.Vscontent files use XML that is based on the Visual Studio Content Installer Schema Reference to describe components that you have created and intend to share. At the minimum, the .vscontent file identifies the kind of components and the version of Visual Studio that the componens should be used with. After you have authored a .vscontent file, you can create the .vsi file that Visual Studio Content Installer will use to install the components on a developer's computer.

To create a basic .vscontent file

Visual Studio Content Installer (.vsi) files are used to exchange Visual Studio content in the developer community. A .vsi file is a renamed .zip file that contains these components:

• An XML .vscontent file that describes the community component.

• The files for the component.

The Visual Studio Content Installer uses .vsi files to install shared content to the correct location. For more information about how to install .vsi files, see How to: Install Community Components.

Some features of the Visual Studio Content Installer require additional tools or services to implement.

• To display publisher information for your community component in the Visual Studio Content Installer, you must sign the .vsi file. For more information, see Cryptography Overview.

• To display an End User License Agreement (EULA) in the Visual Studio Content Installer, you must embed this information in the .zip file. WinZip supports including embedded information through the Comment feature. For more information about WinZip, see http://www.winzip.com. For more information about the Comment feature, see the WinZip Help file.

To create a basic .vsi file

The following example shows a .vscontent file for a .vsi file that contains an add-in that must be used with Visual Studio 2008 only. The following files would be included in the .vsi file for this content:

• A .vscontent file that contains the XML shown in this example.

• The add-in registration file MyAddin.Addin.

• The compiled add-in .dll file MyAddin.dll.

The add-in files are installed in the following directory:

n:\...\My Documents\Visual Studio <version>\Addins\

For additional examples, see How to: Publish Project Templates and How to: Publish Code Snippets.

<VSContent xmlns="http://schemas.microsoft.com/developer/vscontent/2005"> 
    <Content>
        <FileName>MyAddin.Addin</FileName>
        <FileName>MyAddin.dll</FileName>
        <DisplayName>Example Add-in</DisplayName>
        <Description>An add-in created for this example.</Description>
        <FileContentType>Addin</FileContentType>
        <ContentVersion>2.0</ContentVersion>
    </Content>
</VSContent>

The following example shows a .vscontent file for a .vsi file that contains a macro project that can be used with either Visual Studio 2005 or Visual Studio 2008. The following files would be included in the .vsi file for this content:

• A .vscontent file that contains the XML shown in this example.

• The macro file MyMacroProject.vsmacros.

The macro file is installed in the following directory:

n:\...\My Documents\Visual Studio <version>\Projects\VSMacros80\

<VSContent xmlns="http://schemas.microsoft.com/developer/vscontent/2005">
    <Content>
        <FileName>MyMacroProject.vsmacros</FileName>
        <DisplayName>My Macro Project</DisplayName>
        <Description> A macro project created for this example.</Description>
        <FileContentType>Macro Project</FileContentType>
        <ContentVersion>1.0</ContentVersion>
    </Content>
</VSContent>

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