How to replace built-in Outlook dialogs with custom forms
Years ago I found this article by Helmut Obertanner on CodeProject. In this article Helmut explains how you can replace the built-in Outlook Address book dialog with your own form. I was amazed and...
View ArticleHow to create custom Outlook rules and execute them programmatically: C# example
The Microsoft Outlook Rules is a very powerful feature that can sometimes get lost amongst the myriad other features and abilities of Outlook. Many Outlook programmers do not realise that Microsoft...
View ArticleCreating a shared ribbon for Office 2013: Word, Excel and PowerPoint
In this article, I want to show you how can create single Microsoft Office 2013 and 2010 ribbon and share it with Excel, PowerPoint, and Word. This scenario is one of many where Add-in Express shines....
View ArticleHow to dynamically bind Outlook add-in UI elements to the context
Something that I've noticed is that if you want to really start bending Microsoft Outlook to your programming will, you need to start embracing and combining the use of message classes and content...
View ArticleExcel 2013 single document interface (SDI): How to rebuild your task panes to...
If you're an avid user of Excel, you would've noticed that Excel 2013 has moved from being a Multi document interface (MDI) application to being a Single document interface (SDI) application
View ArticleVDProj to WiX Converter is released!
Only one month has passed since we published the first beta and here I am announcing the release of our new product - VDProj to WiX Converter. If you have at least a couple of Visual Studio setup...
View ArticleRange Selection in Excel add-ins – good manners for developers
Having been fully absorbed in developing our frameworks for a while, I lost any connection with the other part of our business - ablebits.com. Doh, I shouldn't have allowed this to happen. I clearly...
View ArticleRange Selection in Excel add-ins – other good manners for developers
In my yesterday's article I started to muse on Excel's Range Selection and what can be considered good practices for Excel add-in developers. Well, there are some other good manners for the Range...
View ArticleEnterprise development of Office solutions with Add-in Express
Microsoft Office based solutions take various forms and sizes. What began with the ability to write (and record) scripts to automate Office documents on a user's desktop has evolved to the ability to...
View ArticleExcel 2013 add-ins in Visual Studio 2012: Getting started for VSTO developers
In this article we'll have a look at how you, as a VSTO developer, can get started developing add-ins for Excel using Add-in Express and Visual Studio 2012.
View ArticleOutlook 2013 add-in development for beginners: Outlook Application & base...
Working with a new framework takes time as you familiarize yourself with its architecture and best practices. You have to spend time discovering objects, learning what they do, and when it is best to...
View ArticleHow to create and work with custom Outlook views
Outlook views allow you to group, sort and view all the different types of Outlook data within the View panel of the Outlook Explorer window. Outlook comes with a few built-in views for each Outlook...
View ArticleCreating and working with custom Outlook forms
Because it is composed of different windows, panes, and form regions, the Outlook UI presents a complex UI model to the developer. Despite these options, a common customization request is for custom...
View ArticleThe Outlook UI: Explorer and Inspector Windows. What is customizable?
It can take some time to familiarize yourself and understand the various different components of the Outlook UI. Outlook is made up of windows, panes and forms. The two types of Outlook windows are...
View ArticleVideo: Develop Office 2013 add-ins with Visual Studio 2012 Express
In this video, I show how to create an add-in for Microsoft Office 2013 Outlook, Excel and Word and add a custom ribbon using Add-in Express for Office and .net with Visual Studio Express 2012. Enjoy!
View ArticleCustomizing Outlook main menu, context menus and Backstage view
Often, the focus of an Outlook add-in centers around a custom ribbon or form region. I think this makes sense. They are sexy, upfront, and what everyone wants to see. But they are not enough. A good...
View ArticleCreating custom ribbons for Outlook 2013, 2010 and toolbars for Outlook 2007,...
The Outlook UI provides a lot of customization options, but one thing almost all Outlook add-ins share is either a ribbon tab or a toolbar or two. The Ribbon UI was introduced in Office 2007 although...
View ArticleAdvanced Outlook form regions for Outlook 2013 – 2000
As great as Outlook is, it was not designed to meet 100% of any one user's needs. Therefore, users constantly think of ideas for how we developers can "trick it out". And what do they want? They want...
View ArticleWorking with Outlook Accounts, Stores, Folders and Items
Any user of Microsoft Outlook will tell you that you cannot use Outlook without first setting up an account. This account can either be an Exchange server, POP or IMAP account, although Outlook can...
View ArticleWorking with Outlook mail items: how to create, delete, access & enumerate
Mail items are the featured player of Outlook… email! Sure, contacts and appointments are regulars but email receives the most attention. We are addicted to the stuff. And as an Outlook plug-in...
View Article
