I’m using Add-in-Express to develop a prototype of our plugin for Outlook and what I really would like to have is possibility to collapse/expand plugin form when it is docked directly inside main Outlook window. I suspect that Outlook VSTO API is not allowing to do such thing and probably Add-In-Express can’t do it either but maybe somebody knows some hack that could be of help.
To clarify technical side of my situation:
- I have ADXOIFormsManager with one ADXOlForm
- ADXOlForm has property ExplorerLayout set to “RightReadingPane”
- ADXOlForm has property ExplorerAllowedDropRegions set to “RightReadingPane;DockRight”
Now, when Outlook starts plugin has a collapse/expand button and it works. But if I drag plugin to the second allowed dock region that is basically right side of main window button disapears.
So, is it possible to force somehow collapse/expand functionality for my plugin regardless of docking region or that’s just a way it is and I have to accept it? If the latter is true how it is possible that for example Xobni plugin does it? Do they manipulate Outlook’s windows on WinApi level and change their sizes to work with Xobni or they just simulate that behavior and just change plugin size to look like it was minimized in similar way
To-Do Bar is?
UPDATE
I know that according to what Add-in-Express team says on their forum and in docs it is limitation of VSTO API but I’d like to know if maybe somebody hack it.
Ok, diggin’ through google ensured me that what I wanted to do can’t be done directly with Add-In-Express API so I chose to cheat a little and simulate needed behavior.
So, what I did:
Of course I had to fix some layout problems with controls when switching between expand and collapse state but basically I have what I wanted: Add-In-Express based plugin with expand/collapse functionality regardless of place where plugin is docked.