VSTA and Packaging

Packaging is used by Office 2007 documents including the "docx", "docm", "xlsx", and "xlsm" file types.  In this sample, the VSTA add-in project source code and compiled assembly are packaged into the single file document which can be transferred (ex:  e-mailed) and opened by another user who through the single file will have access to the document, compiled add-in and source code- similar to an Office document with a VBA macro project included.

This sample is document-centric, so the add-in is intended only for use with the document it is packaged within.  Based on the ShapeAppDynamicProgrammingModelCSharp SDK sample, this sample extends the existing packaging file format of the SDK samples to include the VSTA add-in associated with the document.  Benefits of packaging document specific VSTA add-ins within documents include ease of deployment and an intuitive end user experience. 

Link to Sample

MSDN:  Add-in Debugging

MSDN:  DPM Walkthrough