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Office 365 add-ins
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Add-ins are the new plugins
An Office 365 add-in creates additional functionality which is added to Outlook when it is used online. It is the equivalent of an Outlook plugin for browser versions of Outlook (OWA) although significantly the functionality also works with other versions of Outlook including desktop Outlook 2013/2016, and Outlook for Mac.
Mail-apps can interact with email messages, meeting requests (inc. responses and cancellations), and appointments. The app defines for which items it should be available – and in which modes – e.g. Reading and/or Composing. [Note Contacts and Tasks are not yet included in this list!][/vc_column_text][vc_single_image image=”1559″ border_color=”grey” img_link_large=”” img_link_target=”_self” css=”.vc_custom_1432811426177{margin-top: 50px !important;margin-right: 50px !important;margin-left: 50px !important;}” img_size=”full”][vc_column_text dropcaps=”” css=”.vc_custom_1432227089567{margin-bottom: 50px !important;}”]
The Mail app toolbar showing above the message in office 365
[/vc_column_text][vc_column_text dropcaps=””]The app can retrieve information from the email or appointment being viewed (e.g recipient names, start time) and then process this information or submit it to a further web site. Information can also be received from other web sites and displayed in the panel – or used to update the item being viewed.
Technology
The basic Mail-app (the panel information) is written in HTML and javascript. In addition to standard javascript libraries, Microsoft provides the ‘JavaScript API for Office’. This provides an object model which gives the developer access to many features of the Message or Appointment. This API allows the developer to access information about the specific message being examined.
In order to create a fully functional application, it is often necessary to use Exchange Web Services (EWS) as well. EWS are a mature Microsoft interface which allows developers to interact with any item on Microsoft Exchange – including Office 365.
There are a subset of the full EWS calls which can be made from within the JavaScript for Office library – which utilise the users existing logon credentials (they must have logged into to their Outlook Web App) to make calls to Exchange. Any other calls would require the user to re-login and provide their credentials again. While this might be possible, it would not be desirable in this kind of application.
Some applications will require that a separate service is run on a third party server which uses EWS to access Exchange.[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][vc_column width=”1/2″][vc_column_text dropcaps=”” css=”.vc_custom_1447937791368{margin-top: 20px !important;}”]
Add-ins use web technology
An office 365 add-in is made up of three elements, the xml manifest file, the web server with source files, and the additional web services and APIs.
xml Manifest File
A very small ‘xml’ manifest file is stored on Exchange and associated with the mailbox. This means once the app is added to the mailbox (from any device) it will show on all devices and relevant access methods.
Web Server
The manifest file points to the application source files (e.g. HTML and JavaScript etc) which are stored on a separate web server (provided by the application developer). These are called and loaded each time the app is used and run in the clients browser control. A significant benefit is that the app can be updated any time simply by updating the files at a single location.
Additional Web Services and APIs
A simple add-in does not need additional Web Services and APIs. However most add-ins will need to access other data – either publically available (youtube, maps etc) or specific to this app (CRM systems, third party web sites and APIs). For a number of applications, it may be necessary to create detailed application logic on a separate web server[/vc_column_text][vc_column_text dropcaps=”” css=”.vc_custom_1432226996651{margin-top: 50px !important;}”]
Installation
Mail-apps can be installed by the user, or they can be managed by the Exchange / Office 365 administrator.[/vc_column_text][vc_single_image image=”1560″ border_color=”grey” img_link_large=”” img_link_target=”_self” img_size=”full” css=”.vc_custom_1432226618281{margin-top: 50px !important;margin-right: 50px !important;margin-bottom: 50px !important;margin-left: 50px !important;}”][/vc_column][/vc_row]