api to make installer and install to revit

[markjvlampad]

recently I finish my encoding using VS2013 and Revit 2016. now I want to deploy(create installer) how can I do that? 

some mention to use WIX and Innosetup, also in some blog they mention to use oneclick to make the installer.

I agree with those because I manage to create one installer. but the problem after I install the add in, nothing is happen.

so what I did, I copy the add in file to revit correct location and make sure that I got correct path to reference my .dll.

what happen next, revit is now recognizing my add in. it displays correct name in Ribbon. but the panel didn't display anything(totally blank).

I'm not sure what exactly I missed out. can somebody give me a hint which areas in VS I need to check? or is there a blog I can read how to correctly deploy a revit add in.

cheers,

Mark

[jeremytammik]

Dear Mark,

The Revit API getting started material includes all the information you require:

http://thebuildingcoder.typepad.com/blog/about-the-author.html#2

For a comprehensive and complete summary of the relevant information, you can also simply read the developer guide section on add-in installation:

http://help.autodesk.com/view/RVT/2018/ENU/?guid=GUID-4BE74935-A15C-4536-BD9C-7778766CE392

For a very complete and professional working sample single-click setup, you might want to check out the RevitPythonShell:

https://github.com/architecture-building-systems/revitpythonshell

Cheers,

Jeremy

[MarryTookMyCoffe · Accepted solution]

if panel is empty it mean that you forget to add button to it.
here is a link to a best explanation how add buttons:
http://archi-lab.net/create-your-own-tab-and-buttons-in-revit/

[jeremytammik]

Dear MarryTookMyCoffe,

Thank you for your succinct and precise answer, and also for pointing out the archi+lab blog.

I promoted both to a notice on The Building Coder to raise awareness for this:

http://thebuildingcoder.typepad.com/blog/2017/12/pipe-fitting-k-factor-archilab-and-installer.html#6

Cheers,

Jeremy

[BKSpurgeon]

I am developing a "hello world" Revit API dll. 

I want to make this dll work on someone else's computer. My understanding is that a ClickOnce or MSI installer can be used to "install the dll" or "install the plugin".

Was seeking a pointer, because it seems a lot harder than it should be - my understanding of installation/deployment is that the dll + manifest file should be dumped in a certain specific path(s) on a user's computer based on what i read in the developer docs.

• I looked in the Developer 2025 Guide but I could not find clear instructions on creating a one click installer (or MSI).
• Python shell was suggested -  https://github.com/architecture-building-systems/revitpythonshell.   - 

  - but I am a little lost as how I can use that to create the installer?

Any pointers would be much appreciated. Chrs!

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@jeremytammik wrote:

Dear Mark,

The Revit API getting started material includes all the information you require:

http://thebuildingcoder.typepad.com/blog/about-the-author.html#2

For a comprehensive and complete summary of the relevant information, you can also simply read the developer guide section on add-in installation:

http://help.autodesk.com/view/RVT/2018/ENU/?guid=GUID-4BE74935-A15C-4536-BD9C-7778766CE392

For a very complete and professional working sample single-click setup, you might want to check out the RevitPythonShell:

https://github.com/architecture-building-systems/revitpythonshell

Cheers,

Jeremy

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[jeremy_tammik]

Nowadays, afaik, you can implement continuous integration CI on GitHub to build your installation DLL and installer MSI right there and then every time a new release is defined. Then the users can simply click on the GitHub release assets to install on their local machine, c.f., the RevitLookup releases:

• https://github.com/jeremytammik/RevitLookup/releases