Creating installation packages for modules

The system allows you to transfer custom modules to other instances of Kentico using NuGet packages.

When creating modules that you wish to deploy as installation packages, you need to take additional steps during the development process. The module must be represented by a separate web application project inside the Kentico solution. Based on conventions, the installation package automatically includes files from specific folders and database objects related to the module.

The module project only exists on the Kentico instance that you use to develop the module. When you install the module on a different instance, all code (including code behinds of web forms and controls) is compiled inside the module DLL, and other files are integrated into the main Kentico project. Installation of modules is supported for both web application and web site type projects.

Module packages do not include any data stored in module classes. If you wish to provide default data along with your module, you can prepare additional export packages containing the data or an SQL script that creates the required data after the installation of the module.

To create an installation package for a custom module, you need to:

1. Create a separate project for the module in the Kentico solution
2. Develop the module (see Example - Creating a packageable module for an example)
3. Make sure the installation package includes database objects related to the module
4. Optional steps:
   • Add additional libraries to the module installation package
   • Configure the module’s custom settings
   • Prepare additional SQL scripts for the module installation
5. Create the module installation package

Creating the module project

Before you can develop a module that supports the creation of installation packages, you need to prepare a web application project and include this project in the Kentico solution.

The following steps are necessary to maintain the proper folder structure within the Kentico solution:

1. Create the project
2. Copy the project files to the Kentico solution
3. Include the project in the Kentico solution

Creating the project

1. Open Visual Studio and create a new web application project.
   • Important: The project name must match the module’s code name.
   • Select the ASP.NET Empty Web Application project template (in Visual Studio 2013, available in the Visual C# -> Web -> Visual Studio 2012 template category).
2. Delete the project’s Web.config file.
3. In the project’s Properties folder, rename the AssemblyInfo.cs file to <project name>AssemblyInfo.cs.
4. Save the project.

Copying the project files to the Kentico solution

1. Open the project’s folder on your file system.

2. Edit the <project name>.csproj file and make sure the content reflects the change in the name of the AssemblyInfo.cs file.

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    <Compile Include="Properties\<project name>AssemblyInfo.cs" />
   
   
    

3. Copy the <project name>.csproj file to the CMS folder of your Kentico web project.

4. Copy <project name>AssemblyInfo.cs from the project’s Properties directory to the CMS\Properties folder of your Kentico web project.

Including the project in the Kentico solution

1. Open your Kentico solution in Visual Studio (using the WebApp.sln file).

2. Add your custom module project to the Kentico solution:

   1. In the Solution Explorer, right-click the solution.
   2. Click Add -> Existing Project…
   3. Select the <project name>.csproj file in the project’s CMS folder.

3. Add the required references to your custom module project:

   1. Right-click the project and select Add -> Reference.
   2. Open the Browse tab of the Reference manager dialog, click Browse and navigate to the Lib folder of your Kentico web project.
   3. Add a reference to the CMS.Core.dll library (and any others that you require for custom code).

4. Expand the Properties folder of the module project and edit <project name>AssemblyInfo.cs.

5. Add the AssemblyDiscoverable assembly attribute:

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    using CMS;
   
    [assembly:AssemblyDiscoverable]
   
   
    

6. Save the solution and all files.

The Kentico solution now contains a web application project representing your custom module. You can start developing the module. After you compile the module code into an assembly (i.e. build the project), the system automatically includes the resulting DLL when you create an installation package for the module.

The additional project only exists on the Kentico instance that you use to develop the module. When you install the module on a different instance, all code is already compiled inside the module’s DLL and other files are integrated into the main Kentico project.

Including database objects in the package

When creating module installation packages, the system automatically includes the following database objects that are directly related to the given module:

• Classes
• Permissions
• UI elements
• Setting categories and groups, including all contained setting keys

By following the naming conventions, you can also create Web parts and Form controls that the system includes in the module’s installation packages.

Adding additional libraries to the package

The system cannot automatically identify all dynamic link libraries (DLLs) required by your custom module. If your module uses third-party or custom libraries, you need to assign these libraries to the module before creating the installation package.

1. Open the Modules application and Edit () your custom module.

2. Switch to the Additional libraries tab.

3. Assign any number of libraries from the project’s bin folder:

   1. Click Add library.
   2. Select the library that you wish to include in the module’s installation package.
   3. Click Select.

When you create the module installation package, the package also contains the selected libraries.

Note: Do NOT assign DLLs that are part of the default Kentico project as additional libraries of module packages. This includes any DLL files in the CMS\bin or CMS\CMSDependencies folders of unmodified Kentico projects. Adding these libraries may cause the system to work incorrectly after installing the custom module package.

Configuring custom module settings

If you have defined custom settings for the module, we recommend configuring the default values of the settings before you create the installation package. Open the Settings application and set the desired (global) values for the module’s settings.

The setting values configured on the development instance are used by default when the module is installed on other instances of Kentico.

Preparing additional SQL scripts for the installation

Installation packages cannot automatically transfer certain types of database components, such as indexes and views. If you wish to deliver such components with the module, you need to manually prepare SQL scripts that create the required database objects.

Add the script files into the development project’s ~/App_Data/CMSModules/<module code name>/Install/ folder (create the folder if necessary). The script files must be named either before.sql or after.sql (intended to run before or after importing the module’s database objects respectively).

The system automatically includes the script files into the module’s installation packages. When installing the module, users need to run the before.sql and after.sql scripts against their database.

Creating the module installation package

Once your custom module is fully developed, you can create the installation package in the Kentico administration interface:

1. Open the Modules application and Edit () your custom module.

2. On the General tab, fill in the module’s metadata:

   • Module description (Default value: No description provided)

   • Module version (Default value: 1.0.0)

   • Module author (Default value: Unknown)

     The system saves the values into the metadata of the module’s installation packages. If not specified, the package contains the default values.

3. Click Save.

4. Click Create installation package.

   • The system opens a dialog showing the package’s metadata, and the files and objects included in the package.

5. Click Create.

The system creates the module installation package in the project’s export folder (CMS\CMSSiteUtils\Export by default). You can use the package to install the module on other instances of Kentico.

Reference - Custom module conventions

To ensure that the installation packages created for your custom modules contain the required files and database objects, you need to follow naming and location conventions.

• File system conventions
• Conventions for database objects

File system conventions

Conventions for database objects