In order to publish an addin to appstore, do we need to host the manifest (XML) + webpage (HTML, JS) for the addin?
The documentation implies that we should host the manifest on sharepoint and the webpage for the addin on our own servers for both the approval process, but also for end users to download and use the word addin.
The alternative is that we deliver these elements to MS and they host they host the addin on their servers.
Can you please confirm?
You must host your own add-in and associated resources. Microsoft will not host your webpage on your behalf.
You should submit the manifest to Microsoft for validation via the SellerDashboard (as explained here)
Related
We have a JavaScript Outlook on-send add-in (not Smart Alerts) that has recently been updated and published. The add-in is hosted on an Azure Storage Blob.
When Exchange admins go to remove the add-in, then re-add it using Integrated Apps, and follow the instructions at https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/microsoft-365/admin/manage/manage-deployment-of-add-ins?view=o365-worldwide, there is an error that says that the manifest file has failed:
Integrated Apps Failed Validation Message
How can we correct this problem?
Our manifest file is located at https://addins.sperrysoftware365.com/prd-addins/SafeguardSend/manifest.xml?ver=3.2
Why does it work when sideloading it into Outlook but not work when admins deploy it through Integrated Apps?
I suppose they do the same check as the store does. Try to run the following command to validate the manifest file on your machine:
npx office-addin-manifest validate -p MANIFEST_FILE
The office-addin-manifest package/tool calls a service endpoint (which is also used by the store) and just report the results.
We have developed an addin for Word 2016 (relevant for 2013 as well) which consists of a manifest.xml and a web project serving html and javascript. We want to distribute this addin to all the users in an organization.
We do not have any trouble setting up the webservice and pointing the manifest to it, however the issue is distributing the xml and installing it into the Word instances on user's computers.
What is the simplest way for an organization admin to inject this addin into users Word applications?
Have you considered centralized deployment?
The Office 365 admin center makes it easy for an administrator to deploy Office Add-ins to users and groups within their organization. Add-ins deployed via the admin center are available to users in their Office applications right away, with no client configuration required. You can use Centralized Deployment to deploy internal add-ins as well as add-ins provided by ISVs.
We developed an add-in for Outlook which is published in the store already. It has paid and trial versions. License checking in the add-in works fine if the add-in is used from a browser, Outlook for Mac. But if it is Outlook for Windows or outlook.live.com (versions where "add-in commands" feature is enabled and add-in is opened in a side bar) then no license information is passed.
Example:
This correct URL is navigated from Outlook Web and Outlook Mac:
https://serverurl?et=%3cr+v%3d%221%22%3e%3ct..............
This is how the URL looks like for Outlook for Windows:
https://serverurl?_host_Info=Outlook|Win32|16.01|en-US
So, since Outlook for Windows does not supply license information we have to refuse add-in access for our clients on Outlook for Windows.
I found related questions for Excel and Word, but none of them was answered yet. The problem is that it is Outlook that needs to send the data, so we can do nothing in our code to troubleshoot.
Guys, any ideas where the problem is or what to check in the manifest?
Here is the link to the add-in listing in the Office store (TextMiner) if it may help to answer.
I am having a horrible time getting started at creating an add-in for Outlook. I want to use the new html/javascript/manifest approach. I have been able to create a manifest and application which works great with outlook.live.com. Where I am completely getting stuck is with desktop Outlook. How do I install/debug my add-in with desktop Outlook?
I cannot find anything in the UI which will let me add this style of add-in. Additionally the Microsoft documentation did not make things any clearer. Their docs seem to hint using this type of add-in is only possible if you are connecting to an Exchange server.
Any help would be greatly appreciated.
Yes the add-in will load on Outlook desktop only if your mailbox is Exchange. I am not sure the add-ins work with a personal Microsoft account (e.g hotmail.com, outlook.com) and Office desktop. Keep in mind that the support of mail add-ins for personal account is relatively new (officially announced in march 2016).
To develop your add-in I suggest you to use a organizational account (i.e. Office365 account). Support for organizational account has been released in 2013 and is a much more mature solution for you to get started. You can have a free dev account at dev.office.com.
Edit: October 2016 personal account are supported now by "Personal mailbox accounts" aka outlook.com accounts
Let us keep in mind that a mail add-in is not installed on a mail client (desktop, OWA) but on the mail account. When you "install" an add-in you only set a xml file on your mailbox that basically says "there is a web add-in out there called X and that is served at this url...". Then, if you install add-in X on your mailbox smaclell#mytestcompany.onmicrosoft.com, this add-in will load the add-in web iframes whether you are consulting your mailbox with Outlook Web Access (OWA) or Outlook Desktop.
To install the add-in for one user mailaccount, you have to use the Outlook Web Access. See this blog post. Note also that you can install the add-in for the whole organisation (Admin > Exchange Admin > Add-ins). Finally, Visual Studio is also able to push the manifest to your office 365 mailbox. To have this you need Office Development Tools.
For debugging in Outlook Desktop, I know two approaches.
Use the Office Developement Tools with visual studio
and select your sample add-in project as 'Starting project' and in properties select 'Office Desktop'.
Plain web development.
Personally, I do not use really much the Office Development Tools. I install manually my add-in with "https://localhost:XXXX" for url and I start the web project on IIS express to do the debugging. For stepping into the source code, I use the debugger of my browser (Chrome, Edge, IE etc.) when browsing in OWA. When I need to step into source code specifically on Desktop (For windows or for Mac) I use Vorlon.js see also this blog post.
My advice is also to test/debug frequently with IE 11 (still available in Win10!) and OWA. Indeed, the browser used internally by Office Desktop for the add-ins is IE.
I want to develop all-in-one add-in for Outlook. This means that this add-in will be available for all Outlook clients (desktop, web).
I read here that i can do this. I already created add-in for Outlook Web Application and tried to deploy it to desktop client, but didn't figure how to make it. So how to make it set on desktop and outlook.com? Is that really possible? And if yes, how it can be done?
Technically you can't make an add-in that will work 100% on all clients. The web-based add-ins currently only work with Mailboxes hosted on Office 365 or Exchange 2013 or greater, and with Outlook 2013 or greater. Outlook.com integration is coming this spring. COM/desktop add-ins work with Outlook 2000-2016, but not in OWA.
To deploy an add-in you need to either publish it to the Office Store or an Exchange Server. See here for more info: https://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/office/fp123515.aspx.
To install a self-published add-in that is not in the Office Store you just add the manifest file from the "Manage add-ins" page in OWA: https://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/office/fp142256.aspx
Note also that you must host your web add-in code in your own web server, and secured with an SSL certificate.