Add-ons:
Add-ons extend the Episerver platform by adding functionality within a wide selection of areas.
They are generally developed by Episerver and others are open source, available from the Episerver developer community.
Add-ons in Episerver:
- Google Analytics.
- Marketing Automation.
- Languages.
- Social Reach.
- Self Optimization Block. etc.
Installation:
There are three ways through which we can install the Add-Ons.
- “One-click” installations from inside the Episerver user interface.
- Installing Add-ons via NuGet Packages.
- Manual Upload of Add-ons as Packages.
1. “One-click” installations from inside the Episerver user interface
Initially install options are not visible in the User Interface across Add-ons tab as shown below:
In Order to make the “install” option visible in Episerver user interface, we need to update the InstallationMode to “UI” in Web.config under episerver.packaging node.
<episerver.packaging installationMode=”UI”>
Post the Configuration changes Install button is visible in Add-ons tab and looks as shown below:
2. Installing Add-ons via NuGet Packages
In Order to install Add-ons via NuGet Package change the InstallationMode to “Code” in Web.config under episerver.packaging node.
<episerver.packaging installationMode=”Code”>
Post the Configuration changes in Web.config, We can install Add-ons as NuGet Package through Visual Studio (from Tools->NuGet Package Manager->Package Manager Settings) and add Episerver live feed as PackageSource.
3. Manual Upload of Add-ons as Packages
You can Manually upload the package(assuming that you have already downloaded package) into Episerver by browsing the package and then installing it.
Beta Add-ons:
Beta Add-ons are the pre-release Add-ons whose functionalities can be verified by adding EpiBetaUsers user group(role) to your user.
Note:
The Update tab shows available updates for installed add-ons. When you upgrade an add-on, the old version is uninstalled and the new version is installed. This process also updates related add-ons (dependencies and dependents).
By using any one of the above three ways we can install Add-ons in Episerver . As per my opinion installing Add-ons through Episerver User Interface as is it easy to see updates related to them
