Office add-ins

Alright, you're diving into Office Add-ins, good choice! They let you extend apps like Outlook, Excel, Word, and others using HTML, CSS, and JavaScript.

✅ Basics of Office Add-ins (for Outlook & Excel)

An Office Add-in is basically a small web app that runs inside Office products. It interacts with Office documents using the Office.js API.

🟣 Structure of an Office Add-in

1. Manifest File (XML)Describes the add-in: name, description, permissions, icons, where it shows up, etc.

2. Web Application

   • HTML (UI)

   • JavaScript (Logic)

   • CSS (Styling)

   • REST APIs (if you want to connect to services)

🟩 Excel Add-in Example:

Excel uses the Excel JavaScript API.

Excel.run(function (context) {    const sheet = context.workbook.worksheets.getActiveWorksheet();    const range = sheet.getRange("A1");    range.values = [["Hello from Office Add-in!"]];    return context.sync();}).catch(function (error) {    console.log("Error: " + error);});

This code writes text to cell A1.

🟡 Outlook Add-in Example:

Outlook uses the Office.context.mailbox API.

Office.onReady().then(function() {    const item = Office.context.mailbox.item;    console.log("Subject: ", item.subject);});

This reads the subject of the selected item.

✅ Key Libraries:

• Office.jsThe main library for Office Add-insCDN:

  
  

• Office.context.mailbox (for Outlook)

• Excel.run() (for Excel)

✅ How they show up:AppEntry PointsExcelTask Pane, Content Add-ins, Custom FunctionsOutlookMessage Read, Compose, Appointment Read, Appointment Compose, Task Pane🟣 Recommended Tools:

• Yeoman Office Generator (yo office)

• Office Add-in Project Templates (Visual Studio)

• Office Add-in Validator (for manifest checking)

• Outlook Desktop / Outlook Web Access (for testing Outlook add-ins)

• Excel Desktop / Excel for Web (for testing Excel add-ins)

If you want, I can also show you:

1. How to create a full basic working add-in

2. Folder structure recommendation

3. Sample manifest files (for both Outlook & Excel)

4. How to sideload and debug them easily

Just say yes, and I’ll guide you step-by-step depending on whether you want Outlook or Excel or both.

So, are you aiming for Outlook, Excel, or both? And are you planning for task panes, custom functions, or ribbon buttons? 😄