Step 5: Package and Deploy the Advanced Code-Based Outlook Solution

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Applies to: SharePoint Server 2010

Microsoft Business Connectivity Services (BCS) provides a public object model on the server to package all the solution artifacts of an advanced code-based Microsoft Outlook solution into a ClickOnce package. This requires coding and can only be executed on the server. To easily and quickly package an advanced code-based Outlook solution, Business Connectivity Services also provides the BCS Solution Packaging Tool, available on MSDN Code Gallery. This tool can be run from a client computer.

The package produced by using the BCS Solution Packaging Tool and the package produced by using the object model are identical and can be deployed on the client as an Outlook add-in. The binary of the add-in is not part of the package, but is provided instead by Business Connectivity Services as part of the managed DLLs currently placed in the global assembly cache at Office setup time.

To package an advanced code-based Outlook solution using the BCS Solution Packaging Tool

  1. Copy all the solution artifacts (the BDC model, the cache subscription, and the solution manifest) to a new folder.

  2. Copy the solution assembly that was created in Step 4: Implement the Advanced Code-Based Outlook Solution into the same folder.

  3. Download the BCS Solution Packaging Tool and copy it to a client computer that has Microsoft .NET Framework 3.5 and Microsoft Office 2010 installed.

  4. Run BCSPackageTool.exe. This displays the BCS Solution Packaging Tool dialog box.

  5. Fill in the required information as specified below, and then click Package to package the solution:

    1. Solution Name   Specify a name for the solution package.

    2. Source Folder Path   Select the folder on the local computer that contains solution artifacts.

    3. Target Folder Path   Select the folder on the local computer that should contain the output files and the Office development tools for Visual Studio package.

    4. Solution Version   Specify a solution version.

    5. Solution Type   Select the Outlook Advanced Code-Based Solution (OIR) option.

    6. Add-In Assembly Name   Specify the path of the add-in assembly that you just built in a previous step.

    7. Add-In Entry Class Name   Select ContosoSalesManagerAddIn.TisAddIn from the drop-down list.

  6. Trigger solution deployment for the packaged solution by clicking Deploy. You can also double-click the Office development tools for Visual Studio package to start the installation.

You have now created and installed an advanced code-based solution in Outlook.