Outlook 2003 Addin loading but not showing up in ComAddins list

Discussion:

(too old to reply)

Sanjay

2010-09-22 21:40:37 UTC

I have created an Outlook 2003 addin using VB2010. I have used the
Shim Wizard to create a shim for it.

On the machine on which development took place, the addin is loading
correctly in Outlook 2003... buttons are working as expected BUT...for
some reason the addin does not appear on the list of ComAddins.

Please help (I miss the simplicity of VB6).

Thanks
Sanjay

Ken Slovak

2010-09-23 13:54:35 UTC

Permalink

There's not enough information to answer about the problem.

It could be something missing in one of the dependencies that you have on
the development machine, it could be registration of the addin, it could be
some sort of managed load error from Fusion (the managed code loader). It
could also be missing PIA's or Framework versions.

Do you check for all dependencies and for pre-requisites?

There's an article about managed code debugging and enabling Fusion logging
to see if there are load errors at
http://blogs.msdn.com/b/vsod/archive/2008/04/22/troubleshooting-com-add-in-load-failures.aspx
--
Ken Slovak
[MVP - Outlook]
http://www.slovaktech.com
Author: Professional Programming Outlook 2007.
Reminder Manager, Extended Reminders, Attachment Options.
http://www.slovaktech.com/products.htm

Post by Sanjay
I have created an Outlook 2003 addin using VB2010. I have used the
Shim Wizard to create a shim for it.
On the machine on which development took place, the addin is loading
correctly in Outlook 2003... buttons are working as expected BUT...for
some reason the addin does not appear on the list of ComAddins.
Please help (I miss the simplicity of VB6).
Thanks
Sanjay

Ken Slovak

2010-09-23 17:23:20 UTC

Permalink

I will be on vacation for a week or so, I won't be able to respond to any
posts from tomorrow to October 4.

--
Ken Slovak
[MVP - Outlook]
http://www.slovaktech.com
Author: Professional Programming Outlook 2007.
Reminder Manager, Extended Reminders, Attachment Options.
http://www.slovaktech.com/products.htm

Sanjay

2010-09-23 21:46:47 UTC

Permalink

Thank you for your help and enjoy your vacation.

Post by Ken Slovak
I will be on vacation for a week or so, I won't be able to respond to any
posts from tomorrow to October 4.
--
Ken Slovak
[MVP - Outlook]http://www.slovaktech.com
Author: Professional Programming Outlook 2007.
Reminder Manager, Extended Reminders, Attachment Options.http://www.slovaktech.com/products.htm

Sanjay

2010-09-23 21:54:38 UTC

Permalink

Strange behavior here is that my addin does work perfectly inside
Outlook... it just does not show up in the list of addins. I have
tried this on 3 computers with the same results... which means I can't
blame the computer... definitely something I have done.

Will try the Fusion logging to see what comes up.

Thanks
Sanjay

Ken Slovak

2010-09-23 23:13:53 UTC

Permalink

If it's registered in HKLM it does not show up in the COM AddIns dialog in
Outlook 2003, as it does for 2007 or 2010. That's always been the case, even
with VB6 addins.
--
Ken Slovak
[MVP - Outlook]
http://www.slovaktech.com
Author: Professional Programming Outlook 2007.
Reminder Manager, Extended Reminders, Attachment Options.
http://www.slovaktech.com/products.htm

"Sanjay" <***@gmail.com> wrote in message news:3c2a6db1-99a1-4935-8635-***@q28g2000prb.googlegroups.com...
Strange behavior here is that my addin does work perfectly inside
Outlook... it just does not show up in the list of addins. I have
tried this on 3 computers with the same results... which means I can't
blame the computer... definitely something I have done.

Will try the Fusion logging to see what comes up.

Thanks
Sanjay

Sanjay

2010-09-24 02:47:37 UTC

Permalink

Thanks. My setup file is created using VS2010 and I have simply set
the dlls to register themselves. Do I need to change the registration
method or do I need to add code to register in HKCU?

Post by Ken Slovak
If it's registered in HKLM it does not show up in the COM AddIns dialog in
Outlook 2003, as it does for 2007 or 2010. That's always been the case, even
with VB6 addins.
--
Ken Slovak
[MVP - Outlook]http://www.slovaktech.com
Author: Professional Programming Outlook 2007.
Reminder Manager, Extended Reminders, Attachment Options.http://www.slovaktech.com/products.htm
Strange behavior here is that my addin does work perfectly inside
Outlook... it just does not show up in the list of addins. I have
tried this on 3 computers with the same results... which means I can't
blame the computer... definitely something I have done.
Will try the Fusion logging to see what comes up.
Thanks
Sanjay

Sanjay

2010-09-24 02:54:38 UTC

Permalink

HCLU was not the problem as addin is registered under both HKCU an
HKLM. Will try Fusion to see if it reveals anything.

Post by Sanjay
Thanks. My setup file is created using VS2010 and I have simply set
the dlls to register themselves. Do I need to change the registration
method or do I need to add code to register in HKCU?

Sanjay

2010-09-24 02:58:36 UTC

Permalink

DELETING the key from HCLU solved the problem.

Last question (even I don't believe that).... what do I need to do
with the Setup code to get the addin to install in HKCU but not in the
HKLM?

Thanks
Sanjay

Post by Sanjay
HCLU was not the problem as addin is registered under both HKCU an
HKLM. Will try Fusion to see if it reveals anything.

Ken Slovak

2010-10-05 14:34:04 UTC

Permalink

Again, I haven't been using the VS 2010 installer so it may be different.

In other versions you right-click on the setup project and select to view
the registry settings. You then add your registration information for the
addin at either HKCU or HKLM or to User/Machine Hive. If the registration is
for User/Machine Hive it will be placed in either HKCU or HKLM depending on
whether the installation is selected for all users or current user.

If you are using a shim you also have to account for any shim registration.
What I do is use the same CLSID's for the shim as for the addin dll and then
eliminate the shim registration settings for HKCU or HKLM and leave the
registration for HKCR. That way any shim registration won't conflict with
registrations for the addin and won't add it to a different hive than
selected in the installer screen.
--
Ken Slovak
[MVP - Outlook]
http://www.slovaktech.com
Author: Professional Programming Outlook 2007.
Reminder Manager, Extended Reminders, Attachment Options.
http://www.slovaktech.com/products.htm

"Sanjay" <***@gmail.com> wrote in message news:e3667681-6e8c-4088-b07b-***@z25g2000vbn.googlegroups.com...
DELETING the key from HCLU solved the problem.

Last question (even I don't believe that).... what do I need to do
with the Setup code to get the addin to install in HKCU but not in the
HKLM?

Thanks
Sanjay

Post by Sanjay
HCLU was not the problem as addin is registered under both HKCU an
HKLM. Will try Fusion to see if it reveals anything.