How to create an automatic update for Outlook?

Question

I am creating an outlook addin, and I was wondering if there is any standard way to have the addin update when we release new versions (or at least notify the user of a visit to our site and download / install the latest version)? The naive way I thought of is to simply check our server every time to check for updates and show a message box. Thanks

Answer 1

hey, this is very easy to achieve if you are using vs 2008 (which I think you are) because vs 2008 adds a click after supporting VSTO deployment - check the links below, they should help you achieve this:

1) http://www.codeproject.com/KB/office/Outlook_Add-in.aspx is a combination of msi + click once, so you don’t face security problems with the addition (if it uses the registry and other things that one once once does not allow)

2) http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/cc136646.aspx

3) http://www.outlookcode.com/article.aspx?ID=42