How to -> Visual Studio Add In Manager

Question

How do I use the Add-In Manager in Visual Studio? Here is the problem and solution.

I want to add this SmartPaster addin and need to get these 3 files listed in the Add-In Manager dialog?

1. SmartPaster2010.AddIn
2. SmartPaster2010.dll
3. SmartPaster2010.xml

Edit: Microsoft Add-In Registration says:

To install the add-in on another computer, the .addin file must be placed in a location where Visual Studio checks for add-ins. These locations are listed in the Options dialog box, in the Environment node, on the Add-in/Macros Security page.

I went to Tools > Options > Environment > Add-In/Macro Security, checked some paths put the AddIn files in a couple of these directories, restart VS2010 but still no luck!

Answer 1

Make a folder called "C:\VisualStudioPlugins"

Open up Visual Studio > Tools Menu > Options > Environment > Add-In/Macro Security > Add the path "C:\VisualStudioPlugins"

Restart Visual Studio and the add-in is listed!

_{ps I didn't know the answer before I asked the question and hope it helps the .Net community.}

Answer 2

The product didn't come with installation instructions?

It sounds like you can probably just put the files into %DOCUMENTS%/Visual Studio 2010/Add-Ins (where %DOCUMENTS% is your documents folder, where VS likes to shove stuff by default) and reboot VS. But that's just a guess.

Answer 3

I had a similar issue, but it was that I was trying to use a VS Addin that was made for VS 2008.

Even with the new folder added, it wasn't picking it up in vs 2010.

By making a copy of the vs addin, and editing the .addin file, changing 9.0 to - you guessed it... 10.0... it works :) lol