Sample Outlook COM add-in in VB.NET and C# with source code
Add-in Express Toys™ .NET
for Microsoft Outlook
Add-in Express Toys .NET is a free sample Outlook addin / plugin that adds two useful features to Microsoft Outlook. This plugin allows you to examine real Internet headers and the body of the selected message. The add-in shows how to create custom command bars for Outlook Explorer and Outlook Inspector, get access to Outlook objects and add custom option and property pages. Also, this add-in illustrates how to use Extended MAPI to avoid Microsoft Outlook security alerts.
The plugin is based on Add-in Express .NET and developed in every programming language supported by Add-in Express, namely Visual Basic .NET (VB .NET), C# and C++. It supports Microsoft Outlook 2000, Outlook 2002 (XP), Outlook 2003 and Outlook 2007.
How Add-in Express can enhance Outlook in Visual Studio.Net
Add-in Express .NET is a .NET object library developed specially for creating Outlook add-in / plug-in in Visual Studio 2003, 2005 and 2008. It can help you avoid the complexities of Office's ActiveX interfaces, and programming Outlook COM add-in will take you less than one third of the time it used to take. With Add-in Express you can:
- Develop COM addins for MS Outlook 2000, 2002 (XP), 2003 and Outlook 2007.
- Create Explorer and Inspector-specific toolbars and ribbons.
- Control all built-in command bars including context-sensitive pop-ups.
- Add new or customize existing tabs for the Microsoft Outlook 2007 Ribbon UI.
- Customize Microsoft Outlook windows, views and forms with Advanced Outlook Form and View Regions.
- Build the Quick Access Toolbar and Office Menu for Microsoft Outlook 2007.
- Develop custom task panes for Microsoft Outlook 2007.
- Extend the Outlook Reading pane, Navigation pane and To-Do bar with custom forms.
- Add new pages to the Outlook Options dialog box and to the Properties window for any Outlook folders and more.
- Add any visual .NET controls to Outlook toolbar, such as buttons, grids, labels, tree-views edit and combo boxes.
Add-in Express provides one entry point to access Outlook objects and events. It supports VB.NET, Managed C++ and C#. Find more about special features for Outlook plug-in development in .NET provided by Add-in Express.
Download sample Outlook add-in
Please note we haven't included compiled binaries in the setup package of the Add-in Express Toys .NET. You need Add-in Express .NET Edition to compile this sample Outlook add-in.
- Download sample Outlook COM add-in in C# (source code)
- Download sample Outlook add-in in Visual Basic .NET (source code)
- Download a compiled Outlook add-in (ready to install and use)
Add-in Express Toys .NET toolbar
Add-in Express Toys .NET adds to Outlook a new folder specific toolbar with tree buttons.
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The buttons are:
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Shows Add-in Express Toys .NET About window |
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Shows internet headers of the selected message.
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Safely shows the body of a selected message.
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Example toolbar
This example of Outlook add-in adds to Outlook a new inspector specific toolbar with one button.
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Marks the current message as unread. |
Add-in Express Toys Option page
This sample Outlook plug-in adds to Outlook Options menu a new option page named Add-in Express Toys.

Add-in Express Toys Folder Property page
Add-in Express Toys .NET for Outlook adds to the Outlook Inbox folder a new property page named Add-in Express Toys.






