What Online Is

Online software is a vital category of application that is hosted and operated over the internet. It is often provided as a service; a notable example being Connect Client Software Version 1.9. This type of software is designed to work on various systems, including Pyramid Systems and Sun Sparc Stations, and is characterized by its versioning, sometimes using special terms to denote different releases. Online software includes tools such as Intranet and WebEx, which are instrumental in enabling access to services or providing instructions to users. However, its use, particularly in educational institutions, requires preapproval by the ASCM.

Online services encompass a wide array of platforms that cater to different needs and activities on the internet. Social networks, for instance, serve as hubs for communication and expression. E-commerce platforms facilitate the online marketplace, while search engines and email are essential for information retrieval and electronic communication, respectively. Cloud services provide remote storage and access to data and applications; entertainment services stream various media content; productivity services support task and project management; navigation services are crucial for travel planning; and fintechs offer financial services with competitive fees.

Online data represents the digital footprint left by customers interacting with brands on the internet. This data is crucial for marketers to decipher customer behavior, with tools like browser cookies and web analytics providing valuable insights into website navigation and customer paths. Social media platforms shed light on user content preferences, while transactions, chat logs, and digital ad interactions contribute to the comprehensive picture of how customers engage with brands digitally.

Online Plugins for Excel

Inserting and Accessing Add-ins

Office Add-ins can be seamlessly integrated into Excel worksheets, enhancing their capabilities. Users can access these add-ins by navigating through the Excel interface and selecting 'File' > 'Get Add-ins' or by going to the 'Home' tab and choosing 'Add-ins'.

Browsing and Adding Add-ins from the Store

The Office Add-ins store provides a 'Store' tab where users can browse through the available add-ins. Add-ins can be sorted and filtered by various criteria, such as category, name, or rating, to help users find the most relevant tools for their needs. Once an add-in is selected, users can read more about it by clicking its name and can then add it to their Excel by clicking 'Add' or 'Buy'. Users may be required to sign in with their Office program credentials to complete the addition of an add-in.

Personalized Add-in Recommendations

To further assist users in finding useful add-ins, the Store offers a 'Suggested for you' feature that recommends add-ins based on the user's needs and usage patterns. This personalized approach helps streamline the process of enhancing Excel's functionality.

Searching for Specific Add-ins

If users know what they are looking for, they can utilize the search box within the Add-ins store to quickly locate specific add-ins. This feature saves time and makes the process of finding and adding new functionality to Excel more efficient.

Excel Web Add-ins

Excel web add-ins are designed to extend Excel's functionality across multiple platforms, utilizing standard web technologies like HTML, CSS, and JavaScript. They enable interaction with Excel objects, offer the ability to read and write Excel data, and can feature web-based task panes, content panes, custom ribbon buttons, and contextual menu items. Additionally, Excel web add-ins can include custom functions and dialog windows for richer interaction.

The Office Add-ins platform, which includes the Office.js JavaScript APIs, supports the creation and execution of Excel web add-ins, allowing them to function across Office on the web, Windows, Mac, and iPad. Centralized deployment is supported, enabling administrators to distribute add-ins organization-wide. An Excel web add-in consists of a web application that interacts with Excel and online resources and a manifest file that defines its integration with Office clients.

Excel web add-ins facilitate interaction with workbook content through the Office JavaScript API, allowing for operations such as creating, reading, updating, and deleting data in a workbook. They also support user authorization with online services using OAuth 2.0 and can issue API requests to Microsoft Graph or other APIs. To utilize an Excel web add-in, its manifest file must be published to AppSource or an add-ins catalog.

Common Use Cases

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  Integrate custom ribbon buttons and contextual menus for specialized tasks
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  Perform data operations such as creation, reading, updating, and deletion within the workbook
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  Embed rich web-based objects or data displays directly into Excel documents
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  Facilitate OAuth 2.0 user authorization for secure interactions with online services
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  Issue API requests to Microsoft Graph for extended functionality and data access