getting started with Office Outlook add-in?

Question

I'm about to work on some Outlook add-ins. It's been years since I did this; and probably several object model revisions!

Can anyone recommend some references to help get me started: blogs, sites, books??

Thanks

Answer 1

If your budget can afford it (ie. the product is making money), I would highly recommend Add-in Express. Lots of samples, documentation, and support -- but requires using their tooling. (It makes Outlook ever so slightly-less of a PITA to deal with.)

However, if you prefer to stick with a (free with VS) Microsoft solution -- it works fairly well, but is missing some "niceties" -- then check out the VSTO on MSDN page as a first stop an follow the links out. There are also some good sample projects, templates, and VSTO tools on codeplex.

Happy coding.

Edit: I guess I must be bored :-) Here are some selected links that I found helpful. some of these are very specific/advanced, and some are more general. The arrangement is in no particular order.

1. MSDN Outlook 2010 Top-Level. Links to documentation (MAPI, PIAs) etc.

2. SGriffin's MAPI Internals. Lots of details wrt MAPI. Generally on low-level access but also a good source to find out about changes, new documentation or tools, etc. He could probably rewrite MAPI from memory.

3. MFCMAPI Program & Source Invaluable tool for inspecting MAPI folders, properties, and whatnot. Is Microsofts "reference example" for most "How do I do x in MAPI?".

4. OutlookSpy Program. This isn't free, but there is a trial. It may or may not work better than MFCMAPI for particular needs. This was written by the author of Redemption, a supplement/replacement for the PIA OOM access. Dimastr has also answered a number of (advanced) Outlook/MAPI forum posts online -- always a good person to look out for.

5. Outlook 2010 Messaging API (MAPI) Code Samples - Covers basic (wrapper) implementations of the providers (address/store/transport). All native C++.

6. OutlookCode.com Site promotes some Outlook books by Sue Mosher. I can't vouch for the books, but the site is a mixed-blessing with some good links, some useful advice, and some downright ugly code :-) Also has a forum.