What is the difference between VSTO document level customization and VSTO application level add-in?

Question

What is the difference between VSTO document level customization and VSTO application level add-in?

 

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Answer 1

When you develop a document-level customization, the code will only be loaded and executed when a particular Office document is opened by the end user. Document-level customization will also be unloaded when the corresponding document is closed. In an application-level add-in, typically the add-in will be loaded whenever a new Office application instance is created, by either double clicking an Office file or the application executable file. The application level add-in is also unloaded when the application is being closed.

For more detailed information about the Architecture of the document-level solution and the application level solution, please read the following two articles,

http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/zcfbd2sk.aspx

http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/bb386298.aspx

(Related forum thread http://social.msdn.microsoft.com/Forums/en-US/vsto/thread/55562552-144f-4900-8b0c-dad5867ae3fd/ )

For more FAQ about Visual Studio Tools for Office, please see Visual Studio Tools for Office FAQ

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