This demo shows how to build and Office Add-in using React with TypeScript. In addition to Office.js, the demo uses the Office Fabric UI for styling and formatting the user experience.

The finished solution is provided in this folder to simplify demonstrations. If you want to run the finished project, clone the repository, run npm install, then npm run start and follow one of these methods to sideload and test the Office Add-in.

• Windows: Sideload Office Add-ins on Windows
• Excel Online: Sideload Office Add-ins in Office Online
• iPad and Mac: Sideload Office Add-ins on iPad and Mac

• A consumer OneDrive account. OneDrive is used to test the Office Add-in.

• Code editor such as Visual Studio Code for developing the solution.

• Node.js LTS: Node is required to setup, build, and run the project.

• Office Yeoman Generator: The Office Yeoman Generator is used to create the Office Add-in projects and XML manifests.

  npm install -g yo generator-office

• A free API key from Alpha Vantage: Registration is free and you will use the API key when creating stock quote requests.

In this exercise, you will develop an Office Add-in using React and TypeScript. You will provision a new project using the Office Yeoman generator, develop the add-in using Office.js, and test the add-in in Microsoft Office Online.

1. Open a terminal/command prompt, and change directories to the location where you want to create the project.

2. Run the Office Yeoman generator using the command yo office.

   yo office

3. The Office Yeoman generator will ask a number of question. Use the following responses:

   • Choose a project type? Office Add-in Task Pane project using React framework
   • Choose a script type? Typescript
   • What do you want to name your add-in? Excel Portfolio
   • Which Office client application would you like to support? Excel

   

4. When the Yeoman generator completes, change directories to the project folder and open the folder in your favorite code editor (you can use the command code . for Visual Studio Code).

   Note: You should be able to run and sideload the add-in at this point. To do that, follow the steps outlined in Sideload and Test the Office Add-in. In the next section, you will add additional functionality to the add-in.

1. Open src/taskpane/taskpane.css and add the following styles to the end of the file.

   .overlay {
       position: absolute;
       top: 0px;
       bottom: 0px;
       left: 0px;
       right: 0px;
       z-index: 1000;
       display: block;
   }
   .overlay .spinner {
       position: absolute;
       top: 50%;
       left: 50%;
       margin-top: -20px;
       margin-left: -20px;
       z-index: 1100;
   }
   .header {
       padding-left: 10px;
   }
   .ms-MessageBar-content {
       padding: 2px !important;
   }
   .pct100 {
       width: 100%;
       float: left;
   }
   .padding10 {
       padding: 10px;
   }
   .right {
       float: right;
   }
   .left {
       float: left;
   }
   .icon {
       padding-left: 8px;
       cursor: pointer;
   }
   .itemRow {
       padding-top: 4px;
       padding-bottom: 4px;
   }
   .itemRow:hover {
       background-color: #eeeeee;
   }
   .tbl-head {
       margin-bottom: 5px;
   }

2. Open the src/taskpane/index.tsx file and update the title const to "Excel Portfolio"

   const title = 'Excel Portfolio';

3. The project template that the Office Yeoman generator created include a number of React components that need to be updated or deleted.

   Delete the src/taskpane/components/HeroList.tsx file.

4. Open the src/taskpane/components/Header.tsx file and replace the contents with the following code:

   import * as React from 'react';
   
   export interface HeaderProps {
       title: string;
   }
   
   export class Header extends React.Component<HeaderProps, any> {
       constructor(props, context) {
           super(props, context);
       }
   
       render() {
           return (
               <div className="ms-bgColor-greenDark header">
                   <span className="ms-font-xxl ms-fontColor-white">{this.props.title}</span>
               </div>
           );
       }
   }

5. Create a new React component named Waiting.tsx in the src/taskpane/components folder and add the following code.

   This component uses the Office UI Fabric React Components for Overlay and Spinner.

   import * as React from 'react';
   import { Overlay, Spinner, SpinnerSize } from 'office-ui-fabric-react';
   
   export class Waiting extends React.Component<any, any> {
     constructor(props, context) {
       super(props, context);
     }
   
     render() {
       return (
         <Overlay isDarkThemed={true} className="overlay">
           <div className="spinner">
             <Spinner size={SpinnerSize.large} />
           </div>
         </Overlay>
       );
     }
   }

