The Microsoft Documentation says
An Excel add-in allows you to extend Excel application functionality across multiple platforms including Windows, Mac, iPad, and in a browser
Does browser mean my own website/web app or the online excel app that Microsoft has at https://office.live.com? I have been through the documentation, but couldn't find the answer.
On the web The Excel JavaScript addins interact with Excel Online which runs in a browser.
Related
I want to submit an add-in only for Excel Online (no Excel for Mac, no Excel for Windows).
Could anyone tell me if it is possible and how to configure the manifest xml file?
The Office store requires that the add-in works for Mac, Windows and Online with optional iPad support. It is not possible to select only some of the required platform. The same code that works on one platform should also work on the other with the addition effort being in the testing area.
All the questions/answers I have seen so far are old and do not provide a definitive answer.
Also what can I use locally and what can I use online?
what can I use locally and what can I use online?
You may use your VSTO and VBA add-ins for Office Desktop application on Windows.
Office applications on Web (online) has extensibility via Office.js API. Microsoft current name is "Office Add-ins", you may try them by loading into your Office application (excel) from Office Store. If you want to develop add-in based on this technology I would suggest to start over here: Office Add-ins platform overview. The conception behind of this technology is "build once, use everywhere where Office runs". That means your add-in may work for Office Desktop on Windows, Office Desktop on Mac, Online versions as well as some mobile platforms (subject to availability)
So I am trying to get started developing Office 365 Add-ins (previously Apps for Office), and I was wondering what browser or browser engine Office uses when it renders your app. I tried using JavaScript's navigator.appCodeName and navigator.appName, but due to the problem described here renders that method useless. What browser or engine do Office Add-ins use to render apps?
It depends on where Office is being used. If it's on Windows Desktop, Office Add-ins use an Internet Explorer to load the hosted webpage in Office. For iOS, it will rely on the native WebView control. If on Office Online, it will use a sandboxed iframe, in which ever browser you open Office Online with.
If you're trying to determine the browser Office is running in, I believe sniffing the user agent string will work for you.
I was trying to find a way to publish an outlook add in to office store.
But I found out that we can publish only office apps and not the add ins to the office store.
Hence I wanted to know what is the difference between an office app and an office add in?
And is there an easy way to convert an already built add in to an app?
Or will I have to implement the functionality all over again, while developing the app?
Hence I wanted to know what is the difference between an office app and an office add in?
Not so long ago (at #build2015) MS named Office Apps as "add-ins" as well. Classic Office add-ins are based on the IDTExtensibility2 interface (COM). They can't be run on any device or web browser. Office COM add-ins are for the desktop editions of MS Office (x86 and x64). COM add-ins can be implemented using a wide range of programming languages: from unmanaged C++ or Delphi to managed ones (C#, VB.NET and etc.). On the opposite side Office Apps (also called as add-ins now) are a small web based applications (HTML, CSS, JS) that have a limited access to the object model (typically related to the selection or opened item).
And is there an easy way to convert an already built add in to an app?
No, they are entirely different type of applications.
Or will I have to implement the functionality all over again, while developing the app?
Yes, you need to develop an Office App from the ground.
It is not lear what Office application you are talking about, but in case of Outlook you may find the Selecting an API or technology for developing solutions for Outlook 2013 article in MSDN helpful.
Sorry for the confusion. "Add-in" is just the new name for "App". So, you should be able to publish your add-in (built using HTML and JavaScript) to the Store. This is different from the really old COM add-ins.
It is possible to embed the 'Internet Explorer Web Browser' in an Excel Sheet using the Microsoft Web Browser Object. How does one Embed Google Chrome or Firefox in an Excel Sheet?
There is a project to provide a Mozilla ActiveX control matching the IE Web Browser Control Interface as much as possible. I am not following the progress but its supported version seems dated.
As for Chrome you could check out Chromium Embedded but it doesn't seem to support ActiveX so you would have to work something out using the .NET binding (CefSharp) in combination with VSTO and WinForms.
I have used CefSharp with WinForms application and it works quite well.
The samples are good for a quick start.