on outlook 2007 > > > > on the office 2007 machine, everything works fine. use the .msi file > > created > > by the VS2008 and the add-in setup fine and loads correctly. > > > > However on the office 2003 machine, the add-in won't load. it won't even > > call the Connect method. I checked the registry entry. initially the load > > behavior value in the registry was 3 right after the setup program > > finished. > > however once I launch outlook then the registry value changed to 2. (I > > installed office PIA already). > > > > Now the funny part, since my development machine already has Office 2007 > > installed, so I can't test it on my dev machine. so I used the office 2003 > > machine as a Dev machine and installed VS 2008 on it and try to debug. but > > once VS 2008 is installed, everything works fine. in VS debug mode, VS > > release mode or clean all the builds and use the .msi file created on my > > original dev machinea and install the add-in. it works fine on all the > > above > > 3 ways. then I uninstall VS 2008, everything won't work again. it seem VS > > 2008 has some files or reference or assembly which is needed to load the > > addin and just installing office 2003 and PIA is not enough. > > > > am I doing something wrong? anything I should know? I am totally lost now. > > > > Thanks. > >

Re: outlook shared addin won't load in outlook 2003 if VS 2008 not BatKing 12/3/2008 1:50:01 AM BTW, by installing ExtensibilityMSM.msi on the target machine with office 2003, the problem is solved. However, how can I make the extnesibility.dll included in my add-in setup ..msi file? so that users with outlook 2003 don't need to install 2 things at once. "Ken Slovak - [MVP - Outlook]" wrote: [Quoted Text] > Office 2007 installs the PIA's if the Framework is already installed when > Office 2007 is installed unless a custom installation disables installation > of the PIA's. If the Framework is not installed Office 2007 doesn't install > the PIA's. The Framework is not required for Office 2007. > > For Office 2003 the PIA's are installed only for a custom installation where > they are selected for installation. > > The redistributable PIA package for Office 2007 includes extensibility and > stdole. The Office 2003 redistributable package for the PIA's does not > include either extensibility or stdole and those plus possibly a registry > lockback key need to be installed separately. There's a KB 908002 for that. > > When you install VS you most likely got stdole and extensibility installed > for you during installation. > > -- > Ken Slovak > [MVP - Outlook] > http://www.slovaktech.com > Author: Professional Programming Outlook 2007. > Reminder Manager, Extended Reminders, Attachment Options. > http://www.slovaktech.com/products.htm > > > "BatKing" <BatKing[ at ]discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message > news:599E153C-AC23-45D6-807A-C7601F4F6D5C[ at ]microsoft.com... > > Hi Everyone, > > > > I am fairly new to office add-in development. I developed a outlook addin > > with VS 2008 with shared add-in templated in C#. the plugin was developed > > for > > both outlook 2003 and 2007. so in all the references within the project I > > used all office version 11. > > > > everything works fine. but the add-in won't load for office 2003. I used > > the > > VS 2008's auto generated setup project to install this add-in in another 2 > > newly build machines. one with XP and office 2007 one with XP and office > > 2003 > > and office 2003 PIA (can someone tell me if a normal installation of > > office > > 2003 will install the PIA just like 2007 ? or I have to install the PIA > > seperately?) My development machine has office 2007 installed so during > > development I tested everything on outlook 2007 > > > > on the office 2007 machine, everything works fine. use the .msi file > > created > > by the VS2008 and the add-in setup fine and loads correctly. > > > > However on the office 2003 machine, the add-in won't load. it won't even > > call the Connect method. I checked the registry entry. initially the load > > behavior value in the registry was 3 right after the setup program > > finished. > > however once I launch outlook then the registry value changed to 2. (I > > installed office PIA already). > > > > Now the funny part, since my development machine already has Office 2007 > > installed, so I can't test it on my dev machine. so I used the office 2003 > > machine as a Dev machine and installed VS 2008 on it and try to debug. but > > once VS 2008 is installed, everything works fine. in VS debug mode, VS > > release mode or clean all the builds and use the .msi file created on my > > original dev machinea and install the add-in. it works fine on all the > > above > > 3 ways. then I uninstall VS 2008, everything won't work again. it seem VS > > 2008 has some files or reference or assembly which is needed to load the > > addin and just installing office 2003 and PIA is not enough. > > > > am I doing something wrong? anything I should know? I am totally lost now. > > > > Thanks. > >

