COM and VSTO add-ins aren't supported in the https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/office/dev/add-ins/outlook/one-outlook :
The new Outlook on Windows aims to unify the extensibility experience across all Outlook platforms. To provide a more reliable and stable add-in experience, VSTO and COM add-ins aren't supported in the new Outlook on Windows. To ensure your add-in continues to work in the new Outlook on Windows, you must migrate your VSTO or COM add-in to an Outlook web add-in.
The major issue for us is that the ribbon access and customization is somewhat non-existent in Outlook web add-ins. We can only have in the manifest :
- Button controls that execute a JavaScript function or show a task pane
- Menu controls composed of items that execute a JavaScript function or show a task pane
This is way too limited. We need the https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/javascript/api/requirement-sets/common/ribbon-api-requirement-sets?view=word-js-preview currently only available in Excel to be able to https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/office/dev/add-ins/design/disable-add-in-commands and https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/office/dev/add-ins/design/contextual-tabs. We also need more controls like toggle buttons and checkboxes. All these things are available in COM and VSTO add-ins but not in Outlook web add-ins, which renders the migration impossible.
At this point of time in Outlook web add-ins, we can't even have a simple button control or menu item that enables a custom add-in feature with a label "Enable this [feature]" and make this button / item appear enabled when the user clicks it since there is no way to dynamically change the label to display another text such as "Disable this [feature]" and there is no toggle or checkboxes buttons available either.
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Yes, in cybersecurity and spam control, we require the users to manage possible spam using the add-in button available in the usual desktop app. Still, it's painful to request the users to do all the current processes to add it to the new outlook. For admin and GPO this feature should be mandatory...
