Support for Managed-Code Smart Tags [Office 2003 SDK Documentation]

In Office 2003, there is new managed code support added for managed smart tag. Managed smart tags in Office 2003 do not need to be registered for com interop at HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT. Additionally, managed smart tags aren't subjected to Office 2003 security checks but to .NET security checks instead.

Built into Office 2003 is a COM component loader called the Microsoft Visual Studio Tools for the Microsoft Office System loader. Instead of the Office COM component loader, the Visual Studio Tools for Office loader in certain instances (that is, if certain conditions are fulfilled) will be called to load managed smart tag DLLs.

Managed smart tag DLLs loaded by the Visual Studio Tools for Office loader will be subjected to the Visual Studio Tools for Office loader security checks instead of the Office security check. The Visual Studio Tools for Office loader leverages the .NET security model and bypasses the Office certificate store entirely.

You can find detailed discussions on the Visual Studio Tools for Office loader, how to leverage it, security considerations, guidelines on setting .NET security policies and so forth in the Managed Smart Tag Security and Deploying Managed Smart Tag DLLssections.

Note  You do not need the Microsoft Visual Studio Tools for the Microsoft Office System (which is a product) installed on your computer to be able to use the Visual Studio Tools for Office loader. As stated above, the Visual Studio Tools for Office loader is built into Office 2003. It has been often asked if it is alright to have the Visual Studio Tools for Office installed on the same computer that runs managed smart tags that also use the Visual Studio Tools for Office loader. Yes, it is. Whether you have Visual Studio Tools for Office installed on your computer or not does not affect using the Visual Studio Tools for Office loader to load managed smart tag.

Note  The Visual Studio Tools for Office is a new suite of software tools that will provide developers, in one box, the tools and technologies they need to build the next generation of solutions for the Microsoft Office System. If you are unfamiliar as to what Visual Studio Tools for Office is, you will be able to find information on Microsoft Visual Studio .NET and Office Development Web site. A good starting point is the Visual Studio Tools for Office article.