6. Create a new React component named StockItem.tsx in the src/taskpane/components folder and add the following code.

   This component will display a stock with commands for refresh and delete. The component has properties for stock symbol, its index in the list, and the handlers for refresh and delete.

   import * as React from 'react';
   
   export interface StockItemProps {
     symbol: string;
     index: number;
     onDelete: any;
     onRefresh: any;
   }
   
   export class StockItem extends React.Component<StockItemProps, any> {
     constructor(props, context) {
       super(props, context);
     }
   
     render() {
       return (
         <div className="pct100 itemRow">
           <div className="left">{this.props.symbol}</div>
           <div className="right">
             <div className="left icon">
               <i className="ms-Icon ms-Icon--Refresh" aria-hidden="true" onClick={this.props.onRefresh} />
             </div>
             <div className="left icon">
               <i className="ms-Icon ms-Icon--Delete" aria-hidden="true" onClick={this.props.onDelete} />
             </div>
           </div>
         </div>
       );
     }
   }

7. Open src/taskpane/components/App.tsx and replace it's contents with the following code.

   import * as React from 'react';
   import { MessageBar, MessageBarType, TextField, TextFieldBase } from 'office-ui-fabric-react';
   import { Header } from './header';
   import { Waiting } from './waiting';
   import { StockItem } from './StockItem';
   
   export interface AppProps {
     title: string;
   }
   
   export interface AppState {
     listItems: string[];
     waiting: boolean;
     error: string;
   }
   
   export default class App extends React.Component<AppProps, AppState> {
     newSymbol:any = React.createRef();
     constructor(props, context) {
       super(props, context);
       this.state = {
         listItems: [],
         waiting: false,
         error: ''
       };
     }
   
     componentDidMount() {
       // Sync stocks already in Excel table
       this.syncTable().then(() => {});
     }
   
     // Adds symbol
     addSymbol = async event => {
       //TODO
       console.log(event);
     }
   
     // Delete symbol
     deleteSymbol = async index => {
       //TODO
       console.log(index);
     }
   
     // Refresh symbol
     refreshSymbol = async (index: number) => {
       //TODO
       console.log(index);
     }
   
     // Reads symbols from an existing Excel workbook and pre-populates them in the add-in
     syncTable = async () => {
       //TODO
       console.log('sync');
     }
   
     // Gets a quote by calling into the stock service
     getQuote = async (symbol: string) => {
       //TODO
       console.log(symbol);
     }
   
     render() {
       const stocks = this.state.listItems.map((symbol, index) => (
         <StockItem
           symbol={symbol}
           index={index}
           onDelete={this.deleteSymbol.bind(this, index)}
           onRefresh={this.refreshSymbol.bind(this, index)}
         />
       ));
       return (
         <div className="container ms-Fabric">
           {this.state.waiting && <Waiting />}
           <Header title={this.props.title} />
           {this.state.error != '' && (
             <MessageBar
               messageBarType={MessageBarType.error}
               isMultiline={false}
               onDismiss={() => {
                 this.setState({ error: '' });
               }}>
               {this.state.error}
             </MessageBar>
           )}
           <div className="padding10">
             <div className="pct100 tbl-head">
               <span className="ms-font-l">Stock Symbols</span>
             </div>
             <div className="pct100">
               <TextField componentRef={this.newSymbol} onKeyPress={this.addSymbol.bind(this)} placeholder="Enter a stock symbol (ex: MSFT)" />
             </div>
             {stocks}
           </div>
         </div>
       );
     }
   }

8. Although the app's functionality isn't complete, the visual markup is. You can see it by saving all your work and returning to Excel Online. It should look similar to the following image.

   If you previously closed the Excel Online window or if your Office Online session has expired (the add-in doesn't seem to load), follow the Sideload the Office Add-in steps.

