Creating vsix Package with item template (which has WizardExtension)

Question

Hi,

I created vsix package like it's described here: http://timheuer.com/blog/archive/2010/05/03/create-vsix-files-with-visual-studio-template-deployment.aspx

But my template is not self described and it uses wizard extension in my template:

  <WizardExtension>
    <Assembly>myasm.dll</Assembly>
    <FullClassName>myclass</FullClassName>
  </WizardExtension>

Of course my package didn't work, because wizard library is not installed into VS folder as well as into GAC and I got "Can't find assembly error.

I came across with some peace of information on this topic and it says that vsix installer doesn't allow to install library into GAC.

So, my question is how to make a vsix package with ItemTemplate, which has wizard extension so that Visual Studio will be able to resolve Wizard extension assembly reference?

Answer 1

Hi Vitality,

Please check the link below. 

http://visualstudiogallery.msdn.microsoft.com/57320b20-34a2-42e4-b97e-e615c71aca24

http://blogs.msdn.com/b/visualstudio/archive/2010/03/04/creating-and-sharing-project-item-templates.aspx

Hope this helps.

Let me know if you need any assistance.

Best Regards,

Shikhar Jain

Answer 2

Hello Shikhar,

This extension is for VS2010 only, that is why I didn't use it. I need to achieve this result in VS2012.

Thanks,

Vitaliy Korney

Answer 3

Hi Vitaliy,

I don't think if Visual Studio 2012 VSIX Extension is available right now. However please check below link to create VSIX package in vs2012.

http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/dd393742.aspx

Hope this helps.

Best Regards,

Shikhar Jain

Answer 4

Hi Shikhar,

I don't think this tool is the only way to create package. And I suppose it should be as easy as one-two-three. This tool is just a wizard which helps us to construct vsixmanifest step by step. The problem is that it's structure has changed from previous version and I don't know how to assemble it correctly for my particular case. You probably know that vsix is just a zipped archive with specific structure. Haven't found an answer in the provided link, unfortunately.

Kind Regards,

Vitaliy Korney

Answer 5

Hi Vitaliy,

Please check the below link. It discuss the same issue you have.

http://social.msdn.microsoft.com/Forums/en/vsx/thread/c95abd45-34fa-4ba6-a2aa-1d5605d4a020

I would suggest you to go for WIX. Wix has solution for all the deployment related issues.

Best Regards,

Shikhar Jain

Answer 6

Hello Shikhar,

In other words it means that

Creating vsix Package with item template and custom Wizard extension is not possible, isn't it?

Then I don't see any sense in this tool. It works only for some limited cases.

Best Regards,

Vitaliy Korney

Answer 7

Hi Vitaliy,

We can create VSIX with item template and custom Wizard extension. But it can't add dlls to GAC.

Which you can refer to:

http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/dd393694.aspx

If you want the base class library to be added to the project when you add the ItemTemplate to your project. You could use custom wizard to achieve this.

How to: Use Wizards with Project Templates

If you want to use custom wizard, you have to deploy the custom wizard dll in GAC.

Hope these are helpful to you.

Best regards,

Ego

---

Ego [MSFT]
MSDN Community Support | Feedback to us

Answer 8

Hello Ego,

What I expected from VSIX is that I can pack my library with wizard into package and user spend 5 seconds to install it directly from visual studio and add item template afterwards. Now, he will have to use installer, but in this case I don't see any sense to use VSIX, I can do the same things without VSIX as we used to do.

That's why I can conclude that there is no way to make VSIX resolve wizard assembly and VSIX doesn't suite for such tasks. Anyway we will have to use installer.

Best Regards,

Vitaliy Korney