FP2000: How to Work With COM Add-ins in FrontPage 2000

ID: Q232680

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SUMMARY

This article describes the basics of using Component Object Model (COM) add-ins in FrontPage, and also provides some general information about COM add-ins.


MORE INFORMATION

What is a COM add-in?

One way to provide users with a custom Microsoft Office solution is to develop and distribute an add-in. An add-in extends an Office application by adding functionality that is not in the core product. For example, an add-in might add new menu commands or toolbar buttons that display custom forms to add new features to an Office application.

All Office 2000 applications support the new add-in architecture called COM. These add-ins allow developers to create a single add-in that can run in any application. Visual Basic for Applications (VBA) developers can create COM add-ins by using Office 2000 Developer. COM add-ins can also be created by developers who are using one of the following programming languages:

Why would I use a COM add-in?

A COM add-in can be used to extend the capabilities of Microsoft FrontPage. It is also a way to distribute functionality without explicitly sharing the code. In this way, you can develop and distribute code that is compiled into a DLL to be used in extending the functionality of FrontPage.

You may also document the functionality of your add-in, and allow other developers to build on that functionality.

The objects that you create in an add-in will appear in the Object Browser if you create a reference to the COM add-in.

How do I compile the code I have written into a COM Add-in?

You must have the Office Developer tools installed on you computer to use the functionality necessary for creating a COM add-in. To create a COM add-in, follow these steps:
  1. In the FrontPage Visual Basic Editor, click New Project on the File menu.

    NOTE: This menu item is only available after you have installed the Office Developer tools.


  2. Click Add-In Project, and click OK. This will open the Add-in Designer.


  3. Type an Add-in Display name, and select the application you want to create the add-in.


  4. Add the modules or forms to the add-in.


  5. When you are finished adding your code to the add-in project, you may select Make AddInProject.DLL from the File menu.


  6. Type the name of the file and location where you want to place the compiled DLL, and click OK.


Now that I've created a COM add-in, how do I add a COM add-in to FrontPage on another computer?

Once you have compiled your COM add-in, you can distribute the .DLL or .exe file you have created. You may distribute this file through email, disk, Internet, or network transfer. After you have distributed your add-in, use the following steps on the computer you want to add the COM add-in to:
  1. Open FrontPage on the computer you want to use the add-in on.


  2. On the Tools menu, click Add-ins.


  3. In the Com Add-Ins dialog box, click Add.


  4. From you file system, click to select the add-in you want to add, and click OK.


  5. Click to select the add-in check box, and click OK.


Where can I find more information about COM add-ins?

For more information about Com Add-ins collection, in the Visual Basic Editor, click Microsoft Visual Basic Help on the Help menu, type "COMAddins" in the Office Assistant or the Answer Wizard, and then click Search to view the topic.


For more information about using Com Add-ins, please see the following Microsoft World Wide Web sites:
http://www.microsoft.com/COM
http://msdn.microsoft.com/officedev/
For more information about Com Add-ins, look at the white paper named ComAddins.doc located in the \Wpapers folder on your Office Developer compact disc.

Additional query words: front page fpfaq 


Keywords          : kbdta 
Version           : WINDOWS:
Platform          : WINDOWS 
Issue type        : kbinfo

Last Reviewed: July 1, 1999