   

9. The App.tsx file has a number of placeholder functions that you will complete to get the add-in functioning. Start by locating the getQuote function. This function calls a REST API to get real-time stock statistics on a specific stock symbol. Update it as seen below.

   getQuote = async (symbol: string) => {
     return new Promise((resolve, reject) => {
       const queryEndpoint = `https://www.alphavantage.co/query?function=BATCH_STOCK_QUOTES&symbols=${escape(symbol)}&interval=1min&apikey=${ALPHAVANTAGE_APIKEY}`;
   
       fetch(queryEndpoint)
         .then((res: any) => {
           if (!res.ok) {
             reject('Error getting quote');
           }
           return res.json();
         })
         .then((jsonResponse: any) => {
           const quote: any = jsonResponse['Stock Quotes'][0];
           resolve(quote);
         });
     });
   }

10. Create new utils folder in the src folder, then create a file named ExcelTableUtil.tsx. This TypeScript class will contain helper functions for working with Microsoft Excel tables with office.js. Notice the ExcelTableUtil constructor accepts details about the Excel table, including the name, location, and header details.

    export class ExcelTableUtil {
      tableName: string;
      location: string;
      headers: string[];
      constructor(tableName: string, location: string, headers: string[]) {
        this.tableName = tableName;
        this.location = location;
        this.headers = headers;
      }
    }

11. Implement the ExcelTableUtil utility class:

    1. Locate and open the file src/utils/ExcelTableUtil.tsx.

    2. Add the following methods ExcelTableUtil class. These methods access the table in Excel, or creates the table if it doesn't exist.

       // Create the StocksTable and defines the header row
       createTable = async () => {
         return new Promise(async (resolve, reject) => {
           await Excel.run(async context => {
             // Create a proxy object for the active worksheet and create the table
             const sheet = context.workbook.worksheets.getActiveWorksheet();
             const tableRef = sheet.tables.add(this.location, true);
             tableRef.name = this.tableName;
             tableRef.getHeaderRowRange().values = [this.headers];
             return context.sync().then(() => {
               resolve(tableRef);
             });
           }).catch(createError => {
             reject(createError);
           });
         });
       }
       
       // Ensures the Excel table is created and tries to get a table reference
       ensureTable = async (forceCreate: boolean) => {
         return new Promise(async (resolve, reject) => {
           await Excel.run(async context => {
             // Create a proxy object for the active worksheet and try getting table reference
             const sheet = context.workbook.worksheets.getActiveWorksheet();
             const tableRef = sheet.tables.getItem(this.tableName);
             return context.sync().then(() => {
               resolve(tableRef);
             });
           }).catch(() => {
             if (forceCreate) {
               // Create a new table because an existing table was not found.
               this.createTable().then(
                 async tableRef => {
                   resolve(tableRef);
                 },
                 createError => {
                   reject(createError);
                 }
               );
             } else {
               resolve(null);
             }
           });
         });
       }

    3. Add the following method to the ExcelTableUtil class.

       Notice that it calls the ensureTable function we just created to ensure the Excel table has been created.

       // Appends a row to the table
       addRow = async (data) => {
         return new Promise(async (resolve, reject) => {
           this.ensureTable(true).then(
             async (tableRef: Excel.Table) => {
               await Excel.run(async context => {
                 const sheet = context.workbook.worksheets.getActiveWorksheet();
                 // Add the new row
                 tableRef = sheet.tables.getItem(this.tableName);
                 tableRef.rows.add(null, [data]);
                 // Autofit columns and rows if your Office version supports the API.
                 if (Office.context.requirements.isSetSupported('ExcelApi', 1.2)) {
                   sheet.getUsedRange().format.autofitColumns();
                   sheet.getUsedRange().format.autofitRows();
                 }
                 sheet.activate();
                 return context.sync().then(() => {
                   resolve();
                 });
               }).catch(err => {
                 reject(err);
               });
             },
             err => {
               reject(err);
             }
           );
         });
       }

12. Update the App component to leverage the methods you added to the ExcelTableUtil class.

    1. Locate and open the src/taskpane/components/App.tsx file.

    2. Add the following import statement after the existing import statements for the the new ExcelTableUtil class.

       import { ExcelTableUtil } from '../../utils/excelTableUtil';

    3. Add the following constant after the import statements and update the {{REPLACE_WITH_ALPHAVANTAGE_APIKEY}} to use your API key.

