How do I create an install for a custom SolidWorks addin?

I created an addin using Visual Studio 2005. How do I create an
install so all users will have the addin added to SolidWorks and have
the addin enabled by default?

 

Official answer is too long to give here.
Quick answer:
Create a simple text file called Register.reg containing the following
text:

Windows Registry Editor Version 5.00

[HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Solidworks\AddInsStartup\{GUID of your
application}]
@=dword:00000001

[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\SolidWorks\Addins\{GUID of your
application}]
@=dword:00000000
"Description"="Addin description"
"Title"="Addin Title"



Now create a simple text file called Register.bat in the same folder
as the addin dll. Add the following line:
C:\WINDOWS\Microsoft.NET\Framework\v2.0.50727\regasm /codebase
addindllname.dll


On each client, double click those 2 files to install the addin.

 

Usually I generate the text for registry entries by drag-dropping the
addin DLL into SW and then copy-paste the resulting entries from the
registry (using Regedit). Don't forget to uninstall and unregister
the DLL afterward.

 

I use InnoSetup to create installers for my products. I have listed
the Code section of the installer script of one of my products, a 3DS
file import add-in for SolidWorks. Replace the GUID with that of your
add-in. 'strFileName' is the name of your add-in DLL.

RegWriteStringValue(HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE, 'SOFTWARE\SolidWorks
\Applications\3DS Import for SolidWorks 2007', 'CLSID',
'{553dc0fe-8b50-4a9b-93ab-009ea92d395e}');
RegWriteStringValue(HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT, 'CLSID
\{553dc0fe-8b50-4a9b-93ab-009ea92d395e}', '', '3D Studio 3DS file
import add-in for SolidWorks developed by SYCODE (www.sycode.com)');
RegWriteStringValue(HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT, 'CLSID
\{553dc0fe-8b50-4a9b-93ab-009ea92d395e}\InProcServer32', '',
ExpandConstant('{app}') + '\' + strFileName);

The above works for add-ins developed in VC 6.0 for SolidWorks 2007
and earlier. For add-ins developed in VC 2005 for SolidWorks 2008, I
simply add the "regserver" flag on the add-in DLL in the installer
script and let the installer register the DLL on the target computer.
This helps because the uninstaller unregisters the add-in
automatically.

InnoSetup (www.innosetup.com) is an excellent piece of freeware and I
use it to create installers for all my products, 101 of them. Its very
robust, flexible and ends up making really small installer EXE files.
Highly recommended.

Hope this helps.

Deelip Menezes
www.deelip.com