Deploying COM Add-ins

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If you have built a COM add-in using Microsoft® Office XP Developer, you can create an installation program for it using the Packaging Wizard. The installation program must deploy the COM add-in dynamic-link library (DLL) as well as any files on which it is dependent, such as type libraries that might not be on users' computers.

A COM add-in DLL created with the COM Add-in designer in Office Developer or Visual Basic is a self-registering DLL, meaning that it will register itself properly when the setup program runs. When the DLL has registered itself, the COM add-in will appear in the list of available COM add-ins in the COM Add-ins dialog box. Therefore, it does not matter where you install the DLL. However, for the sake of consistency, you might want to choose one folder for installing all COM add-ins, such as the AddIns folder under C:\Windows\Application Data\Microsoft, C:\Windows\Profiles\UserName\Application Data\Microsoft, C:\Winnt\Profiles\UserName\Application Data\Microsoft, or C:\Documents and Settings\UserName\Application Data\Microsoft.

For more information about COM add-ins, see Building COM Add-ins for Office Applications.

See Also

The Packaging Process | Building COM Add-ins for Office Applications | Creating a Setup Package Using the Packaging Wizard | Deploying Your Application | Packaging Wizard | Testing Your Setup Package