I've written a Word VSTO add-in that I would like to give to some colleagues and friends. I originally wanted to use ClickOnce for deployment because it's easy to set up for me and also very easy to install. The deployment of my add-in works fine on Windows 7, but I have some trouble with Windows 8/8.1. The SmartScreen filter complains about my add-in and completely prevents the installation. Here I've found out that the problem is that I haven't signed the add-in with a real certificate. The only solution seems to be to make the user "install the test certificate in the Trusted Publishers store" (which they strongly advise against) or to get a certificate from an authority, which is not an option for me as I'm only a hobby developer and don't want to pay hundreds of dollars/euros a year for a certificate.
So, is there any other way of deploying the add-in without a certificate? Could I use another installer that doesn't require a certificate? Or will the SmartScreen filter always block all attempts to install a VSTO add-in that is not signed with a "real" certificate, regardless of the installer?
I'm really a bit annoyed about Microsoft in this respect - Why are they making it so difficult for small and independent developers to deploy their application to their users?
Any help would be really appreciated!
sr258
The certificate is required for security reasons. Instead of purchasing a certificate from a trusted vendor you can adjust the security settings on the PC (at least turn off the Smart Filter) and use a test certificate. See Granting Trust to Office Solutions.
The Deploying an Office Solution section in MSDN describes all the required steps for depolying Office add-ins. You also may consider using an MSI installer instead (InstallShield, WiX and etc.).