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Install Author Online when the office store is unavailable

Deploy Author Online via shared folder

The Author Online add-in can be installed through the shared folder option. This section outlines the process of deploying Author Online without the office store by placing its manifest file in a shared network folder, configuring Word’s Trusted Add-in catalogs to reference that folder, and directing users to install the add-in from the shared folder tab.
To download manifest file, click here. This file contains the necessary metadata for Office applications to recognise and enable the add-in.
Part 1: Upload the manifest file via network path
  1. Create a folder named
    “manifest”
     in your
    Downloads
     folder.
  2. Place the downloaded
    manifest.xml
     file into the newly created folder.
  3. Right-click the
    manifest
     folder and select
    Properties
     from the context menu.
    Right click on the manifest folder to access properties.
  4. Go to the
    Sharing
     tab in the folder's Properties window, then click
    Share
    .
    Sharing tab in the folder properties.
  5. In the sharing window:
    • Select the row that displays your username.
      Select the account with your user name.
    • Click the
      Share
       button at the bottom of the window.
      Share button.
  6. In the confirmation pop-up, click
    Done
    to complete the process.
    note
    Once shared, the
    manifest.xml
     file will be accessible via a
    network path
    , typically shown as a
    UNC (Universal Naming Convention) path
    , for example, \\ComputerName\manifest. Make sure to
    copy and save this path
     for easy access later in the deployment process.
    Network path in the sharing tab.
Part 2: Add the add-in to the Word document
  1. Open the
    Word document
    .
  2. Navigate to
    File > More > Options
    .
    More options in the Microsoft file.
  3. Go to
    Trust Center
     and click
    Trust Center Settings
    .
    Trust Center settings in the Trust Center option in the file properties,
  4. Select
    Trusted Add-in Catalogs
    .
    Trusted Add-in Catalogs option in Microsoft Trust Center option.
  5. In the
    Catalog URL
     field, enter the
    UNC path
     copied earlier (for example: \\ComputerName\manifest).
  6. Click
    Add catalog
    .
  7. Check the box for
    Show in Menu
     and click
    OK
     to close all tabs.
    Enabling "Show in Menu" option in the Trusted Add-in Catalogs.
  8. Restart your computer to apply the changes.
  9. Open Word and click the
    Add-ins
     button from the toolbar.
    Add-ins button in Microsoft Word.
    note
    If the ribbon is hidden or collapsed:
    • Click the icon in the top-right corner labelled
      “Ribbon Display Options”
      .
    • Select
      “Always show Ribbon”
      .
    Show Ribbon option in Word.
  10. Click
    More Add-ins
     and go to the
    Shared Folder
     tab.
    More Add-ins option.
  11. Choose the available
    Contract Express
     add-in from the shared folder tab and click
    Add
     .
    Contract Express add-in in the Office Add-ins option.
  12. You should now see the
    Contract Express
     icon on the ribbon.
    Contract Express add-in on the home page.
  13. Click the icon to open the Contract Express task pane.
    Contract Express task pane to further access the add-in.
For more comprehensive instruction, see Microsoft’s help article on Sideloading Office Add-ins on Windows from a network share.

Common Issues and Fixes

1) I don't see the Shared Folder tab.
Confirm that you checked 'Show in Menu' when adding the catalog and verify that the UNC path points to the folder (not the XML file inside it).
2) Can’t share a folder or missing the Sharing tab?
Open Advanced sharing settings and enable the
File and printer sharing
 option.
File and printer sharing option in word advanced settings.
If you don't have permissions to change this setting, contact your IT support team to grant share and read permissions.

Support

If you encounter issues or require further assistance, contact your IT administrator, or reach out to Author Online support for help with your deployment.

This article applies to:

  • PRODUCT: Contract Express

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