An Example of Creating a New Add-in

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Applies To: System Center 2012 SP1

This topic provides the steps to create a new add-in with Virtual Machine Manager (VMM) for System Center 2012 Service Pack 1 (SP1). This is an example of how to create a new custom action add-in. The first step is to create the manifest.xml file.

Manifest file

The manifest file contains the definition of your add-in that the console will read when the add-in package is installed. The manifest can contain more than a single add-in definition, but for the purposes of this example, we will only create a single add-in definition. For more information about manifest files, see the Manifests topic.

To create the Manifest file

Before you create the manifest file, it might be useful to create a temporary folder in which you can gather all the files that are required to create the add-in package. The following instructions are based on the assumption that you will use a temporary folder. For example purposes, we will use the C:\temp folder.

  1. In the temporary directory, create a new manifest.xml file, and follow the procedure steps in the How to Define a Manifest topic.

  2. Create an entry for your add-in in the manifest file. As you continue to modify the manifest.xml file, follow the procedure steps in the How to Define a Custom Action Add-in in the Manifest topic.

  3. Save the manifest file.

Create the code for a custom action add-in

You can create the code for a custom action add-in by using Microsoft Visual Studio. To code your custom action add-in, see How to Create an Action Add-in. When you compile the add-in code, you should copy the .dll file to the temporary folder that you use to package the add-in.

To package and install the add-in

Gather all required files, the manifest.xml file, the .dll file that contains the add-in code, and any dependent files that are required by the .dll file. These files are added to a .zip file, which will represent the add-in package that is installable by the console.

  1. Create the add-in package. Use the files that you have previously copied to the c:\temp folder. For instructions on how to create a package, see How to Create an Add-in package.

  2. Install the add-in package by using the VMM console. For more information, seeHow to Install or Uninstall an Add-in.

See Also

Getting Started
Using the Add-in Example Project
How to Define a Manifest
How to Define a Custom Action Add-in in the Manifest
How to Create an Action Add-in
How to Create an Add-in package
How to Install or Uninstall an Add-in