Re: outlook shared addin won't load in outlook 2003 if VS 2008 not "Ken Slovak - [MVP - Outlook]" <kenslovak[ at ]mvps.org> 12/3/2008 2:57:51 PM You need to set up prerequisites for not only Extensibility but also the PIA's in case they aren't installed. For Office 2003 you need both the redistributable PIA's and Extensibility (that also installs stdole). For Office 2007 you only need the redistributable PIA's package which also installs Extensibility and stdole. Your prerequisites should check for Office version installed and whether or not the PIA's are installed. A setup.exe will handle the prerequisites, the msi can't do that. -- Ken Slovak [MVP - Outlook] http://www.slovaktech.com Author: Professional Programming Outlook 2007. Reminder Manager, Extended Reminders, Attachment Options. http://www.slovaktech.com/products.htm "BatKing" <BatKing[ at ]discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message news:94EF8FBD-0301-4A12-ABE5-EB54319BE594[ at ]microsoft.com... [Quoted Text] > BTW, by installing ExtensibilityMSM.msi on the target machine with office > 2003, the problem is solved. > > However, how can I make the extnesibility.dll included in my add-in setup > .msi file? so that users with outlook 2003 don't need to install 2 things > at > once. >

Re: outlook shared addin won't load in outlook 2003 if VS 2008 not BatKing 12/3/2008 9:47:21 PM But in my prerequisite components list, there is no Extensibility. and there is only MS office 2007 PIA. How can I add prerequisite list which is not in "Choose which prerequisites to install" list? I went to "Check Microsoft Update for more redistributable components" and installed ".Net 2.0 SP2 and 3.0 SP2 bootstrapper packages". but Extensibility never in the prerequsite list. Also any guide on how to create setup.exe programatically? currently it seems the setup project is auto generated and I am only able to change some attribute in the properties list and setup.exe and .msi file will be auto generated during build. Thanks. "Ken Slovak - [MVP - Outlook]" wrote: [Quoted Text] > You need to set up prerequisites for not only Extensibility but also the > PIA's in case they aren't installed. For Office 2003 you need both the > redistributable PIA's and Extensibility (that also installs stdole). For > Office 2007 you only need the redistributable PIA's package which also > installs Extensibility and stdole. > > Your prerequisites should check for Office version installed and whether or > not the PIA's are installed. > > A setup.exe will handle the prerequisites, the msi can't do that. > > -- > Ken Slovak > [MVP - Outlook] > http://www.slovaktech.com > Author: Professional Programming Outlook 2007. > Reminder Manager, Extended Reminders, Attachment Options. > http://www.slovaktech.com/products.htm > > > "BatKing" <BatKing[ at ]discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message > news:94EF8FBD-0301-4A12-ABE5-EB54319BE594[ at ]microsoft.com... > > BTW, by installing ExtensibilityMSM.msi on the target machine with office > > 2003, the problem is solved. > > > > However, how can I make the extnesibility.dll included in my add-in setup > > .msi file? so that users with outlook 2003 don't need to install 2 things > > at > > once. > > > >

Re: outlook shared addin won't load in outlook 2003 if VS 2008 not "Ken Slovak - [MVP - Outlook]" <kenslovak[ at ]mvps.org> 12/4/2008 2:40:00 PM You would have to create your own bootstrapper prerequisite packages or download them if available to make them available. You cannot create a setup.exe using code unless you do it from scratch, the VS setup project should create your setup.exe for you and include whatever you've checked off as prerequisites. These links might help: http://blog.developers.ie/cgreen/archive/2006/10/27/2427.aspx http://blogs.msdn.com/vsto/archive/2008/05/08/adding-the-office-primary-interop-assemblies-as-a-prerequisite-in-your-clickonce-installer-mary-lee.aspx http://social.msdn.microsoft.com/Forums/en-US/vsto/thread/649b593a-8b65-4666-b379-8acd0b1f2c43/ This last link has a link to the Bootstrapper Manifest Generator, a tool used to help create manifests for bootstrapper prerequisites. -- Ken Slovak [MVP - Outlook] http://www.slovaktech.com Author: Professional Programming Outlook 2007. Reminder Manager, Extended Reminders, Attachment Options. http://www.slovaktech.com/products.htm "BatKing" <BatKing[ at ]discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message news:B606E7B5-6174-41D8-8412-FB2AC1FC4DEB[ at ]microsoft.com... [Quoted Text] > But in my prerequisite components list, there is no Extensibility. and > there > is only MS office 2007 PIA. > > How can I add prerequisite list which is not in "Choose which > prerequisites > to install" list? I went to "Check Microsoft Update for more > redistributable > components" and installed ".Net 2.0 SP2 and 3.0 SP2 bootstrapper > packages". > but Extensibility never in the prerequsite list. > > Also any guide on how to create setup.exe programatically? currently it > seems the setup project is auto generated and I am only able to change > some > attribute in the properties list and setup.exe and .msi file will be auto > generated during build. > > Thanks.

