Visual Studio WebPart Not Showing Up in SharePoint

Question

I created a simple WebPart in Visual Studio 2010 that I was using to test some functionality for a project. When the WebPart was built and deployed, the messages in the Output box in VS all state that it was deployed successfully. In SharePoint Central Administration, under System Settings -> Farm Solutions, it shows that the WebPart was deployed. However, if I created a WebPart page and try to add that WebPart, it doesn't show up in the Custom Category. Also, it doesn't show up in server_name/sites/site_name/_catalogs/wp/Forms/AllItems.aspx.

Please explain to me what is going on why the WebPart only seems to be "partly deployed", and please suggest a way to solve this issue.

Thank you all in advance for your help and advice!

Answer 1

Your solution will have a "Feature" in it that will be scoped to "Site" (Site Collection) or "Web" (regular site). You will have to go into Site Settings -> Manage Site Collection Features/Manage Site Features -> Activate your feature.

Answer 2

Once the solution is deployed, you need to add WebPart to gallery to use it on a SharePoint page.

Here's a article that provides step by step guide to add webpart to gallery after deploying it as a solution.

http://www.codeproject.com/Articles/33864/Deploying-a-Custom-WebPart-to-Sharepoint

Or

http://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/library/cc261736(v=office.14).aspx#BKMK_AddWebGallery

Note:

Follow steps provided by andrew, only if you developed your webpart as a feature as some webparts can be developed as solutions without being a feature.