Installation of EPiServer components

imageIn a larger organization it can be cumbersome to explain for the editors how to install the EPiServer ActiveX controls that provides you with some extended functionality.

Security restrictions can also be a problem for ActiveX controls. So why bother? Well you will miss the following functionality:

  • Spell checker, Microsoft Office Support
    A component that enables the Editor to use Microsoft Word spell checker.
  • Export to Excel, Microsoft Office Support
    A component that can export xForms data to Microsoft Excel.
  • Advanced File Upload
    A component that enables support for advanced file upload, for example drag-and-drop and multiple file upload.

Installation from your Browser

imageClick the Install-button on the Components tab on the Root/Welcome-page to install manually.

Automate installation or workaround security problems

Extract the DLL files inside the cab file to the client computer:
\<UI folder>\activex\episerverclientcomponents.cab

Run the following command to install:
regsvr32.exe EPiFileUpload.dll
regsvr32.exe EPiOfficeIntegration.dll

Creating a script or small msi package that automates the installation is not very complicated and saves the editors the task to install this themselves. Remember that Advanced File Upload will also require a permission for function to be setup in admin mode.

EPiServer Office Integration

You can use episerverofficeaddin.msi, in the same folder, to get the Office Integration installed. I have had problem with upgrading so I always uninstall existing version first and then reinstall the latest version.

This tool can be very powerful if used right. Read the Tech Note on Microsoft Office Integration before you try to use it. It will require changes to web.config  before you can test it.

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  1. Diego’s avatar

    Hello again Fredrik,

    as allways a great article, im having problems with the add in. It seems to install correctly and I get the add in on word. I also see the sites I activated it for but when I click on them i don’t seem to be able to log in to them. I have put the access rights for the functions and uncommented the web.config part for the add in. I also have the right authentication method is IIS (removed the basic authentication in IIS).Also I have the site in the trusted sites in IE.
    The message I get is the following:
    Failed to contact EPiServer CMS, make sure the URL is valid and you are authorized to perform this action.[200]

    I see all the sites in the add in so it must be able to communicate whit them…
    any help would be apreciated. I have a new instalation of episerver CMS 5 R2
    cheers
    Diego

    Reply

    1. Fredrik Haglund’s avatar

      Diego, did you changed web.config to allow anonymous access to office integration web service according to the setup instructions?

      http://world.episerver.com/en/Documentation/Items/Tech-Notes/EPiServer-CMS-5/EPiServer-CMS-5-R2-SP1/Microsoft-Office-Integration/

      Reply

  2. Diego’s avatar

    Hi Fredrik,

    Yes I did allow anonymous acces according to these lines:

    Reply

  3. Diego’s avatar

    hi Fredrik,

    My lines wherent concidered in yout form, will try again…

    cheers Diego

    Reply

  4. Diego’s avatar

    hmm, cant put in web config coe but yes I enabled the office integration and allowed users *

    //Diego

    Reply

  5. Steve Woodford’s avatar

    We are deploying the Episerver components as described above by manually registering the .dll files in the registry via a script file. The problem is that staff in our organisation do not have admin rights to their PC’s so these need to be registered by logging on as an administrator first. However it appears that these components need registering per user so this does not work. What we have been doing is temporarily giving the user admin rights on their account, installing the components and then revoking the access rights which is very cumbersome! Is there a work around to this? Is it possible to register the components for all users of a PC and not just the user currently logged on?

    Reply

  6. per-erik’s avatar

    I cannot install EPiServer CMS Client Components (using Ver 5), and obviously is missing something in IE7 or Vista. Even setting security level to minimum does not help. The result when I try is just a broken image window, see here: http://www.webkommunikasjon.no/Episerver-Install-Components-Problem.wmv
    I have reinstalled Office 2007, but all the IE7 versions I have found says I must have XP when trying to reinstall. It used to work before I did some spring cleaning up on my computer. The Episerver partner in Norway are not able to help…

    Reply

    1. Fredrik Haglund’s avatar

      The Client Components are not the same thing as the Office Add-in. Keep the two problems separate.

      You install the office add-in with an installation program on your computer and it integrates into Office (as a publish button in word). What you see as “activated” in the beginning of you video is only information that this EPiServer site has stored its address locally so the Office-plugin knows where to publish.

      The Client components are “Active X”-components that can be installed and executed from the web to get multiple files upload, spell checking and export to excel support in your browser.

      There are several things that can block installation of Active X controls since they in most cases are very dangerous. You can have an anti-virus system that prohibits this. It can be policy settings the domain administrator has done for the whole network. It can be the default security in IE that prevents installation. You might not have the administrative rights to install stuff on your computer. A lot of things that can be the cause…

      I do not know if you are an administrator or not but you need to go through your partner that can create a support case for this at EPiServer.

      Reply

  7. per-erik’s avatar

    Thanks a bunch, Fredrik. I will investigate more. (Yes I am administrator.)

    Reply

  8. majid’s avatar

    Hi Fredrik,
    i’m getting this error :
    Invocation of webservice failed: http://mysite/mysiteui/OfficeIntegration/WebServices/PageService.asmx

    Failed to contact EPiServer CMS, make sure the URL is valid and you are authorized to perform this action.
    Also do u know how to trace into EPiServer.Word.wsc ?
    Thanks

    Reply

    1. Fredrik Haglund’s avatar

      Hi Majid!

      Start by checking that you have changed authorization in web.config to allow anonymous calls into OfficeIntegration folder. This section is usually commented out of security reasons.

      Next step is to ensure that you have the correct Permissions for functions in admin mide so you are allowed to use the office integration. You should also read the Tech Note on EPiServer World for more information.

      Reply