Writing add-ins for Outlook using VB.NET ?

[owen]

Hi there,

Sorry for the crosspost but I wasnt sure where to ask this. If you think I
should direct my question to another newsgroup then please tell me so!

I would like to write add-in components for Microsoft Outlook. I would
like to start with a simple example such as adding something to the "File"
menu that says "Hello World" when clicked.

I know such things are possible as I've seen various customisations of this
type for not only Outlook, but also Internet Explorer, and even Windows
itself. Simple things that add value to the MS product seemlessly as if it
were part of the product itself.

Problem: I dont know where to start.

I've got VB.NET and MS Outlook 2002 SP-1.

I've a feeling that MAPI could be relevant but I suspect that I'm horribly
outdated by thinking that.
Any advice or pointers would be great.

Thanks!
Owen

http://www.binarybaby.co.uk
electronic noises that vaguely resemble music

[Bob Butler]

"owen" <sp**@spam.com> wrote in message
news:40**********************@news.dial.pipex.com

Hi there,

Sorry for the crosspost but I wasnt sure where to ask this. If you
think I should direct my question to another newsgroup then please
tell me so!

microsoft.public.vb.general.discussion is definitely wrong; VB.Net is not VB
Please remove this group from replies.

[Ken Slovak - [MVP - Outlook]]

Start here: http://www.microeye.com/resources/res_outlookvsnet.htm

--
Ken Slovak
[MVP - Outlook]
http://www.slovaktech.com
Author: Absolute Beginners Guide to Microsoft Office Outlook 2003
Reminder Manager, Extended Reminders, Attachment Options
http://www.slovaktech.com/products.htm
"owen" <sp**@spam.com> wrote in message
news:40**********************@news.dial.pipex.com. ..

Hi there,

Sorry for the crosspost but I wasnt sure where to ask this. If you think I should direct my question to another newsgroup then please tell me so!
I would like to write add-in components for Microsoft Outlook. I would like to start with a simple example such as adding something to the "File" menu that says "Hello World" when clicked.

I know such things are possible as I've seen various customisations of this type for not only Outlook, but also Internet Explorer, and even Windows itself. Simple things that add value to the MS product seemlessly as if it were part of the product itself.

Problem: I dont know where to start.

I've got VB.NET and MS Outlook 2002 SP-1.

I've a feeling that MAPI could be relevant but I suspect that I'm horribly outdated by thinking that.
Any advice or pointers would be great.

Thanks!
Owen

http://www.binarybaby.co.uk
electronic noises that vaguely resemble music

[Tian Min Huang]

Hello Owen,

Thanks for your post. As I understand, you want to create a Outlook Add-In
by using VB .NET. Visual Studio .NET offers a project template "Shared
Add-Ins" to create add-in which works in Microsoft Office applications
(includeing Outlook). I believe the following MSDN article is good to start:

HOW TO: Build an Office COM Add-in by Using Visual Basic .NET
http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?kbid=302896

To add a new menu item, you should get a corresponding menu CommandBar
object and add a control to it.

Working with Command Bar Controls
http://msdn.microsoft.com/library/de...us/modcore/htm
l/deovrworkingwithcommandbarcontrols.asp

For more information, please refer to the link in Ken's reply.

Please feel free to let me know if you have any problems or concerns.

Regards,

HuangTM
Microsoft Online Partner Support
MCSE/MCSD

Get Secure! -- www.microsoft.com/security
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