10 Office.js Best Practices

Office.js is a JavaScript API that allows developers to create web applications that integrate with Microsoft Office products. It provides a wide range of features and functionality, making it an invaluable tool for developers. However, Office.js can be difficult to use if you don’t follow best practices.

In this article, we’ll discuss 10 Office.js best practices that will help you get the most out of the API. We’ll cover topics such as caching, error handling, and performance optimization. By following these best practices, you’ll be able to create more efficient and reliable Office.js applications.

1. Use Promises to handle asynchronous calls

Promises are a way to handle asynchronous calls in JavaScript, and they provide an easier way to write code that handles asynchronous operations. Promises allow developers to write code that is more readable and maintainable than traditional callback-based approaches.

When using Office.js, Promises can be used to ensure that the code runs as expected when dealing with asynchronous operations such as loading documents or making API calls. For example, if you need to make an API call to get data from a server before displaying it in your add-in, you can use a Promise to ensure that the data is loaded before continuing with the rest of the code. This ensures that the code will run correctly even if the API call takes longer than expected.

Promises also help simplify error handling. When using Promises, errors can be handled by adding a .catch() block after the Promise chain. This allows for easy debugging and makes it easier to identify where errors occur in the code.

Using Promises also helps improve performance. Since Promises are non-blocking, they don’t slow down the main thread while waiting for an asynchronous operation to complete. This means that the user experience is improved since the UI remains responsive while the asynchronous operations are running in the background.

2. Prefer native Office.js APIs over the Common API

The Office.js APIs are designed to provide the best possible experience for users of Office Add-ins, and they offer a number of advantages over the Common API.

For starters, the native Office.js APIs are more performant than the Common API because they use an optimized communication layer that is tailored specifically for Office applications. This means that your add-in will run faster and be more responsive when using the native Office.js APIs.

Additionally, the native Office.js APIs are more reliable than the Common API. The native Office.js APIs have been tested extensively by Microsoft and are guaranteed to work in all supported versions of Office. On the other hand, the Common API is not as thoroughly tested and may not work reliably across different versions of Office.

Furthermore, the native Office.js APIs are more secure than the Common API. The native Office.js APIs use a secure communication channel between the add-in and the host application, which helps protect user data from malicious actors. The Common API does not offer this level of security.

When it comes to how to prefer native Office.js APIs over the Common API, there are several steps you can take. Firstly, make sure to check if the functionality you need is available in the native Office.js APIs before resorting to the Common API. Secondly, if you do need to use the Common API, try to limit its usage to only those features that are not available in the native Office.js APIs. Finally, always test your add-in with both the native Office.js APIs and the Common API to ensure that it works correctly in all supported versions of Office.

3. Leverage the Dialog API for user input

The Dialog API is a powerful tool for Office.js developers because it allows them to create custom dialog boxes that can be used to collect user input. This makes it easier for users to provide the information needed by an add-in, and also helps ensure that the data entered is valid. The Dialog API provides several different types of controls, such as text boxes, dropdowns, checkboxes, and radio buttons, which can be used to create a customized form tailored to the needs of the add-in.

Using the Dialog API also ensures that the user’s experience with the add-in is consistent across all platforms. Since the same code is used to generate the dialog box on each platform, the user will have the same experience regardless of whether they are using the add-in on Windows, Mac, or mobile devices. Additionally, since the Dialog API is part of the Office.js library, developers don’t need to worry about writing additional code to make their dialogs work on different platforms.

The Dialog API also simplifies the process of collecting user input. Instead of having to write separate code for each type of control, developers can use the Dialog API to quickly create a form with multiple fields. Furthermore, the Dialog API includes built-in validation features, so developers don’t have to manually validate user input. This saves time and reduces the risk of errors in the user input.

4. Minimize DOM manipulation in Office Add-ins

DOM manipulation is the process of changing, adding, or removing elements from a web page’s Document Object Model (DOM). This can be done using JavaScript and other scripting languages. DOM manipulation can cause performance issues in Office Add-ins because it requires additional processing power to update the DOM each time an element is changed. Additionally, if too many changes are made at once, the browser may become unresponsive.

To minimize DOM manipulation, developers should use the Office UI Fabric React library instead of directly manipulating the DOM. The Office UI Fabric React library provides components that have been optimized for Office Add-ins and are designed to reduce the amount of DOM manipulation needed. These components also provide better accessibility support than manually manipulating the DOM.

Developers should also take advantage of the Office.js API when possible. The Office.js API allows developers to access and manipulate data within Office documents without having to make any changes to the DOM. This reduces the amount of DOM manipulation required and improves performance.

When making changes to the DOM, developers should try to batch their updates as much as possible. Batching updates means combining multiple changes into one operation, which reduces the number of times the DOM needs to be updated. Developers should also avoid making unnecessary changes to the DOM, such as setting styles on elements that don’t need them.

5. Ensure that your code is backwards compatible

Backwards compatibility is important because it ensures that your code will work with older versions of Office. This means that users who are still using an older version of Office can use the same add-in without having to upgrade their software. It also helps ensure that any changes you make to the code won’t break existing functionality in earlier versions of Office.

To ensure backwards compatibility, you should always check for the presence of APIs and objects before attempting to use them. For example, if you want to use a feature that was introduced in Office 2016, you should first check to see if the API or object exists in the current version of Office. If it does not exist, then you should provide an alternative solution or fallback behavior.

