certainlyNotHeisenberg's avatar
certainlyNotHeisenberg
Brass Contributor
Feb 08, 2022
Status:
New

Allow Outlook web add-ins to run without item context

Background

I recently posted two questions to Stack Overflow:

  • https://stackoverflow.com/questions/70977856/outlook-add-in-how-to-automatically-reply-based-on-custom-logic/70978643?noredirect=1
  • https://stackoverflow.com/questions/71008693/outlook-add-in-how-to-simulate-automatic-reply-with-external-service/71009440

In brief, I am trying to find a way to send an automatic reply to an email based on custom logic, e.g. whether the sender is verified according to an external service. (The automatic reply feature native to Outlook is extremely limited.)

 

The Oulook Add-Ins team answered that this is not currently possible because web add-ins require the context of an item to run. So, a user would need to manually select a message before the add-in could do anything.

 

Another Stack Overflow user answered that this is currently possible but with VSTO add-ins only. Unfortunately, VSTO is a very old framework and only works with Windows and desktop Outlook, while modern users often use web Outlook on other platforms.

 

Request: Allow Add-Ins to Run Without Item Context

Therefore, I request that Outlook add-ins be allowed to run without item context, so they can take action without the user manually selecting an item. This would allow me to build such an automatic reply feature.

 

Of course, it will be important to tightly scope what the add-in can do without item context and make users aware of what they're agreeing to by installing such an add-in. But this is entirely achievable, and users would very much benefit from an add-in that can do more for them.

 

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I'm currently unable to make any progress on my automatic replies feature, so please consider implementing this soon! Thank you.

3 Comments

  • SE-hlaliberte's avatar
    SE-hlaliberte
    Copper Contributor

    Would be really helpful to be able to have add-ins run without context or in the background directly.

    I'm currently using a service worker, but on some platform it is not the best for data management. Also you don't have access to basic Office.js functions.

    I would love to have some kind of background process or service worker that is supported across Office platforms.

  • markdon's avatar
    markdon
    Brass Contributor

    I have a similar use case where I don't need an item selected. 

     

    I have plans for a web application that look at the user's Calendar events for the day, checks for meeting links and presents a list of meetings that can be clicked to launch the meeting application and join the room for that meeting.

     

    No item context is necessary. A button in the Outlook Calendar view to open the add-in task pane would be perfect.

  • rsmets's avatar
    rsmets
    Copper Contributor

    Definitely a reasonable request. Not to mention OP did their research.

    Microsoft, how can we track the progress of this?