Side-loading
Side-loading lets you install VXL Live from a local network share rather than through a central deployment. Use this method for individual testing or development — it is not suitable for production rollout.
note
For organisation-wide deployment, use the Standard Deployment method instead.
Manifest files
Download the manifest XML file for the environment you want to test:
| Environment | Manifest URL |
|---|---|
| Staging | https://vxl.vince.live/manifest.staging.xml |
| Production | https://vxl.vince.live/manifest.prod.xml |
How to side-load
Follow Microsoft's official guide for sideloading Office Add-ins from a network share:
Sideload Office Add-ins for testing from a network share — Microsoft Learn
The process involves:
- Placing the downloaded manifest XML file in a shared network folder.
- Registering that folder as a trusted catalog in Excel's Trust Center settings.
- Restarting Excel and loading the add-in from Insert → My Add-ins → Shared Folder.
Further reading
- Standard Deployment — the recommended method for deploying to users
- Compatible Versions — verify your Excel version is supported before testing