You should also be aware of any breaking changes between different versions of Office. Breaking changes are changes to the API or object that cause existing code to no longer function as expected. To avoid this, you should test your code against multiple versions of Office to ensure that it works correctly.

It’s also important to keep track of which features are available in each version of Office. You can do this by checking the Office Dev Center documentation for the latest information on supported APIs and objects. This way, you’ll know exactly what features are available in each version of Office and can plan accordingly.

6. Use the Manifest Validator tool to troubleshoot issues

The Manifest Validator tool is a web-based application that helps developers validate their Office Add-in manifests. It checks the manifest for any errors or warnings, and provides detailed information about each issue found. This can be especially helpful when troubleshooting issues with an Office Add-in, as it can quickly identify potential problems in the manifest that could be causing the issue.

Using the Manifest Validator tool is easy. All you need to do is upload your manifest file to the validator, and it will automatically check it for any errors or warnings. If there are any issues, the validator will provide detailed information about them, including what line of code they appear on and how to fix them. This makes it much easier to pinpoint the source of the problem and resolve it quickly.

Additionally, the Manifest Validator tool also offers some useful features such as syntax highlighting, which makes it easier to read and understand the manifest code. It also allows users to compare two different versions of the same manifest side by side, so they can easily spot any differences between them. Finally, the validator also includes a “Manifest Explorer” feature, which allows users to view all the elements of the manifest in an organized tree structure. This makes it easier to find specific sections of the manifest and make changes if necessary.

7. Follow best practices when using custom functions

The first reason to follow best practices when using custom functions is that it helps ensure the security of your Office.js code. Custom functions are written in JavaScript, which means they can be vulnerable to malicious attacks if not properly secured. To help protect against these types of attacks, Microsoft recommends following best practices such as validating user input and avoiding global variables. Additionally, you should also use a secure coding framework like TypeScript or ESLint to help identify potential vulnerabilities in your code.

The second reason to follow best practices when using custom functions is that it helps improve performance. Custom functions are executed on the client side, so any inefficient code can cause slowdowns for users. To avoid this, Microsoft recommends writing efficient code by minimizing the number of API calls and optimizing loops and other operations. Additionally, you should also consider caching data whenever possible to reduce the amount of time spent retrieving information from external sources.

The third reason to follow best practices when using custom functions is that it helps maintain compatibility with different versions of Office. Since custom functions are written in JavaScript, they must be compatible with all supported versions of Office. To ensure compatibility, Microsoft recommends testing your code across multiple versions of Office before releasing it. Additionally, you should also keep an eye out for new features and APIs that may become available in future versions of Office, and update your code accordingly.

8. Utilize debugging tools available through Visual Studio

When developing Office.js applications, it is important to use the debugging tools available through Visual Studio in order to ensure that your code is running correctly and efficiently. The debugging tools allow you to step through your code line by line, set breakpoints, inspect variables, and view the call stack. This allows you to identify any errors or issues with your code quickly and easily.

The first step in using the debugging tools is setting up a debug configuration for your project. To do this, open the Debug menu in Visual Studio and select “New Configuration”. From here, you can choose which type of application you are debugging (e.g. Word, Excel, etc.) and configure the settings accordingly. Once the configuration is complete, you can start debugging your Office.js application.

Once the debug configuration is set up, you can begin debugging your Office.js application. You can set breakpoints at specific lines of code so that execution will pause when those lines are reached. This allows you to inspect variables and view the call stack to see what functions have been called and how they interact with each other. Additionally, you can step through your code line by line to make sure everything is working as expected.

9. Use the Office JS Snippet Explorer to find sample code

The Office JS Snippet Explorer is a great resource for developers who are new to the Office.js API, as it provides sample code snippets that can be used in their own projects. The Snippet Explorer contains hundreds of samples organized by product and feature, making it easy to find relevant code quickly. Additionally, each snippet includes detailed descriptions and links to related documentation, so developers can easily understand how to use the code.

Using the Snippet Explorer also helps developers save time when coding with Office.js. Instead of having to search through multiple sources or write code from scratch, they can simply copy and paste the sample code into their project. This eliminates the need to spend extra time researching and writing code, allowing developers to focus on other aspects of their project.

Furthermore, using the Snippet Explorer ensures that developers are using up-to-date code. All of the samples provided in the Snippet Explorer have been tested and verified to work with the latest version of Office.js, so developers don’t have to worry about compatibility issues.

10. Leverage the Office JavaScript API Training content to stay up to date

The Office JavaScript API Training content is a comprehensive set of resources that provide developers with the information they need to build powerful and reliable Office Add-ins. It includes tutorials, sample code, reference documentation, and more. This content is regularly updated to ensure it reflects the latest changes in the Office platform.

Using this training content helps developers stay up to date on the latest features and best practices for developing Office Add-ins. For example, if a new feature has been added to the Office platform, the training content will be updated to reflect this change. Additionally, the training content provides guidance on how to use the new feature correctly and efficiently.

The Office JavaScript API Training content also provides detailed instructions on how to debug an Office Add-in. Debugging can be difficult, especially when dealing with complex issues such as memory leaks or performance problems. The training content provides step-by-step instructions on how to identify and resolve these types of issues.

Furthermore, the Office JavaScript API Training content offers tips and tricks for optimizing an Office Add-in’s performance. These tips include using asynchronous programming techniques, caching data, and leveraging the Office Runtime library. By following these tips, developers can ensure their add-ins are running at peak efficiency.