Distribute the Add-in using sideloading for Windows

The preferred way of distribution is using the admin center see "Distribute an Add-in using the Office 365 admin center". If this is not possible, use this approach of sideloading.

Before you Start

Make sure that you have received the Aligned Elements Word Add-In Manifest xml file from your Aligned representative.

Also make sure that all Word instances are closed on the machine before you start.

Create a location for the manifest file

Create a common file location on your network i.e. a shared network location that can be reached by a UNC path starting with \\.

Note! This means a network location in your network or on your computer. Not a location in the cloud, or Dropbox, or on Sharepoint etc.

If you are unsure about how to create a shared network location, see the end of this document for instructions.

For more information: see reference: https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/office/dev/add-ins/testing/create-a-network-shared-folder-catalog-for-task-pane-and-content-add-ins

Copy the xml-manifest to a common file location on your network.

Perform the Deployment

1. Open Ms Word, File=>Options=>Trust Center, click on Trust Center Settings…

2. Add the manifest file location/path to the trusted Add-in Catalogs by adding the path to the manifest location as an UCN path (starting with \\) to the Catalog URL text box and click Add catalog.

Note that you shall enter the path to the folder in which the manifest resides, not the part of the manifest file itself.

4. Open the developer Tab (or search for add-in)

5. Go to Shared Folder, select the Add-in and click Add:

How to create a shared network location

In this example we will create a shared network location on a personal computer using Windows.

Windows 10 file sharing using basic settings

To share files on a local network using the express settings, use these steps:

1) Open File Explorer in Windows.

2) Navigate to the folder you want to share.

3) Right-click on the folder, and select the Properties option in the context menu.

4) Select the Sharing tab and click the Share… button

5) Use the drop-down menu to select the user or group to share a file or folder. (In this example the Everyone group was selected.)

6) Click the Add button.

7) Under the “Permission Level” section, select the sharing permissions Read.

8) Click the Share button.

9) Confirm the folder’s network path that other users need to access the network’s content and click the Done button. Then click the Close button.

The path to the shared location is displayed under the folder name and starts with “\\....”