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Outlook developer roadmap

Outlook solution developers can programmatically access the power of Outlook directly from their applications. Use the Outlook Developer Roadmap to explore and select one or more development technologies supported by Outlook. Learn about the building blocks for the Outlook object model, and find corresponding code samples, videos, conceptual overviews, API references, and technical articles.

APIs and technologies used by managed solutions:

  • Outlook Primary Interop Assembly (PIA)
  • Outlook Auxiliary APIs
  • Office Mobile Service

APIs and technologies used by unmanaged solutions:

  • Outlook Object Model
  • Messaging API (MAPI)
  • Outlook Auxiliary APIs
  • Outlook Social Connector (OSC) Provider Extensibility

We welcome your comments or questions about this content. You can send feedback about the Outlook Developer Roadmap to docthis@microsoft.com.

Getting started to extend Outlook

Topic
Resources
Getting Started

Outlook object model

Topic
Resources
Getting Started

Use the Outlook object model or primary interop assembly (PIA) to develop unmanaged or managed solutions that extend Outlook's capabilities and provide data or functional integration with Outlook. See also the section for the Outlook PIA for developing solutions using managed code.

Samples
Documentation
User Interface

Forms

Explorer and Inspector Ribbons, Menus, Contextual Tabs, Backstage View

Navigation Pane and Navigation Modules

Solutions Module

Outlook View Control

Components

Outlook Items

Accounts

Address Books and Address Lists

Attachments

Categories

Conversations

Electronic Business Cards

Folders and Stores

Properties

Rules

Sessions

Solution Storage

Tables

Views

Functions

Messaging API (MAPI)

Topic
Resources
Getting Started

Use MAPI to develop unmanaged solutions that access items and folders in public and private stores, and properties stored with each item.

Samples
Documentation

Outlook Auxiliary API

Topic
Resources
Getting Started

Use auxiliary APIs to develop unmanaged or managed solutions, to extend Outlook further than supported by the object model and MAPI. For example, manage account information and changes, configure Outlook, and provide free/busy and other calendar support.

Samples

Code Samples

Documentation

Mobile service

Topic
Resources
Getting Started

Use the Office Mobile Service APIs to develop web services to integrate the mobile capabilities of Outlook and SharePoint with their mobile devices.

Documentation
Outlook site:
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