Advanced_Visualizer_Scenarios: How to create a VSIX installer for it this Debugger Visualiser?

[PolarGoose]

The Advanced_Visualizer_Scenarios example shows how to create a Debugger Visualizer.

The Readme file says that the plugin DLL needs to be copied to the C:\Program Files\Microsoft Visual Studio\2022\Community\Common7\Packages\Debugger\Visualizers folder.

Following this example, I managed to create my own Debugger Visualiser.
However, I don't know how to package it into a VSIX installer so that I can publish it on the https://marketplace.visualstudio.com/vs

The problem is that VSIX deploys the binaries to the folder like C:\Program Files\Microsoft Visual Studio\2022\Community\Common7\IDE\VSExtensions\rybgvyx5.mow
I can't find a way how to tell the installer to deploy my dll to the C:\Program Files\Microsoft Visual Studio\2022\Community\Common7\Packages\Debugger\Visualizers

Could you please help me?

[PolarGoose]

I have found another example that shows a workaround:
VSX-Samples.VSIXDebuggerVisualizer
How it works:

• Implementation: VSIX/VSIXPackage.cs Initialize() method
• They create a dummy VS extension that, when loaded, copies the DebuggerVisualizer.dll to the My Documents\<VisualStudioVersion>\Visualizers folder

The problem is that when the extension is removed, the DebuggerVisualizer.dll remains installed.

[rezanid]

The only option I can think of is to create a Windows Installer package (MSI). Using an MSI installer you can add files to different locations and they will be removed when your package is uninstalled. You can read more here:
https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/visualstudio/extensibility/preparing-extensions-for-windows-installer-deployment?view=vs-2022

I wouldn't down that road if I can avoid it though. AFAIK Windows Installer extensions are not supported in VS Marketplace.

[PolarGoose]

@rezanid,

Thank you.
Yes, indeed, it is unfortunate.
I ended up using a new VS Extensibility API that allows the creation of a VSIX package for the debugger visualizer:
https://github.com/PolarGoose/VisualStudio_ExceptionGraphVisualizer_plugin
However, the API is very limited. Especially the GUI part.

[rezanid]

Indeed, but you did a good job there. I am also working on an extension with many moving parts. You might find useful bits there if you take time. It's not super clean though 😁
Https://github.com/rezanid/xrmtools