VSTO Application Installation via MSI - Best way forward?

Question

I have developed an Outlook Add In and I need to install it across all staff PCs company wide. I have managed to create an MSI installer package, but it only seems to place the neccessary files onto the target PC, and then the setup.exe has to be selected anyway.

I have been informed that setup.exe ( or click Once ) cannot be used for a silent install across all computers.

What is the best way forward for achieving a company wide installation?

Appreciate any help, thanks.

Answer 1

You can create an MSI installer and then use it to deploy the software using GPO. See Deploying an Office Solution by Using Windows Installer for creating MSI installers and How to use Group Policy to remotely install software in Windows Server 2008 and in Windows Server 2003 for using GPO.

Also you may find the following articles helpful:

• Deploy Office 2013 by using Group Policy computer startup scripts
• HowTo: Install a COM add-in automatically using Windows Server Group Policy

Answer 2

You can easily deploy the add-in via a startup script or other software deployment mechanism. You can install silently as well. See:

https://technet.microsoft.com/en-ca/library/cc759262(v=ws.10).aspx https://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/library/cc775850(v=ws.10).aspx

Answer 3

Dotnet framework, VCRedist, VSTO runtime and your MSI, all can be installed silently. Just google for each of them and prepare batch script for them.

Setup.exe is nothing but a batch starter with some checks for installations.