Introduction
In this article, we will see how to create an Excel add-in and how to run it.
Excel add-in is an application that we can run inside of Excel to increase the functionality. We can build Excel add-ins by using HTML, CSS, JavaScript, C#, or any other technology. It does not matter what platform we are using it will work (Excel for windows, mac, web- office 365 account).
Steps to Create Excel Add-in
Step 1
We need to install Yeoman generator (yo) and generator-office globally using npm.
Step 2
Run npm install -g yo generator-office to install yo and office project template generator globally.
Step 3
Run yo office command to create an add-in project.
Step 4
When you run the above command, it will ask for below information.
- 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? - Excel
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Once you complete the wizard, the generator will create the project and install supporting Node components.
Step 5
Go your project using this command cd "My Office Add-in".
Step 6
Run this command to start development server npm run dev-server.
Step 7
Run npm start this command to run your add-ins.
Step 8
Once you run the above command it opens Excel desktop apps with your add-ins. You can see your add-ins in Home Tab.
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Step 9
When you click on add-ins it will open a side pane.
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Conclusion
This is how we can easily create an Excel add-in and test it. Using office add-ins we can increase our office functionality.