Publish to Microsoft Office Add-in Store (AppSource) #121
Description
Publish Pi for Excel to the Microsoft Office Add-in Store (AppSource) so users can install it directly from Insert → Add-ins → Store — no manifest download or sideloading required.
Not urgent — still iterating heavily on the add-in itself. This issue tracks everything needed so we can pull the trigger when the time is right.
Why
The current install path (download manifest.prod.xml → Upload My Add-in) works but is unfamiliar to non-technical users. Store distribution makes it a one-click install and auto-handles updates.
Prerequisites
Partner Center account
- Register at partner.microsoft.com/dashboard
- Enroll in the Microsoft 365 and Copilot program
- Ensure
ProviderNamein manifest matches Partner Center publisher name
Required pages (host on Vercel)
- Privacy policy (
/privacy) — must mention "Pi for Excel" by name, explain data stays local, describe what's sent to LLM providers - Support page (
/support) — public webpage (GitHub repos aren't accepted as support URLs) - EULA — either custom or use Microsoft's standard EULA
Manifest updates
- Add privacy policy URL to manifest
- Consider generating a fresh production GUID (current one is a placeholder)
- Run the manifest validator
Store listing assets
- Large icon — 216–350px square PNG
- Screenshots — 3–5 at 1280×720 PNG showing sidebar in action
- Short description (≤100 chars)
- Long description (HTML formatted)
- Optional: demo video on YouTube/Vimeo
Certification prep
- Provide test API key + step-by-step testing instructions for the reviewer
- Basic accessibility audit (keyboard nav, contrast, screen reader)
- Review Office Add-in certification policies (§1120)
Timeline
First submissions typically take 1–4 weeks to review. Common first-attempt rejections: missing privacy policy, SupportUrl pointing to a repo, ProviderName mismatch, icon sizing.
After publication, UI/behavior updates deploy automatically via Vercel. Only manifest changes (permissions, commands) require re-submission.