Outlook's Addin question

Question

Fellows

I’m confused about Outlook’s Addin structure.

I’ve created an Outlook’s Addin.

The Outlook’s Addin template generates a 'ThisAddin.cs' class.

In order to invoke a COM method inside Outlook with a macro, there is an override of
the 'RequestComAddInAutomationService' method, instantiating the com object.

See the code below:

using System;
using System.Collections.Generic;
using System.Linq;
using System.Text;
using System.Xml.Linq;
using Outlook = Microsoft.Office.Interop.Outlook;
using Office = Microsoft.Office.Core;
using System.Windows.Forms;
namespace OutlookVerificaItensExcluidos
{
    public partial class ThisAddIn
    {
       private ItensExcluidos myAddin;
       
       private void ThisAddIn_Startup(object sender, System.EventArgs e)
       {
       }
       private void ThisAddIn_Shutdown(object sender, System.EventArgs e)
       {
       }
       protected override object RequestComAddInAutomationService()
       {
          if (myAddin == null)
          {
             myAddin = new ItensExcluidos();
          }
          return myAddin;
       }
        #region VSTO generated code
        /// <summary>
        /// Required method for Designer support - do not modify
        /// the contents of this method with the code editor.
        /// </summary>
        private void InternalStartup()
        {
            this.Startup += new System.EventHandler(ThisAddIn_Startup);
            this.Shutdown += new System.EventHandler(ThisAddIn_Shutdown);
        }
        
        #endregion
    }
}

In this class, the Outllok’s Application object is exposed as on the 'RequestComAddInAutomationService' method, for instance.

Why in other derived classes, as in the methods of the 'ItensExcluidos' class, instantiated in the overrided method, the same object isn’t seen anymore?

Homero

---

Homero OM

Answer 1

Hi Homero,

I am afraid that I don't understand your question correctly. What is the problem, how are you using the automation service? Is the ItensExcluidos correct COM class?

---

Toni Petrina
My blog: Programming ramblings
If a post answers your question, please click "Mark As Answer" on that post and "Vote as Helpful"

Answer 2

Tony

The Addin itself works OK.

I intend to use Outlook's Object Model in a method Invoked through VBA.

The Addin implements this call OK.

Inside the method invoked by VBA (and coded inside the Addin), though, I need to use Outlook's Object Model to

perform some functions in Outlook.

To get a reference to Outlook's Object Model, we generally have to get a reference to an application object (Outlook itself)

before.

If I code this a statement to do this, as bellow:

Outlook.Application app = Application;

The compiler warns me that I'm 'using a type like a variable'.

If, instead, I code the very same statement in the 'RequestComAddInAutomationService' method, compiler accepts it gracefully.

I'm confused with this behaviour.

Is this an Outlook's Addin or isn't it?

Why it seems that I can't get an Outlooks reference outside 'ThisAddin.cs' class?

I hope this answer explains things better.

Thanks for your time.

Homero

 

---

Homero OM

Answer 3

You can get the addin via:

Globals.ThisAddIn

And you can access Outlook via:

Globals.ThisAddIn.Application;

---

Toni Petrina
My blog: Programming ramblings
If a post answers your question, please click "Mark As Answer" on that post and "Vote as Helpful"

Answer 4

Toni

Thanks.

It worked!

Just for curiosity, why Globals?

Is it to avoid confusion with the Addin class created by default by the Addin Template?

Homero

---

Homero OM

Answer 5

Probably just as an ease of access since Outlook application is singleton and access to it can be global. You cannot run Outlook addin without Outlook.

---

Toni Petrina
My blog: Programming ramblings
If a post answers your question, please click "Mark As Answer" on that post and "Vote as Helpful"