In this article, you'll walk through the process of building a Word task pane add-in.
Create the add-in
You can create an Office Add-in by using the Yeoman generator for Office Add-ins or Visual Studio. The Yeoman generator creates a Node.js project that can be managed with Visual Studio Code or any other editor, whereas Visual Studio creates a Visual Studio solution. Select the tab for the one you'd like to use and then follow the instructions to create your add-in and test it locally.
Node.js (the latest LTS version). Visit the Node.js site to download and install the right version for your operating system.
The latest version of Yeoman and the Yeoman generator for Office Add-ins. To install these tools globally, run the following command via the command prompt.
npm install -g yo generator-office
Note
Even if you've previously installed the Yeoman generator, we recommend you update your package to the latest version from npm.
Office connected to a Microsoft 365 subscription (including Office on the web).
Note
If you don't already have Office, you can join the Microsoft 365 developer program to get a free, 90-day renewable Microsoft 365 subscription to use during development.
Create the add-in project
Run the following command to create an add-in project using the Yeoman generator.
yo office
Note
When you run the yo office command, you may receive prompts about the data collection policies of Yeoman and the Office Add-in CLI tools. Use the information that's provided to respond to the prompts as you see fit.
When prompted, provide the following information to create your add-in project.
Choose a project type:Office Add-in Task Pane project
Choose a script type:JavaScript
What do you want to name your add-in?My Office Add-in
Which Office client application would you like to support?Word
After you complete the wizard, the generator creates the project and installs supporting Node components.
Tip
You can ignore the next steps guidance that the Yeoman generator provides after the add-in project's been created. The step-by-step instructions within this article provide all of the guidance you'll need to complete this tutorial.
Explore the project
The add-in project that you've created with the Yeoman generator contains sample code for a basic task pane add-in. If you'd like to explore the components of your add-in project, open the project in your code editor and review the files listed below. When you're ready to try out your add-in, proceed to the next section.
The ./manifest.xml file in the root directory of the project defines the settings and capabilities of the add-in.
The ./src/taskpane/taskpane.html file contains the HTML markup for the task pane.
The ./src/taskpane/taskpane.css file contains the CSS that's applied to content in the task pane.
The ./src/taskpane/taskpane.js file contains the Office JavaScript API code that facilitates interaction between the task pane and the Office client application.
Try it out
Navigate to the root folder of the project.
cd "My Office Add-in"
Complete the following steps to start the local web server and sideload your add-in.
Note
Office Add-ins should use HTTPS, not HTTP, even while you're developing. If you're prompted to install a certificate after you run one of the following commands, accept the prompt to install the certificate that the Yeoman generator provides. You may also have to run your command prompt or terminal as an administrator for the changes to be made.
Tip
If you're testing your add-in on Mac, run the following command before proceeding. When you run this command, the local web server starts.
npm run dev-server
To test your add-in in Word, run the following command in the root directory of your project. This starts the local web server (if it's not already running) and opens Word with your add-in loaded.
npm start
To test your add-in in Word on a browser, run the following command in the root directory of your project. When you run this command, the local web server starts. Replace "{url}" with the URL of a Word document on your OneDrive or a SharePoint library to which you have permissions.
Note
If you are developing on a Mac, enclose the {url} in single quotation marks. Do not do this on Windows.
npm run start:web -- --document {url}
The following are examples.
npm run start:web -- --document https://contoso.sharepoint.com/:t:/g/EZGxP7ksiE5DuxvY638G798BpuhwluxCMfF1WZQj3VYhYQ?e=F4QM1R
npm run start:web -- --document https://1drv.ms/x/s!jkcH7spkM4EGgcZUgqthk4IK3NOypVw?e=Z6G1qp
npm run start:web -- --document https://contoso-my.sharepoint-df.com/:t:/p/user/EQda453DNTpFnl1bFPhOVR0BwlrzetbXvnaRYii2lDr_oQ?e=RSccmNP
In Word, if the "My Office Add-in" task pane isn't already open, open a new document, choose the Home tab, and then choose the Show Taskpane button on the ribbon to open the add-in task pane.
At the bottom of the task pane, choose the Run link to add the text "Hello World" to the document in blue font.
Next steps
Congratulations, you've successfully created a Word task pane add-in! Next, learn more about the capabilities of a Word add-in and build a more complex add-in by following along with the Word add-in tutorial.
If you've previously installed Visual Studio, use the Visual Studio Installer to ensure that the Office/SharePoint development workload is installed.
Office connected to a Microsoft 365 subscription (including Office on the web).
Create the add-in project
In Visual Studio, choose Create a new project.
Using the search box, enter add-in. Choose Word Web Add-in, then select Next.
Name your project and select Create.
Visual Studio creates a solution and its two projects appear in Solution Explorer. The Home.html file opens in Visual Studio.
Explore the Visual Studio solution
When you've completed the wizard, Visual Studio creates a solution that contains two projects.
Project
Description
Add-in project
Contains only an XML manifest file, which contains all the settings that describe your add-in. These settings help the Office application determine when your add-in should be activated and where the add-in should appear. Visual Studio generates the contents of this file for you so that you can run the project and use your add-in immediately. Change these settings any time by modifying the XML file.
Web application project
Contains the content pages of your add-in, including all the files and file references that you need to develop Office-aware HTML and JavaScript pages. While you develop your add-in, Visual Studio hosts the web application on your local IIS server. When you're ready to publish the add-in, you'll need to deploy this web application project to a web server.
