Deployed Sharepoint 2010 WebPart, but where is it?

Question

Followed the steps in the answer to this question: How to deploy custom webpart from one server to another in sharepoint 2010

It all seemed to work ok, but now what do I do? If I 'edit' the home page of the sharepoint site and click "Add Web PArt", I don't see it in the list.

I am a complete newbie when it comes to Sharepoint, so simple steps would be appreciated.

Cheers.

Answer 1

The Web Part definition files have to be in the Web Part Gallery in order to be available in the "Add Web Part List".

You can create a SharePoint site feature to deploy the definition files in this library:

feature.xml:

<?xml version="1.0" encoding="utf-8" ?>
<Feature
    xmlns="http://schemas.microsoft.com/sharepoint/"
    Id="DFD20610-C329-45E0-B037-8E6FC0A684AB"
    Title="Web Part Feature"
    Scope="Site"
    >

    <ElementManifests>
        <ElementManifest Location="Elements.xml" />
        <ElementFile Location="TheWebPart.dwp" />
    </ElementManifests>
</Feature>

Elements.xml:

<?xml version="1.0" encoding="utf-8"?>
<Elements xmlns="http://schemas.microsoft.com/sharepoint/">
    <Module Name="WebPartPopulation" Url="_catalogs/wp" RootWebOnly="TRUE">
        <File Path="TheWebPart.dwp" Url="TheWebPart.dwp" Type="GhostableInLibrary" IgnoreIfAlreadyExists="TRUE">
            <Property Name="Group" Value="Custom" />
        </File>
    </Module>
</Elements>