VISIBLETHREAD WORD ADD-IN
Deployment Guide: VisibleThread GovCloud
For IT Administrators
Notes to read before you begin
• A VisibleThread GovCloud account with access to the MS Word Add-in page (Method B & C only)
• A Microsoft 365 admin role that allows you to deploy Integrated apps (Method A only).
• Method B & C do not support Mac. Use Method A for Mac users.
Choose a deployment method
Method | Use when | You need |
A. Microsoft 365 admin center | Recommended. Get the add-in from Microsoft AppSource and assign it to users. No manifest file needed. | Microsoft 365 admin access |
B. SharePoint app catalog | You already distribute add-ins through an app catalog. | App catalog access and the manifest file |
C. Windows network share | Your organization doesn’t use Microsoft 365 or SharePoint. Windows only. | A network folder with Read access and the manifest file |
Complete one method only.
Method A: Microsoft 365 admin center
Admin Steps
1. Go to Microsoft AppSource and search for VisibleThread.
2. Open the listing and click Get it now.
3. Sign in with your Microsoft 365 admin account. You are redirected to the Microsoft 365 admin center, on the Integrated apps page.
4. Click Assign users and choose Just me, Entire organization, or Specific users or groups.
5. Review the requested permissions and finish the deployment.
Send the following steps to the users
Users will see the add-in after restarting Word, usually within a few hours (or up to 24 hours).
1. In Word, go to Insert > My Add-ins.
2. Open Admin Managed.
3. Select VisibleThread, click Add, then sign in to the panel.
Method B: SharePoint app catalog
Step 1: Download the manifest file
1. In VisibleThread (https://app.visiblethread.com), go to Settings > MS Word Add-in.
2. Click Download Manifest File and save manifest.xml.
Step 2: Open SharePoint
1. Open your SharePoint app catalog site and the Apps for Office library.
2. Upload manifest.xml.
3. Confirm the add-in is available to the users who need it.
Step 3: Send the following steps to the users
1. In Word, go to Insert > My Add-ins.
2. Open Admin Managed.
3. Select VisibleThread, click Add, then sign in to the panel.
Method C: Windows Network Share
Step 1: Download the manifest file
1. In VisibleThread (https://app.visiblethread.com), go to Settings > MS Word Add-in.
2. Click Download Manifest File and save manifest.xml.
Step 2: Set up the share
1. Create a network folder your users have Read access to and copy manifest.xml into it.
2. Send users the UNC path, for example \\fileserver\visiblethread.
Note: Word reads the manifest each time the add-in starts. If the folder is behind a firewall, users must be on the corporate network or VPN.
Step 3: Send the following steps to the users
1. Go to File > Options > Trust Center > Trust Center Settings > Trusted Add-in Catalogs.
2. Enter the UNC path in Catalog Url, click Add catalog, select Show in Menu, then click OK.
3. Restart Word.
4. Go to Home > Add-ins > Advanced. Open Shared Folder, select VisibleThread, click Add, then sign in to the panel.
Note: In older versions of Word, the same dialog opens from Insert > My Add-ins.
Note: If a future version of the add-in changes the Word ribbon, users on this method will need to add the add-in again.
Troubleshooting
Issue | What to check |
Add-in missing in Word | Restart Word. Confirm the user is in the assignment you selected and allow up to 24 hours after deployment. |
Manifest rejected on upload | Confirm the file is the unmodified manifest.xml from VisibleThread. Download it again if unsure. |
Shared Folder tab is empty | Check the UNC path, that Show in Menu is selected, and that the user has Read access. |
User cannot sign in | Confirm the user has an active VisibleThread account. |
Need more help?
Contact your support team or the VisibleThread support team – support@visiblethread.com.
