Author Topic: Add-In install without admin privileges (Read 6650 times)

Xi · « **on:** August 19, 2020, 02:48:14 am »

We need admin-rights to install and change addins.

So I was looking for solutions, something like a bridge, I install once and routes to the actual assembly. And I found several: https://community.sparxsystems.com/community-resources/1123-add-in-without-admin-privileges (1), https://www.sparxsystems.com/forums/smf/index.php/topic,39511.0.html (2), https://www.nuget.org/packages/EA.Gen.Addin/ (3) and exploringea (4).

All of them seem to be “under development”.
(1): not sure about that.
(2): does not seem to exist, maybe.
(3): sounds promising, but do not understand how to use it.
(4): does not seem to exist anymore.

Can somebody recommend a solution?

Sunshine · « **Reply #1 on:** August 19, 2020, 10:59:47 am »

Sparx introduced the concept of JavaScript Add-ins recently for such a purpose. Providing you can do what you need in JavaScript then you should be good to go with that option. The one limitation we found is if you need a multi-field dialog for user input. Couldn't see a way of doing that in JavaScript. See page 487 of automation manual
https://sparxsystems.com/resources/user-guides/15.1/automation/automation.pdf

Interesting I came across another manual for V15.2 when looking up the manual. So here is an insight on what is to come once V15.2 is released.
https://sparxsystems.com/resources/user-guides/15.2/automation/automation.pdf
V15.2 is currently in Beta

Xi · « **Reply #2 on:** August 19, 2020, 03:00:53 pm »

Quote from: Sunshine on August 19, 2020, 10:59:47 am

Sparx introduced the concept of JavaScript Add-ins recently for such a purpose. Providing you can do what you need in JavaScript then you should be good to go with that option. The one limitation we found is if you need a multi-field dialog for user input. Couldn't see a way of doing that in JavaScript. See page 487 of automation manual
https://sparxsystems.com/resources/user-guides/15.1/automation/automation.pdf

Interesting I came across another manual for V15.2 when looking up the manual. So here is an insight on what is to come once V15.2 is released.
https://sparxsystems.com/resources/user-guides/15.2/automation/automation.pdf
V15.2 is currently in Beta

Many thanks. I should have mentioned that we are using C# and that we do not want / cannot change that.

Geert Bellekens · « **Reply #3 on:** August 19, 2020, 03:11:20 pm »

You actually can.
The trick is to register everything in the user registry section, and not the machine one (the latter is why you need admin access)

I once experimented with this for a add-in manager add-in (and add-in that dynamically loads other add-ins)
I never really finished it, but it did work without needing admin access.

See here for the code where the magic happens: https://github.com/GeertBellekens/Enterprise-Architect-Add-in-Framework/blob/master/EAAddinFramework/EASpecific/EAAddin.cs

Geert

Xi · « **Reply #4 on:** August 20, 2020, 12:34:20 am »

Thank you. I did not know. I will try this.

Uffe · « **Reply #5 on:** August 20, 2020, 05:20:38 am »

Hello Xi,

If in your first post you were referring to the Visual Studio extension I mentioned in the thread you linked to, I am working on it again and am planning to release it a little later this year.

Non-admin installation is not a feature I have implemented, but I may do so if there is sufficient interest.
EDIT 20-09-27: I have now implemented this feature.

/Uffe

Sunshine · « **Reply #6 on:** August 20, 2020, 03:05:42 pm »

Quote from: Uffe on August 20, 2020, 05:20:38 am

... were referring to the Visual Studio extension I mentioned in the thread you linked to, I am working on it again and am planning to release it a little later this year.

Non-admin installation is not a feature I have implemented, but I may do so if there is sufficient interest.

I think a few folk out there would be interested as a lot of organisations lock down windows to stop people installing things.
I'd be interested in that feature.

Sunshine · « **Reply #7 on:** August 20, 2020, 03:10:40 pm »

Quote from: Xi on August 19, 2020, 03:00:53 pm

Many thanks. I should have mentioned that we are using C# and that we do not want / cannot change that.

Fair enough C# is more powerful and in my mind a much better language than JavaScript.
As Geert and Uffe have mentioned there may be ways of "installing" without admin rights. Not looked into that yet myself.
So I'd be interested in finding out more on installing without admin too.

Xi · « **Reply #8 on:** August 21, 2020, 12:22:57 am »

Does anybody know, use and can share experiences with EA.Gen.Addin?

Guillaume · « **Reply #9 on:** August 25, 2020, 10:16:32 pm »

Hi,

I'm using a Wix project similar to the one shared by Helmut on the Community article you mentioned (https://community.sparxsystems.com/community-resources/1123-add-in-without-admin-privileges).
It's a bit tricky to get into, but it works fine once it's done.

Guillaume

OpenIT Solutions · « **Reply #10 on:** August 27, 2020, 05:43:23 pm »

Hi,

We have been using the https://www.nuget.org/packages/EA.Gen.Addin/ option for a couple of years now. Works great. Easy / flexible configuration.

Regards,

Jon.

Uffe · « **Reply #11 on:** September 27, 2020, 07:25:23 pm »

Hello again,

Just an update regarding my upcoming Visual Studio extension for EA Add-Ins: I believe I have now solved the problem of non-admin installation in a way that can be smoothly integrated into Studio.

This means you will be able to build non-admin installers using this solution.

You will also be able to debug your Add-In without admin privileges, and without breaking your normal Studio workflow: just hit F5 and you're away. Right out of the box.

/Uffe

Xi · « **Reply #12 on:** October 02, 2020, 04:45:35 am »

Quote from: Uffe on September 27, 2020, 07:25:23 pm

Just an update regarding my upcoming Visual Studio extension for EA Add-Ins: I believe I have now solved the problem of non-admin installation in a way that can be smoothly integrated into Studio.
This means you will be able to build non-admin installers using this solution.
You will also be able to debug your Add-In without admin privileges, and without breaking your normal Studio workflow: just hit F5 and you're away. Right out of the box.
/Uffe

When will it be available, where and how?

Uffe · « **Reply #13 on:** October 03, 2020, 06:13:58 pm »

Hello Xi,

Quote from: Xi on October 02, 2020, 04:45:35 am

When will it be available, where and how?

It will be on the Visual Studio Marketplace, accessible from within Visual Studio in the usual manner.

As to when, I'm afraid I can't give you an exact date. My main client requested an eleventh-hour extension to my contract, so I'm consulting full time for another month.
But tentatively, second half of November.

/Uffe

Viking · « **Reply #14 on:** May 10, 2024, 06:56:49 pm »

Quote from: Uffe on October 03, 2020, 06:13:58 pm

Hello Xi,
It will be on the Visual Studio Marketplace, accessible from within Visual Studio in the usual manner.
As to when, I'm afraid I can't give you an exact date. My main client requested an eleventh-hour extension to my contract, so I'm consulting full time for another month.
But tentatively, second half of November.
/Uffe

Is there a link?

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