How to create .NET Word COM add-in: VB .NET, C#
samples with source code

Add-in Express Toys™ .NET
for Microsoft Word


Add-in Express Toys .NET is a free Word COM add-in / plugin that adds several useful features to MS Word. This sample addin is based on Add-in Express for Office and .NET Edition and gives you an example of how to create Microsoft Word COM add-ins, how to manage add-in toolbars and controls, and how to get access to Word objects. Add-in Express Toys .NET for Word supports MS Word 2000, Word 2002 (XP), Word 2003 and Word 2007.

How Add-in Express .NET can simplify developing Word add-ins

Add-in Express is a .NET object library for writing COM add-ins, smart tags and RTD servers in Visual Studio 2003, 2005 and Visual Studio 2008. It will help you to:

  • Create COM add-in for Microsoft Word 2000, 2002 (XP), 2003 and Word 2007.
  • Create new command bars, command bar controls and handle them.
  • Add new or customize existing tabs for the Microsoft Word 2007 Ribbon UI.
  • Build the Quick Access Toolbar and the Office Menu for Microsoft Word 2007.
  • Catch any built-in command bars and their controls.
  • Override Word events such as BeforeDocumentSave and BeforeDocumentClose.
  • Develop smart tag libraries for Word.

Add-in Express uses the Word.Application object to give you an entry point to all Word objects and their events. It supports Visual Basic (VB.NET), Managed C++ and C#. More about Office COM add-in development with Add-in Express .NET.

Download sample Word add-in

Note. The add-in is developed in C# on Microsoft Visual Studio .NET 7.1. The source code doesn't include the Add-in Express for Office and .NET source files.

Add-in Express Toys .NET toolbar

Add-in Express Toys .NET for Word adds to Word a new toolbar with several controls:

The buttons are:

Shows Add-in Express Toys .NET About window.

Stretches or compresses text vertically and horizontally as a percentage of its current size.

Increases or decreases the space between characters.

Raises or lowers the selected text in relation to the baseline.

Applies an animation to the selected text.