How to register COM components

Summary Starting with ArcGIS 10, ArcGIS will be installed in distinct locations based on the installation type on a single machine. This change introduces new registration requirements for custom Component Object Model (COM) components. This topic outlines the methods to perform this modified registration step.

In this topic

About registering COM components

Using ArcGIS class library project templates
Registering by menu option
Registering by command line
Registering by dialog box

About registering COM components

Additional product information must be supplied at registration using a new ESRI utility, ESRIRegAsm.exe. ESRIRegAsm.exe replaces the standard Microsoft utility, RegAsm.exe.

ESRIRegAsm.exe is automatically invoked behind the scenes by the Visual Studio integrated development environment (IDE) templates provided by ESRI, by the shell registration menu provided by ESRI, and by the Customize dialog box in ArcGIS standard applications. If you need to register your component library manually—for example, from a setup program—call ESRIRegAsm.exe directly, supplying the appropriate product target as an arguments.

Using ArcGIS class library project templates

Projects based on one of the ArcGIS class library templates (available in the ArcObjects .NET software development kit [SDK]), automatically register the assembly during compilation. When the project is built, esriRegAsm.exe is called at the end of the build in the Output window. See the following screen shot:

Screen shot showing the Output window.

Ensure you have the ArcObjects .NET SDK installed.

Registering by menu option

When building a project from the beginning, without using ArcGIS class library project templates or testing the component on a deployment machine, use the Register ArcGIS Assembly registration menu option that is automatically available with the ArcObjects .NET SDK installation. Do the following steps to register your component with this menu option:

Right-click an assembly and select Register. The Register ArcGIS Assembly dialog box appears.
Select an ArcGIS product, then click the Register button.

See the following screen shot:

Registering by command line

To register the component library manually—for example, in a setup program—call ESRIRegAsm.exe directly. In this case, supply the appropriate product target as an argument. This utility can be found in your installation location, for example, C:\Program Files\Common Files\ArcGIS\bin. For more information, see ESRIRegAsm utility.

Registering by dialog box

You can use the Add from File button on the Customize dialog box to register commands and toolbars with ArcGIS Desktop applications. This option allows you to directly browse for native code, such as COM related .dlls, .ocxs, and .tlbs files. For managed code, use the .tlb file generated by Visual Studio (RegAsm.exe) instead of the .net assembly file.