ASP.Net custom form question for the experts

[Mike]

Hello. I am developing a beta version of an add-in which basically creates a
folder, associates a custom Add-In-Express form with that folder, and
displays the form via a custom command bar button. The function of the
add-in is basically to query a back-end and provide results in a grid, which,
when double clicked, open an Outlook message.

I would like to turn this app into a web application as opposed to an
add-in, and still run an add-in component that interacts with what the web
form pulls back from the back end. The web form can be hosted inside of
Outlook can it not? If I associate the custom folder's home page with my new
web application? Further, I would still need some Interop integration since
the web form would at some point need to pop up an address book (currently
done through Redemption). Can my site somehow still pop up the address book
in this same method? Or since it is server side now is there some other way?

Would what I'm describing here be out of the realm of a typical Outlook
add-in? I'd appreciate any opinions all of you might have. Thanks in
advance.

 

[Ken Slovak - [MVP - Outlook]]

Server side won't cut it for Outlook code since Outlook is on the client and
you'd need to run your code client-side too. Usually for something like that
the addin connects to a Web service using SOAP. Otherwise your server would
have to download code to the client to run there.

Also, folder home pages do have restrictions for security reasons as to what
they can do. Some things like some ActiveX controls might be restricted from
running.