Do you want to install your EA Add-Ins without admin privileges? This article shows you how to make a WIX installer which supports a non-admin installation of your EA Add-In. If you already have a WIX installer, you see how to make just a few changes to install your EA-Addin without admin rights.

You may also check EXPloring EA, Non-admin installation of AddIns and Tutorial, Geert Bellekens: Addin in 10 Minutes.

All here described you can see in the Open Source hoTools (see GITHUB) projects:

• AddInSimpleNoAdminSetup
• Setup

With WIX Toolset for creating your *.msi installer file you can make:

• Simple non-admin installer, per user installation
  • Modify your WIX installation with just a few modifications
  • No admin privileges required
  • No dialogue, just click and eberything runs almost invisible
• GUI for per-user (no admin required) or per-machine installation
  • Make your WIX Installation with GUI where you can choose
    • per-user (no admin required)
    • per-machine

Backgound:

A per-user installation doesn't need any admin privileges. If you want to install your EA Add-In as per-machine installation this is only possible with local admin privileges.

The Microsoft Installer , Single Package Authoring, can install per-user without admin privileges. No admin install needs some precautions:

• Install in 'LocalAppDataFolder'
• Register Add-In in 'HKMU'
• Register the DLLs in 'HKCR'
• Say the installer you want per-user with limited privileges
  • InstallScope='perUser'
  • InstallPrivileges='limited'

Make it easy:

Here you find a lot of explanations. Usually you:

• Adapt Product.wxs with a few information Product.wxs
• Add your components/ files to your file.wxs
• Add your default install folder to directories.wxs
• Don't touch (just takeover or don't use, only used for GUI solution, Single Authoring Package)
  • GUI in WixUI_Advanced.wxs
  • Localization.wxl

The whole Article 'Add-In without Admin privileges'. There you find:

• Details
• Backgroundinformations
• Examples
• Tips
• A lot of links

I appreciate your feedback, your improvements and your experiences. With pleasure I integrate your suggestions.

Thanks a lot,

Helmut