Problem deploying an automation addin (VS2005, Windows XP SP1, Excel XP)

[BlueTrin]

Hi guys,

I have been getting stuck with this problem for a while now:

- I have made an automation addin which is working on the computer
where I installed VS2005
- then made a batch script that would copy and install it on another
computer (registering the DLLs using RegAsm)
- In Excel when I go in "Addins" then Automation, I can see the
addin, I can select it however it doesn't register nor load the
functions

By googling the problem I found this page:

http://www.developersdex.com/vb/message.asp?p=2677&ID=<C81DFF01-F66...

which led me to

http://support.microsoft.com/kb/908002/en-us

I tried installing this patch however when I try to run the "shared
addin" wizard it tells me that I need SP2 to run it. I am using SP1
because our company won't deploy SP2 on our computers (updating to SP2
is not a choice)

We are currently using Office XP. Is there any easier way to deploy my
assemblies as automation addins and make them load correctly in Excel
XP ?

Cheers
Tony

 

[BlueTrin]

I do not know if some other bugs are involved with some Office XP
configurations.

But to fix it, you just have to create an Excel.exe.config file in
\Program Files\Microsoft Office\Office 10\ (or whatever folder contains
Excel.exe)

which contains:

<?xml version ="1.0"?>
<configuration>
<startup>
<supportedRuntime version="v2.0.50727" />
</startup>
</configuration>

If forces Excel to use the framework 2.0.


In order to make your setup project, under VS 2005, click on your setup
project, then View -> Editor -> File System

right click and add a folder called "Microsoft Excel", change the
default location (if you want a clean solution, you need to use the
registry to determine the path for office). Right click it and add
Excel.exe.config, so it will auto deploy.

You can also go into the project properties -> prerequisites and add
the components you need ... (like the framework 2.0)