How to: Run Add-Ins on the Command Line
As an alternative to using the Add-In Manager to start add-ins, you can configure an add-in to load by using the Devenv command line. This can be useful, for example, if you want to perform an operation outside of the Visual Studio integrated development environment (IDE) and still initiate an add-in, such as for unattended builds or Windows system tools.
Note
The dialog boxes and menu commands you see might differ from those described in Help depending on your active settings or edition. These procedures were developed with the General Development Settings active. To change your settings, choose Import and Export Settings on the Tools menu. For more information, see Visual Studio Settings.
To run an add-in on the command line
After creating or loading the add-in, open the Add-in Manager.
Check the box in the Command Line column for the add-in.
Checking this box notifies Visual Studio that the add-in can be invoked via the command line as well as through the Add-in Manager.
Exit Visual Studio.
In a Command Prompt window, start Visual Studio by invoking devenv.exe with the /Command (devenv.exe) switch, followed by the full command name of the add-in. For example:
devenv /command MyAddin.Connect.MyAddin
Note
By default, the command name of the add-in is equal to <AddInSolutionName>.Connect.<AddInSolutionName>, and appears in Connect.cs as the commandName parameter of the Exec method. You can also verify the command name by starting to type the name of the add-in into the Commands window in Visual Studio, and using Intellisense to fill in the rest.