For Developers working on Microsoft technologies and want to learn how to create MS Office Plugins from scratch.

1. Microsoft Office Plugin(s)
By-Rahul Gupta
Mindfire Solutions, Noida
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2. About me
Working with Mindfire Solutions,Noida since November 2013
Certifications:
MCP:70-480 - Specialist certification in HTML5 with JavaScript and CSS3 Exam
MCTS-70-515 - Microsoft .NET 4.0, Web App Development
Skills:
C#,TFS,JavaScript,Oracle 11g,SQL Server,WebServices
Connect me:
Twitter: https://twitter.com/rg8051
Linkedin:http://www.linkedin.com/pub/rahul-gupta/25/288/849
Email:
Rahul.gupta@mindfiresolutions.com
rg8051@gmail.com
Skype ID:
Mfsi_rahul.gupta
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3. Contents

What is Plugin

Why to develop/create Plugin

Accessing the Object Model of the Host Application

Getting started with the Plugins

Customizing the ribbon and action method

Prerequisites Check before Deploying the Plugin

Publishing and deploying the Plugin

Installing the Plugin

FAQs
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4. What is Plug-in
•
In Computing, a plug-in (or plugin, extension, or add-on / addin) is a software component that adds a specific feature to an
existing software application. When an application supports plug-ins,it enables customization.
•
It is developed using Microsoft Visual Studio and .NET Framework. Add-in(s) are version specific hence we need to
carefully select the version during development phase.
•
Microsoft has a very elegant COM architecture for all its application exposing API's for third party developers to extend.
•
Visual Studio has several types of project templates that support different business scenarios for Microsoft Office
Applications, Some of them are:
Document Level Customizations
Application –Level Add-ins
For details on Office Application and Project type, Please refer
http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/aa942839.aspx
It details out All Microsoft Office Applications along with its corresponding Project types and associated features like Custom
XML Parts,ClickOnce Deployment etc.
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5. Why to develop/create Plugin
•
Enhance Productivity and usability of the MS Office Suite.
•
Ease the life of end user and easy installable.
•
The Application can be dynamically extended to include new features.
Plugin based architecture supports Parallel development hence many developer can simultaneously implement different
components.
•
Overall reduce the complexity of the application.
Plug-in(s) are of different types:
1)Built-in add-ins
2)Downloadable add-ins
3)Custom Add ins
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6. Accessing the Object Model of the Host Application
Host Application
Return Value Type
•
Microsoft Office Excel
Microsoft.Office.Interop.Excel.Application
•
Microsoft Office InfoPath
Microsoft.Office.Interop.InfoPath.Application
•
Microsoft Office Outlook
Microsoft.Office.Interop.Outlook.Application
•
Microsoft Office PowerPoint
Microsoft.Office.Interop.PowerPoint.Application
•
Microsoft Office Project
Microsoft.Office.Interop.MSProject.Application
•
Microsoft Office Visio
Microsoft.Office.Interop.Visio.Application
•
Microsoft Office Word
Microsoft.Office.Interop.Word.Application
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7. Creating a Custom Microsoft Office Plugin
•
•
Before begin with the development cross check that compatible MS Office version is present/installed on system.
Select the PowerPoint Add-in template under the Office Tab as shown in figure.
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8. Creating a Custom Microsoft Office Plugin(Continued)
•
Add the Customized Ribbon File and this in turn will add the Ribbon.cs file as well in the Solution as shown below in figure.
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9. Customizing the ribbon
•
Add the code in Ribbon.xml file to customize the Office Tab and bind the tab with the Ribbon file to get associated with the
ThisAddin Class file which in turn load this Addin when MSOffice Loads by parsing the FontExtractionRibbon.xml file.
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10. Defining the Action method
•
Implement an action method in Ribbon.cs file in the Helper region as specified in Ribbon.xml file and include the Office
Core Library in the references as shown below.
Implement the Plugin Functionality in this region
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11. Binding the Ribbon File with the Addin(s)
•
Once the method is implemented in Ribbon file. Bind the ribbon file with the Addin Class to Populate the MS Office
Application’s Ribbon with this add in(s) by overriding the Ribbon Extensibility Object. This is very important step as
skipping this may lead to incorrect/improper functioning of Addin(s).
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12. Publishing and Deploying the Plugin
Before Deploying the Plugin make sure that following requirements are met on the target machine otherwise It may lead
to incorrect/improper functioning of the Plugin.
Required Prerequisite Components on the Target Computer

.NET Framework needs to be present on the system

It can be installed on the same type of machine format(say 64 bit)on which it was originally developed.

Microsoft Visual Studio Tools for office runtime as it provides a runtime environment that manages add-ins.

The Primary Interop assemblies for the required version of Microsoft Office.

Any Project Specific Assemblies(dll) referenced by the projects that target the .NET Framework on which plugin
is developed

Exactly same version of Hosting application(MS Office) needs to be present on the system

User must have administrative privilege to install/run the plugin.
Note-Once the plugin is installed it will loaded in Hosted Application (MS office )by default every time the Application
launches hence we need to either remove or disable the addin if required from MS Office .
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13. Publishing and Deploying the Plugin(Continued..)
•
•
•
Once all the Required Prerequisite are met. The Developed plugin can be published and deployed on the target machine.
Right Click the Project and Publish it.Enter the Publish location and Installation path as shown in fig and click next.
The Publish Location can be any of the below:
publish to a Web site or network share and have the users install from there
publish to a staging Web site and then copy the files to another Web site for installation.
publish to a network share to test installations and then have users install from a Web site or build CDs for
installation.
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14. Publishing and Deploying the Plugin(Continued..)
•
Specify the Installation path in the wizard. It will be same as Publish path (if not provided).Select a corresponding option
from the wizard and click o next and then finally say finish.
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15. Publishing and Deploying the Plugin(Continued..)
•
•
Once the publish is successful. Navigate to the published path specified in the publish wizard. There will be following files as
shown below
The VSTO file is a copy of the deployment manifest file.
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16. Publishing and Deploying the Plugin(Continued..)
Click on Application files and navigate through it.It contains the following files



Customization Assembly(has .Deploy file name extension)
Application Manifest file, an XML file which provides the runtime with the information it needs to load and update
customization assemblies
Copy of Deployment manifest.
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17. Installing the Plugin(s)
Once published, the Plugins is now ready to be installed. Close all the MS office Instances (if open any).
Double Click on VSTO File provided and click on install. The Plugin will be installed. Restart the MS Office to start working with
it.
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18. FAQs
Q-I cannot install the plugin in my system using VSTO File. It says WIN32 exception
A-Please make sure that system type on which plugin is developed and machine on which plugin installed are same. Please Contact
plugin administrator to get the details. In case of mismatch upgrade your system type during windows installation.
Q-I can not load the plugin in my development machine. It says the PowerPoint has encountered a serious problem. How to
debug/locate the problem?
A-Please note during development if any exception occurs them Microsoft office disable that addin so that it does not load again
when MS Office restarts. You may go to option in PowerPoint and click on managed Addins to enable the addins.
Q-I cannot install plugin on the other machine,eventhough I have provided the correct VSTO and manifest file, it is working fine
on development machine.
A-Make sure that correct version of hosting environment(MS office in this case)is installed on the target machine also cross check
that you have provided the required DLL(s)(if any) and Customization Assembly as well. Refer Slide number 11 and 15 for more
details.
For Developers References:
http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/office/bb960904(v=office.12).aspx
http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/bb821233.aspx
http://stackoverflow.com/questions/14668672/getting-started-developing-add-in-for-powerpoint
http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/bb386298.aspx
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19. Thanks for your time
Any Questions?
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