Re: outlook shared addin won't load in outlook 2003 if VS 2008 not BatKing 12/8/2008 10:53:01 PM Hi Ken, One more question. Do I really need stdole? it seems I don't need it. I uninstalled stdole from Global Assembly and it seems everything still works fine for my add-in. Of course Extensibility has to be here. Also when installing Extensibility from extensibilityMSM.msi, stdole won't get installed (but your previous response said that by installing Extensibility also installs stdole). Thanks. "Ken Slovak - [MVP - Outlook]" wrote: [Quoted Text] > You would have to create your own bootstrapper prerequisite packages or > download them if available to make them available. You cannot create a > setup.exe using code unless you do it from scratch, the VS setup project > should create your setup.exe for you and include whatever you've checked off > as prerequisites. > > These links might help: > > http://blog.developers.ie/cgreen/archive/2006/10/27/2427.aspx > > http://blogs.msdn.com/vsto/archive/2008/05/08/adding-the-office-primary-interop-assemblies-as-a-prerequisite-in-your-clickonce-installer-mary-lee.aspx > > http://social.msdn.microsoft.com/Forums/en-US/vsto/thread/649b593a-8b65-4666-b379-8acd0b1f2c43/ > > This last link has a link to the Bootstrapper Manifest Generator, a tool > used to help create manifests for bootstrapper prerequisites. > > -- > Ken Slovak > [MVP - Outlook] > http://www.slovaktech.com > Author: Professional Programming Outlook 2007. > Reminder Manager, Extended Reminders, Attachment Options. > http://www.slovaktech.com/products.htm > > > "BatKing" <BatKing[ at ]discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message > news:B606E7B5-6174-41D8-8412-FB2AC1FC4DEB[ at ]microsoft.com... > > But in my prerequisite components list, there is no Extensibility. and > > there > > is only MS office 2007 PIA. > > > > How can I add prerequisite list which is not in "Choose which > > prerequisites > > to install" list? I went to "Check Microsoft Update for more > > redistributable > > components" and installed ".Net 2.0 SP2 and 3.0 SP2 bootstrapper > > packages". > > but Extensibility never in the prerequsite list. > > > > Also any guide on how to create setup.exe programatically? currently it > > seems the setup project is auto generated and I am only able to change > > some > > attribute in the properties list and setup.exe and .msi file will be auto > > generated during build. > > > > Thanks. > >

Re: outlook shared addin won't load in outlook 2003 if VS 2008 not "Ken Slovak - [MVP - Outlook]" <kenslovak[ at ]mvps.org> 12/9/2008 2:36:54 PM You're correct, I examined that MSI in Orca and it doesn't contain stdole. If stdole isn't listed as one of your dependencies for the project then you can safely not install it. -- Ken Slovak [MVP - Outlook] http://www.slovaktech.com Author: Professional Programming Outlook 2007. Reminder Manager, Extended Reminders, Attachment Options. http://www.slovaktech.com/products.htm "BatKing" <BatKing[ at ]discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message news:B0B9FE7F-AA51-4298-897A-10BD0B589775[ at ]microsoft.com... [Quoted Text] > Hi Ken, > > One more question. Do I really need stdole? it seems I don't need it. I > uninstalled stdole from Global Assembly and it seems everything still > works > fine for my add-in. Of course Extensibility has to be here. Also when > installing Extensibility from extensibilityMSM.msi, stdole won't get > installed (but your previous response said that by installing > Extensibility > also installs stdole). > > Thanks.

Re: outlook shared addin won't load in outlook 2003 if VS 2008 not "Ken Slovak - [MVP - Outlook]" <kenslovak[ at ]mvps.org> 12/9/2008 10:06:37 PM Although I don't know if you've considered the matter of you UI. If you plan to use either CommandBarButton.Picture or .Mask, or supplying a ribbon control image using code then you will need stdole.IPictureDisp and therefore will need stdole. -- Ken Slovak [MVP - Outlook] http://www.slovaktech.com Author: Professional Programming Outlook 2007. Reminder Manager, Extended Reminders, Attachment Options. http://www.slovaktech.com/products.htm "Ken Slovak - [MVP - Outlook]" <kenslovak[ at ]mvps.org> wrote in message news:ezh6BwgWJHA.4384[ at ]TK2MSFTNGP03.phx.gbl... [Quoted Text] > You're correct, I examined that MSI in Orca and it doesn't contain stdole. > If stdole isn't listed as one of your dependencies for the project then > you can safely not install it. > > -- > Ken Slovak > [MVP - Outlook] > http://www.slovaktech.com > Author: Professional Programming Outlook 2007. > Reminder Manager, Extended Reminders, Attachment Options. > http://www.slovaktech.com/products.htm > > > "BatKing" <BatKing[ at ]discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message > news:B0B9FE7F-AA51-4298-897A-10BD0B589775[ at ]microsoft.com... >> Hi Ken, >> >> One more question. Do I really need stdole? it seems I don't need it. I >> uninstalled stdole from Global Assembly and it seems everything still >> works >> fine for my add-in. Of course Extensibility has to be here. Also when >> installing Extensibility from extensibilityMSM.msi, stdole won't get >> installed (but your previous response said that by installing >> Extensibility >> also installs stdole). >> >> Thanks. >

