how do you deploy an Outlook 2007 VSTO add-in to all users?

[Felix Jongleur]

Hi

My Company needs to deploy an outlook add-in created using VSTO 2005 SE to
all of its machines in the domain. The only problem is that when I install
the plugin as an admin it won't show up for any other users on that machine.

I figure the problem must be where the registry keys are. I've tried
changing the location of the registry keys from HKCU to HKLM. The plugin
shows up in outlook's list of add-ins but it wont start up because outlook
says that it cannot write to any registry keys within HKLM. Is there a way to
put the keys in every users HKCU directory or is there a better way to go
about all this.

 

[Ken Slovak - [MVP - Outlook]]

Are you writing to HKLM during startup? You only should be writing the keys
to HKLM\Software\Microsoft\Office\Outlook\Addins during installation, which
should then be done by an administrative logon. That should have the
necessary permissions.

 

[Ken Slovak - [MVP - Outlook]]

If it won't work in HKLM the only other place for registrations would be in
HKCU and that would mean at least a reg file run on logon for any other
users.

 

[Ken Slovak - [MVP - Outlook]]

Ryan Gregg of MS posted in the VSTO forum that only registration in HKCU is
supported for VSTO addins. For unmanaged addins or shared managed addins you
can register in HKLM. If a VSTO addin is registered in HKLM Outlook ignores
it.