VSTO (Visual Studio Tools for Office) allows developers to customize Microsoft Office applications like Excel, Word, and Outlook using .NET languages. The latest version of VSTO is 3.0, which is included in Visual Studio 2008. VSTO allows developers to build add-ins that extend the functionality of Office applications. It provides features for workflow and SharePoint integration as well as support for Office 2007 applications. VSTO uses a manifest-based deployment model and requires the .NET Framework and VSTO runtime to be installed on client machines. Security is managed through .NET code access security.

1. VSTOPranav AinavoluVSTO Developer, Conrep Solutions | Email: pranav@conrep.com

2. VSTO : Visual Studio Tools for OfficeMicrosoft Visual Studio Tools for the Microsoft Office system can help you extend applications in Microsoft Office 2003 and the 2007 by using Visual Basic and Visual C#..

3. Latest version is VSTO 3.0 available as part of VS – 2008.

4. Microsoft Office offers a platform that provides many possibilities for application development using managed code. Visual Studio and the Microsoft .NET Framework provide Rapid Application Development (RAD) programming capabilities that make it easy to begin creating Microsoft Office-based solutions to suit a variety of business needs.

5. What we can do with VSTO ?Customize Microsoft Office Applications by Creating Add-Ins.

6. Latest version is VSTO 3.0 available as part of VS – 2008.

7. Microsoft Office offers a platform that provides many possibilities for application development using managed code. Visual Studio and the Microsoft .NET Framework provide Rapid Application Development (RAD) programming capabilities that make it easy to begin creating Microsoft Office-based solutions to suit a variety of business needs.Microsoft’s strategic tool for developing Office solutions inMicrosoft Excel 2003/2007Microsoft Word 2003/2007Microsoft Power Point 2003/2007Microsoft InfoPath 2003/2007Microsoft Outlook 2003 /2007 (Add-in Support)

8. Roadmapv3.0 (in VS2008) Workflow & Microsoft SharePoint supportOffice 2007 system-specific features, file format, UIApp-level add-ins for more client applicationsDeeper server-side programmingVSTO fully integrated into Visual Studio 20082005 SE App-level add-ins for most popular Office appsRuntime support for key Office 2007 UI elements (Custom Taskpane, Ribbon, Outlook form regions)Runtime support enabling Office 2003 doc-level customizations to run in Office 200720032003200720072005 Custom Document ActionsPane Host Controls on document surface Cached data in the document Server-side data processing Application-level add-ins for Outlook

9. Outlook Add-ins

10. Outlook Add-insThe VSTO runtime supports Outlook add-insProvides VSTO runtime loader

11. More reliable add-in/host interaction

12. Improved security and deployment model Design-time support in Visual StudioOutlook add-ins Project template

13. Visual Studio Setup project for Outlook add-ins

14. Improved debugging experience Scenarios for CodeLine of Business ApplicationsIntegration of Outlook Data into back end systemsCalendar Integration SolutionsTime trackingCollaboration SolutionsRSS Aggregators, Integrated SharePoint SolutionsOutlook Extension SolutionsSearch tools, personal organizational tools (thread compressor, attachment management)Personal Productivity SolutionsConf room finder, travel booking tools, customer survey tools Writing Managed CodeBehind Outlook

15. Deployment & Security

16. VSTO Deployment BasicsDocument and code (assembly) are separate

17. VSTO has a manifest-based deployment model

18. Application Manifest

19. Embedded in the document and describes the solution (startup assembly, dependencies, deployment manifest)

20. Deployment Manifest

21. Points to the Application Manifest and handles Application Manifest version resolution

22. Solution can intelligently updateVSTO Deployment BasicsThree basic deployment modelsLocal/Local – both document and assembly reside on local machine

23. Local/Network – document resides on local machine, assembly resides on network

24. Network/Network – both document and assembly reside on the network

25. This is especially useful for Template projectsNote:InfoPath deployment is slightly different Assemblies and manifest reside in an XSN XML files point to XSN

26. VSTO Client RequirementsOffice 2003 Professional Edition SP1 Or Excel/Word/Outlook standalone editions.

27. .NET Framework 2.0

28. VSTO 2005 Runtime

29. Office Primary Interop Assemblies (PIAs)

30. Appropriate security policiesSecurity ModelVSTO uses .NET Code Access Security

31. Evidence

32. Location based for documents

33. Any type of evidence for the assemblies

34. Permissions

35. Document location and code must be fully trusted

36. Levels

37. Enterprise, Machine, User, Application

38. A given permission is granted only if all policy levels agree to grant it

39. Default CLR Security policy is not enoughSecurity ModelNote: InfoPath security is slightly differentInfoPath assemblies support partial trust for Domain XSNs

40. Doesn’t need to use .NET Code Access Security because assemblies can be fully trusted when

41. they are signed

42. the XSN is installedThank you

43. Questions?