Add-in (reverse) compatibility

[khamael]

Hello,

An Outlook add-in made in visual studio .net 2003, is compatible with
wich versions of Outlook (and Windows I suppose)?

Can anyone help me with this?

Thank you,
Paulo

 

[Ken Slovak - [MVP - Outlook]]

Only compatible with Outlook 2003. You would need to compile with Outlook
2000 or use late binding to have it work with all versions and with .NET
code you have the problems with different PIA's and so on.

 

[khamael]

Let me put things in other way:

I want to make an add-in for outlook. What are the possibilities?

1) C# / PIA's / COM - compatible with 2003 only (with the right PIA's
shouldn't it work)?
2) c++ / ...? - compatible with 2000 and higher?

 

[Ken Slovak - [MVP - Outlook]]

For information on using .NET languages for an Outlook COM addin see
http://www.microeye.com/resources/res_outlookvsnet.htm. That link has
information on trying to use your addin with different versions of Outlook.

For COM languages you can use just about anything you are familiar with. I
personally use VB 6 for all my COM addins.

No matter what language or platform you use you have 2 choices. Either
compile on a machine with the oldest version of Outlook you want to support
installed and only use methods and properties and events that are available
on that version of Outlook, or late bind your Outlook objects.