Outlook Plugin instaler: Upgrade existing installation?

Question

I've written a plugin for Outlook using VSTO and created an installer for it.  Both work just fine.  When I release a new version of the plugin, my clients can install and use it.  However, if they go to the Add/Remove Programs area, they see multiple versions of the plugin, one for each version they installed.

How can I make my installer upgrade an existing installation to the newer version?

Answer 1

Hi,

Would you like to tell me how you publish and deploy your VSTO add-in? General speaking, using ClickOnce would satisfy most situations. By working with ClickOnce you can easily control version upgrading and rolling back, you might have a look at this document:

http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/bb821233(v=office.12).aspx 

And also there is video for this:

http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/office/cc308635 

This is demonstrated by using a Excel document-level solution, but they share the same technology. You can easily transfer this to your Outlook add-in.

Good day,

---

Calvin Gao[MSFT]
MSDN Community Support | Feedback to us

Answer 2

Thanks for the links.  ClickOnce was on my TODO list to investigate.

Currently, I've built an installer that creates an MSI.  I've been distributing that to clients.  Out desktop support group prefers this solution as they can easily push updates to client machines.  But the multiple installed versions may be too big of a nuisance for them to care that much.

Answer 3

In the MSI Properties you need to set

DetectNewerInstalledVersion to True

RemovePreviousVersions to True

Remove all the other instance manually before installing this newly built version

On each build you need to up the Version property and say yes to amending the product code.

Answer 4

http://social.msdn.microsoft.com/Forums/en/vsto/thread/31c3c7e8-6615-4ffe-a672-5ff067e4de4a