如何使用C＃VSTO在PowerPoint中单击自定义按钮上的msi包来打开帮助文件pdf

Question

I have created a .msi installer file for my PowerPoint add-in developed using C# VSTO. I have to open a help file pdf on ribbon button click. I have embedded the help file pdf with the msi package.

I have implemented this feature by using a hard-coded path(the default path where the add-in will get installed) using below code:

private void btnHelp_Click(object sender, RibbonControlEventArgs e)
        {
            string filepath = @"C:\Program Files (x86)\Microsoft\Office\PowerPoint\AddIns\myAddin\HelpFile.pdf";
            string locationToSavePdf = Path.Combine(Path.GetTempPath(), filepath);      
            Process.Start(locationToSavePdf);
        }

But I know that this won't work as soon as the end-user changes the location where she/he wants to install the add-in. Can any one help me with this so that I can get the path of the help file pdf dynamically(As soon as the user changes the location) or is there any other approach?

Any help/suggestion is appreciated. Thanks.

Answer 1

You can get the location of the currently executing assembly folder with the following commands:

var assemblyInfo = Assembly.GetExecutingAssembly();
var uriCodeBase = new Uri(assemblyInfo.CodeBase);
var helpFileLocation = Path.GetDirectoryName(uriCodeBase.LocalPath) + @"\HelpFile.pdf";
Process.Start(helpFileLocation );

Answer 2

If you are building an MSI file and want to save the final destination folder you can create a registry item to store the value. Assuming that the property name for that location is INSTALLDIR, you'd create a registry key something like this:

RegistryKey Id="MySetupRegKey" Root="HKLM" Key="Software\\MyLocation" Action="createAndRemoveOnUninstall"

RegistryValue Id="MySetupRegValue" Type="string" Name="InstallDir" Value="[INSTALLDIR]" /RegistryKey>

and I've omitted the angle brackets because I haven't figured out how to post them properly :)

But then you can read that location.