Citrix is re-installing Create every time I log on and start Office

In virtual systems such as Citrix and SCCM applications and add-ins are run in the server and shared by the users remotely. In this environment, you can install the complete version of Office and therefore Create will also install and run.

In some cases, the client’s Citrix setup may be set to delete the contents of the AppData\Local folder on log off. Create is a VSTO add-in. VSTO add-ins are installed via Click Once Deployment which places application files in the “AppData\Local” folder. In clients where Citrix users have the contents of this folder deleted when they log off, this causes Create to re-install every time a user logs on and starts Office.

However, there is a workaround for this scenario using “junction points”.

These work like shortcuts and allow you to create a virtual folder whose contents are actually in a different folder.

At client site, IT should create a virtual folder (junction point) inside the AppData\Local folder where Office expects to find the add-in files. The contents of this folder will actually be in a folder inside the AppData\Roaming folder, which doesn’t get deleted, but they will appear to Office to be inside the AppData\Local folder.