How to test-deploy and distribute an extension?

[Jens Troeger]

I’ve built my own extension for InDesign CC, and now would like to:

• Test-deploy it locally, to play through customer scenarios.
• Email the signed extension’s .zxp file to beta-testers for them to try it out.
• Distribute the public release the extension... at Adobe Add-Ons?

However, I am running into (well-known?) problems around the Extension Manager CC, as I have outlined in this thread. Any help and suggestions would be very much appreciated...

Thanks!

[Loic.Aigon · Accepted solution]

Extension Manager is a no-go. Its support stopped with CC (2014 for what I remember but might be wrong with the date).

In any cases, you can't rely on this product unless you are still doing Flex based extensions fro CS5 to CS6 users.

Addons should be your favorite way of distribution but if you want to master the distribution by yourself, you have to have your users use the ExtensionManager CommandLine tool :

Adobe Exchange

Or to create your own installer. I guess the Extension Builder forum will be more helpful on that matter.

[Jens Troeger]

Thank you, Loic.Aigon​!

... have your users use the ExtensionManager CommandLine tool : Adobe Exchange

I have tried out the ExMan command line tool and it seems to work. What do you think of other tools like ZXPInstaller or Anastasiy’s Extension Manager?

Not sure I want to “ship” with my own installer, considering that the only file being copied is the actual .zxp file. Bummer that Adobe seems to have abandoned their own extension manager.

[Loic.Aigon]

What do you think of other tools like ZXPInstaller or Anastasiy’s Extension Manager?

Not tested.

Bummer that Adobe seems to have abandoned their own extension manager.

Teasing spirits would say it was a Macromedia product at first

But yes Extension Manager came handy.

[Trevor:]

I've used the ZXPInstalled without issue, but not very much.