Re: outlook shared addin won't load in outlook 2003 if VS 2008 not BatKing 12/9/2008 11:38:01 PM Maybe not in the initial release version. However during my learning and research, I do find something easier. instead of making those assembly as prerequisit, I found out I can do it in the following way. 1, right click on the Setup project and add assembly extensibility.dll 2. in custom action add DLLRegister for INSTALL for extensibility.dll. and DLLUNRegister for unstaill and rollback then my add-in will work even Extensibility not in my Assembly folder under C:\Windows Can I do this? Even I already built my custom prerequisit list for VS 2008 and tested it working correctly, I think the above way is cleaner? as only one MSI file is good enough for me (of course PIA is not included here). "Ken Slovak - [MVP - Outlook]" wrote: [Quoted Text] > Although I don't know if you've considered the matter of you UI. If you plan > to use either CommandBarButton.Picture or .Mask, or supplying a ribbon > control image using code then you will need stdole.IPictureDisp and > therefore will need stdole. > > -- > Ken Slovak > [MVP - Outlook] > http://www.slovaktech.com > Author: Professional Programming Outlook 2007. > Reminder Manager, Extended Reminders, Attachment Options. > http://www.slovaktech.com/products.htm > > > "Ken Slovak - [MVP - Outlook]" <kenslovak[ at ]mvps.org> wrote in message > news:ezh6BwgWJHA.4384[ at ]TK2MSFTNGP03.phx.gbl... > > You're correct, I examined that MSI in Orca and it doesn't contain stdole. > > If stdole isn't listed as one of your dependencies for the project then > > you can safely not install it. > > > > -- > > Ken Slovak > > [MVP - Outlook] > > http://www.slovaktech.com > > Author: Professional Programming Outlook 2007. > > Reminder Manager, Extended Reminders, Attachment Options. > > http://www.slovaktech.com/products.htm > > > > > > "BatKing" <BatKing[ at ]discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message > > news:B0B9FE7F-AA51-4298-897A-10BD0B589775[ at ]microsoft.com... > >> Hi Ken, > >> > >> One more question. Do I really need stdole? it seems I don't need it. I > >> uninstalled stdole from Global Assembly and it seems everything still > >> works > >> fine for my add-in. Of course Extensibility has to be here. Also when > >> installing Extensibility from extensibilityMSM.msi, stdole won't get > >> installed (but your previous response said that by installing > >> Extensibility > >> also installs stdole). > >> > >> Thanks. > > > >

Re: outlook shared addin won't load in outlook 2003 if VS 2008 not "Ken Slovak - [MVP - Outlook]" <kenslovak[ at ]mvps.org> 12/10/2008 2:57:51 PM You mean deploy extensibility.dll into your installation folder? It can be done but it's not really a good idea and definitely not a best practice. It leads you right back to DLL Hell. Plus if some other code does install extensibility in the GAC that will take precedence. -- Ken Slovak [MVP - Outlook] http://www.slovaktech.com Author: Professional Programming Outlook 2007. Reminder Manager, Extended Reminders, Attachment Options. http://www.slovaktech.com/products.htm "BatKing" <BatKing[ at ]discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message news:4D17A1A1-C4C2-40F3-8D1A-572059F8035F[ at ]microsoft.com... [Quoted Text] > Maybe not in the initial release version. > > However during my learning and research, I do find something easier. > instead > of making those assembly as prerequisit, I found out I can do it in the > following way. > > 1, right click on the Setup project and add assembly extensibility.dll > 2. in custom action add DLLRegister for INSTALL for extensibility.dll. and > DLLUNRegister for unstaill and rollback > > then my add-in will work even Extensibility not in my Assembly folder > under > C:\Windows > > Can I do this? Even I already built my custom prerequisit list for VS 2008 > and tested it working correctly, I think the above way is cleaner? as only > one MSI file is good enough for me (of course PIA is not included here).