I can't seem to find a simple answer. Is there a recommended way to do this? I'd like to build my help files as I build out my functionality.
VSTO doesn't have extensible Help. You have to add it wherever it makes the most sense for you: in the ribbon, a task pane, the backstage (File menu), context menus, etc.
Related
I have a set of word macros which I need to share it with my friends. I want to make the job easy for them such that I share them an installable which they will install and all my macros will be automatically added in their PC's MS word s/w (If possible in the MS word ribbon as a shortcut). Is this possible? If yes, please let me know.
Thanks
Bala
Is this possible? If yes, please let me know.
Yes, this is possible.
Not using the ribbon, you can save the macros to a DOT template file and distribute that, or to the default Normal.dot file.
Using the ribbon is more advanced: you would need to create an Add-in and hook the macros to the Add-in's Ribbon UI XML. There is an excellent tutorial/example here:
http://gregmaxey.mvps.org/word_tip_pages/customize_ribbon_main.html
Also see Microsoft's documentation/example, here:
http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/aa338202(v=office.12).aspx
Is there a way to write VBA Code in Visual Studio. If not is there any other alternatives?
The best you can do is bend the office Visual Basic Editor (VBE) tool to your liking. If you stay in it's native environment you get the full power of error detection, Intellisense, live code running, etc.
My tips...
In the VBE go to Tools > Options > Editor tab.
Turn off 'Auto Syntax Check'. You still get code highlighted errors but no annoying popups.
Go to the Editor Format tab and change the Font to Consolas (Western), Size 11.
For code indenting install the awesome, free, Code Manager. It adds some sick keyboard shortcuts.
Make the Edit toolbar easily accessible for code commenting/uncommenting.
Use Rubberduck to add unit testing, source control, code inspections and refactoring functionality.
With those simple changes you end up with a half way decent, useful, and keyboard friendly environment to write your visually appealing code. :-D
VBA code for Excel can only be written inside Excel using the VBA IDE. VBA projects are stored as part of the Excel file and cannot be loaded into Visual Studio.
However, you can write VSTO (Visual Studio Tools for Office) managed add-ins for Excel using Visual Studio. The following MSDN page covers both developing with VBA and VSTO.
Excel for developers
You could also use the interop features of VBA to consume a (COM) object written in Visual Studio from your VBA code.
I've been looking for an answer to this question myself.
Best I've found myself is the option of exporting a Module ect from Excel with the code you've already written (or blank) and load that up in the Visual Studio Environment.
It doesn't offer much, but the highlighted text and auto indenting is nice and makes it much easier to read compared to the standard VBA environment.
Then once you're done just import it back into Excel.
There is a VSCode extension to do this.
It allows you to write code in VSCode and export it to Excel.
This extension is very useful when you develop in VBA.
Here's the link to download the XVBA extension
Edit :
As Peter Macej said in comment, this solution only works for Visual Studio Code not for Visual Studio
You can certainly add and edit a VBA file (.vb) in your Visual Studio solution, but the intellisense will be worthless/screwed up.
This extension for VScode would probably provide a much better experience: https://marketplace.visualstudio.com/items?itemName=spences10.VBA
If your goal is have your VBA code exposed to source control so you can track changes, then it's still worth it to include in your Visual Studio solution, but just store that VBA code in a plain text file and then use the Excel interop to load it into the appropriate module within the excel workbook, e.g.:
xlWorkbook.VBProject.VBComponents["ThisWorkbook"].CodeModule.AddFromFile(#"C:\PathToYour\VBAcode.txt");
And there are other methods to delete/replace code lines, etc....
You can try xlWings package for python and use it with VS Code https://youtu.be/xoO-Fx0fTpM
I'm trying to build a sandboxed solution visual webpart that includes a richtext field, the inputformtextbox control, and it looks like the better part of the Microsoft.SharePoint.Webcontrols namespace isn't available in sandboxed solution? Is this true? Has anyone come across a workaround for this?
There's a workaround, the Ajax libraries have a Richtext editor.
When working in a VB.NET project in Visual Studio (2008 specifically, but hopefully the answer applies to any version) is it possible to have intellisense/auto-complete only show the "All" tab instead of the "Common"/"All" tab? Or alternatively, have it default to the "All" tab.
Being predominately a C# developer having the editor try to be smarter than me by telling me what it thinks I should be looking for is more of an annoyance than anything.
NOTE: I do have ReSharper and DevExpress installed, so if the solution only works with one of those tools it is available.
I am afraid I don't know of a way to default to the All tab. I have grown accustomed to using keyboard shortcuts to toggle between the two, to a degree where it doesn't bother me anymore.
I know its not what you are looking for, but maybe it can help you anyway :)
[ALT]+[.] Go to All tab
[ALT]+[,] Go to Common tab
I know a lot of ways how to extend Outlook and add new Reading Panes and Inspectors to the Outlook, but what really bugs me is how to extend and modify the existing reading panes?
I'd like to add more information on these panes without recreating them from scratch.
Check if this will work for you.
http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/dd492010%28v=office.12%29.aspx
http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/bb226713%28v=office.12%29.aspx
There are other ways to do this, but this seems to be a pretty good starting place.
You can add a form region with custom controls to the Reading Pane.
regards,
yenkay