Update the code
Home.html specifies the HTML that will be rendered in the add-in's task pane. In Home.html, replace the <body> element with the following markup and save the file.
<body>
<div id="content-header">
<div class="padding">
<h1>Welcome</h1>
</div>
</div>
<div id="content-main">
<div class="padding">
<p>Choose the buttons below to add boilerplate text to the document by using the Word JavaScript API.</p>
<br />
<h3>Try it out</h3>
<button id="emerson">Add quote from Ralph Waldo Emerson</button>
<br /><br />
<button id="checkhov">Add quote from Anton Chekhov</button>
<br /><br />
<button id="proverb">Add Chinese proverb</button>
</div>
</div>
<br />
<div id="supportedVersion"/>
</body>
Open the file Home.js in the root of the web application project. This file specifies the script for the add-in. Replace the entire contents with the following code and save the file.
'use strict';
(function () {
Office.onReady(function() {
// Office is ready.
$(document).ready(function () {
// The document is ready.
// Use this to check whether the API is supported in the Word client.
if (Office.context.requirements.isSetSupported('WordApi', '1.1')) {
// Do something that is only available via the new APIs.
$('#emerson').click(insertEmersonQuoteAtSelection);
$('#checkhov').click(insertChekhovQuoteAtTheBeginning);
$('#proverb').click(insertChineseProverbAtTheEnd);
$('#supportedVersion').html('This code is using Word 2016 or later.');
} else {
// Lets you know that this code will not work with your version of Word.
$('#supportedVersion').html('This code requires Word 2016 or later.');
}
});
});
async function insertEmersonQuoteAtSelection() {
await Word.run(async (context) => {
// Create a proxy object for the document.
const thisDocument = context.document;
// Queue a command to get the current selection.
// Create a proxy range object for the selection.
const range = thisDocument.getSelection();
// Queue a command to replace the selected text.
range.insertText('"Hitch your wagon to a star." - Ralph Waldo Emerson\n', Word.InsertLocation.replace);
// Synchronize the document state by executing the queued commands,
// and return a promise to indicate task completion.
await context.sync();
console.log('Added a quote from Ralph Waldo Emerson.');
})
.catch(function (error) {
console.log('Error: ' + JSON.stringify(error));
if (error instanceof OfficeExtension.Error) {
console.log('Debug info: ' + JSON.stringify(error.debugInfo));
}
});
}
async function insertChekhovQuoteAtTheBeginning() {
await Word.run(async (context) => {
// Create a proxy object for the document body.
const body = context.document.body;
// Queue a command to insert text at the start of the document body.
body.insertText('"Knowledge is of no value unless you put it into practice." - Anton Chekhov\n', Word.InsertLocation.start);
// Synchronize the document state by executing the queued commands,
// and return a promise to indicate task completion.
await context.sync();
console.log('Added a quote from Anton Chekhov.');
})
.catch(function (error) {
console.log('Error: ' + JSON.stringify(error));
if (error instanceof OfficeExtension.Error) {
console.log('Debug info: ' + JSON.stringify(error.debugInfo));
}
});
}
async function insertChineseProverbAtTheEnd() {
await Word.run(async (context) => {
// Create a proxy object for the document body.
const body = context.document.body;
// Queue a command to insert text at the end of the document body.
body.insertText('"To know the road ahead, ask those coming back." - Chinese proverb\n', Word.InsertLocation.end);
// Synchronize the document state by executing the queued commands,
// and return a promise to indicate task completion.
await context.sync();
console.log('Added a quote from a Chinese proverb.');
})
.catch(function (error) {
console.log('Error: ' + JSON.stringify(error));
if (error instanceof OfficeExtension.Error) {
console.log('Debug info: ' + JSON.stringify(error.debugInfo));
}
});
}
})();
Open the file Home.css in the root of the web application project. This file specifies the custom styles for the add-in. Replace the entire contents with the following code and save the file.
Open the XML manifest file in the add-in project. This file defines the add-in's settings and capabilities.
The ProviderName element has a placeholder value. Replace it with your name.
The DefaultValue attribute of the DisplayName element has a placeholder. Replace it with My Office Add-in.
The DefaultValue attribute of the Description element has a placeholder. Replace it with A task pane add-in for Word.
Save the file.
...
<ProviderName>John Doe</ProviderName>
<DefaultLocale>en-US</DefaultLocale>
<!-- The display name of your add-in. Used on the Store and various places of the Office UI such as the add-ins dialog. -->
<DisplayName DefaultValue="My Office Add-in" />
<Description DefaultValue="A task pane add-in for Word"/>
...
Try it out
Using Visual Studio, test the newly created Word add-in by pressing F5 or choosing Debug > Start Debugging to launch Word with the Show Taskpane add-in button displayed on the ribbon. The add-in will be hosted locally on IIS.
In Word, if the add-in task pane isn't already open, choose the Home tab, and then choose the Show Taskpane button on the ribbon to open the add-in task pane. (If you're using the volume-licensed perpetual version of Office, instead of the Microsoft 365 version or a retail perpetual version, then custom buttons aren't supported. Instead, the task pane will open immediately.)
In the task pane, choose any of the buttons to add boilerplate text to the document.
Congratulations, you've successfully created a Word task pane add-in! Next, to learn more about developing Office Add-ins with Visual Studio, continue to the following article.
The automatic npm install step yo office performs may fail. If you see errors when trying to run npm start, navigate to the newly created project folder in a command prompt and manually run npm install. For more information about yo office, see Create Office Add-in projects using the Yeoman Generator.
