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Manage Integrated Apps and Add-ons

⏱ 15 minutes intermediate

Add-ons extend CMS functionality without custom development. A DAM connector brings external assets into the media library. A translation service automates multilingual workflows. Managing integrations centrally ensures they stay updated, secure, and compatible with your CMS version.

On PaaS, add-ons are NuGet packages installed into your .NET project.

  1. Open your project in Visual Studio or your preferred IDE.
  2. Open the NuGet Package Manager.
  3. Search for the add-on by name (for example, Optimizely.Labs.ContentManager).
  4. Install the package and accept any dependency prompts.
  5. Build the project to verify no conflicts.
Install via CLI
bash
dotnet add package Optimizely.Labs.ContentManager --version 1.5.0
  1. Deploy your project to the target environment.
  2. Verify by navigating to the admin panel. The add-on should appear in the installed list.
  1. Navigate to Settings > App Marketplace in the CMS.
  2. Browse or search for the integration you need.
  3. Click Install on the app listing.
  4. Follow the on-screen configuration wizard.
  5. Verify by checking Settings > Installed Apps. The app should show as active.

Most add-ons require configuration after installation.

  1. Navigate to Settings > Installed Apps (or the add-on’s settings page).
  2. Enter required values such as API keys, endpoints, or feature toggles.
  3. Save the configuration.
  4. Test the integration by performing the action it enables.
  5. Verify by checking the add-on’s status indicator. It should show connected.
Configure an add-on in appsettings.json (PaaS)
json
{
  "Integrations": {
    "DAMConnector": {
      "ApiEndpoint": "https://dam.example.com/api",
      "ApiKey": "your-key-here",
      "SyncInterval": 30
    }
  }
}

Keep add-ons updated for security patches and new features.

  1. PaaS: Update the NuGet package version. Build and test before deploying.
  2. SaaS: Check Settings > Installed Apps for available updates. Click Update.
  3. Review the changelog for breaking changes before updating.
  4. Verify that existing functionality still works after the update.
  1. PaaS: Uninstall the NuGet package. Remove any configuration entries. Deploy.
  2. SaaS: Go to Settings > Installed Apps. Click Uninstall on the app.
  3. Verify the add-on no longer appears in the admin interface.
  4. Check that no errors appear on pages that previously used the add-on.
  1. Check the CMS logs for errors related to the integration.
  2. Review the add-on’s status page or health check endpoint if available.
  3. Set up alerts for integration failures in your monitoring system.
  4. Verify by reviewing the logs after a typical usage period. No recurring errors should appear.

The Plug-in Manager gives administrators a centralized view of all installed components, including scheduled jobs, content providers, and editor extensions. You can enable or disable individual plug-ins without removing their code or NuGet packages.

  1. Navigate to Admin > Plug-in Manager.
  2. Review the list of installed plug-ins. Each entry shows:
    • Name: The plug-in display name.
    • Type: The component category (Scheduled Job, Content Provider, Editor Extension, etc.).
    • Status: Whether the plug-in is currently enabled or disabled.
    • Assembly: The source package or assembly containing the plug-in.
  3. Use the search field to filter plug-ins by name or type if the list is long.

Disabling a plug-in prevents it from running without uninstalling the underlying package. This is useful for troubleshooting, for disabling features in specific environments, or for temporarily turning off a scheduled job.

  1. Navigate to Admin > Plug-in Manager.
  2. Find the plug-in you want to modify.
  3. Click the plug-in name to open its details.
  4. Toggle the Enabled switch to turn the plug-in on or off.
  5. Click Save.
  6. Verify the change:
    • For scheduled jobs, check that the job no longer appears in the Scheduled Jobs list when disabled.
    • For editor extensions, verify the extension is no longer visible in the editor toolbar.
    • For content providers, confirm the provider’s content no longer appears in the content tree.

If a plug-in behaves unexpectedly after configuration changes, you can reset it.

  1. Open the plug-in details in the Plug-in Manager.
  2. Click Reset to Defaults.
  3. Confirm the reset when prompted.
  4. Reconfigure any settings the plug-in requires.
  5. Verify by testing the plug-in’s functionality.
IssueCauseFix
Add-on not loadingVersion incompatibilityCheck supported CMS versions
API connection failedInvalid credentialsRe-enter API key in settings
Feature missing after installMissing configurationComplete the setup wizard