Sending Add-Ins to other users

[Anonymous]

I have modified some Add-in code to create a iProperties dialog that creates custom iProperties for material and painting specs. I was wondering if anybody had any idea how I can roll this program out to other users within my engineering group. Disclaimer: I have zero IT experience and have learned just enough Visual Basic and Visual studio to modify the program. Currently the program works fine on my Inventor 2018. I am able to generate a .exe and .msi file  from VS 2019, but it still doesn't work for other users. Please help!!!!

[bradeneuropeArthur]

I use a set up compiler for it and create an installer.

This exe can be run by the user.

inno setup compiler

Easy to use..

[jjstr8]

What's not working?  Is the installer not putting your DLL in the right location?  I put my add-ins under C:\ProgramData, so I end up having to run a VB script to modify the msi file to add 'EnableUserControl=1' to allow writing to that location.

[bradeneuropeArthur]

I think he is questioning about how to distribute it easily.

You could use a script. Bat file that copies the files everytime by placing this bat file in the startup folder from windows!

This could also be an option!

[alewer]

To add to what other users have said:

When you build your addin, an .addin and .dll file are created. Another user can use the addin by placing a copy of these two files to a folder. Which folder you use depends on what user(s) and Inventor version(s) you want to have the addin. From the API help ("Creating an Inventor Add-In," section "Where to Put Your Files"):

1. All Users, Version Independent
   
   Windows 7/8.1/10 - %ALLUSERSPROFILE%\Autodesk\Inventor Addins\
2. All Users, Version Dependent
   
   Windows 7/8.1/10 - %ALLUSERSPROFILE%\Autodesk\Inventor 20xx\Addins\
3. Per User, Version Dependent
   
   In Window 7/8.1/10 - %APPDATA%\Autodesk\Inventor 20xx\Addins\
4. Per User, Version Independent
   
   In Window 7/8.1/10 - %APPDATA%\Autodesk\ApplicationPlugins

As other users said, you can automate these with a .bat file, by creating an installer, etc. But the basics are that those two files (.dll and .addin) need to be moved to one of these folders.

[jaypieper]

I have attached a PDF file from Autodesk University. Near the end of the PDF Brian Ekins talks about generating a install file. He even links to a Installer program. I have not had the chance to try it but it seems to be well documented. Hopefully this helps.

[bradeneuropeArthur]

For the Inno setup Compiler see this link.

https://www.jrsoftware.org/isinfo.php

And for the Both file:

@echo off
xcopy "COPY FROM PATH DLL" "C:\Program Files\Autodesk\Inventor 20##\Bin\" /y

xcopy "COPY FROM PATH ADDIN" "C:\ProgramData\Autodesk\Inventor 20##\Addins\" /y

Regards,

[jjstr8]

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@bradeneuropeArthur wrote:

I think he is questioning about how to distribute it easily.

You could use a script. Bat file that copies the files everytime by placing this bat file in the startup folder from windows!

This could also be an option!

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I wasn't sure.  Sounded like a problem I had where the installer compiled correctly, but couldn't put the files in the designated folder on someone else's computer due to permissions.  I ended up running a VB script on the msi in my post-build event.