       const ALPHAVANTAGE_APIKEY: string = '{{REPLACE_WITH_ALPHAVANTAGE_APIKEY}}';

    4. Add the following private member to the App class:

       tableUtil: ExcelTableUtil = new ExcelTableUtil('Portfolio', 'A1:H1', [
         'Symbol',
         'Last Price',
         'Timestamp',
         'Quantity',
         'Price Paid',
         'Total Gain',
         'Total Gain %',
         'Value'
       ]);

    5. Update the addSymbol() method to the following code:

       // Adds symbol
       addSymbol = async (event) => {
         if (event.key === 'Enter') {
           const element = this.newSymbol.current as TextFieldBase;
           const symbol = element.value.toUpperCase();
       
           // Get quote and add to Excel table
           this.setState({ waiting: true });
           this.getQuote(symbol).then(
             (res: any) => {
               const data = [
                 res['1. symbol'], //Symbol
                 res['2. price'], //Last Price
                 res['4. timestamp'], // Timestamp of quote,
                 0, // quantity (manually entered)
                 0, // price paid (manually entered)
                 '=(B:B * D:D) - (E:E * D:D)', //Total Gain $
                 '=H:H / (E:E * D:D) * 100', //Total Gain %
                 '=B:B * D:D' //Value
               ];
               this.tableUtil.addRow(data).then(
                 () => {
                   let symbols = this.state.listItems;
                   symbols.unshift(element.state.value.toUpperCase());
                   this.setState({ listItems: symbols });
                   element.setState({ value: '' });
                   this.setState({ waiting: false });
                 },
                 err => {
                   this.setState({ error: err });
                   this.setState({ waiting: false });
                 }
               );
             },
             err => {
               this.setState({ error: err });
               this.setState({ waiting: false });
             }
           );
         }
       }

       Note: This is a good time to test the add symbol function of your add-in.

13. Update the ExcelTableUtil utility to add support for accessing and deleting rows:

    1. Locate and open the src/components/ExcelTableUtil.tsx file.

    2. Add the following methods to the ExcelTableUtil class:

       // Gets data for a specific named column
       getColumnData = async (column: string) => {
         return new Promise(async (resolve, reject) => {
           this.ensureTable(false).then(
             async (tableRef: Excel.Table) => {
               if (tableRef == null) {
                 resolve([]);
               } else {
                 await Excel.run(async context => {
                   // Get column range by column name
                   const sheet = context.workbook.worksheets.getActiveWorksheet();
                   tableRef = sheet.tables.getItem(this.tableName);
                   var colRange = tableRef.columns.getItem(column).getDataBodyRange().load("values");
               
                   // Sync to populate proxy objects with data from Excel
                   return context.sync().then(async () => {
                     let data: string[] = [];
                     for (let i = 0; i < colRange.values.length; i++) {
                       data.push(colRange.values[i].toString());
                     }
                     resolve(data);
                   });
                 }).catch(err => {
                   reject(err);
                 });
               }
             },
             err => {
               reject(err);
             }
           );
         });
       }
       
       // Deletes a column based by row index
       deleteRow = async (index: number) => {
         return new Promise(async (resolve, reject) => {
           this.ensureTable(true).then(
             async (tableRef: Excel.Table) => {
               await Excel.run(async context => {
                 const range = tableRef.rows.getItemAt(index).getRange();
                 range.delete(Excel.DeleteShiftDirection.up);
                 return context.sync().then(async () => {
                   resolve();
                 });
               }).catch(err => {
                 reject(err);
               });
             },
             err => {
               reject(err);
             }
           );
         });
       }

14. Update the App component to leverage the methods you added to the ExcelTableUtil class.

    1. Locate and open the src/taskpane/components/App.tsx file.

    2. Locate and update the deleteSymbol() method in the App class to delete specifying symbol from the Excel table

       // Delete symbol
       deleteSymbol = async index => {
         // Delete from Excel table by index number
         let symbols = this.state.listItems;
         let symbol = symbols[index];
         this.setState({ waiting: true });
         this.tableUtil.getColumnData('Symbol').then(
           async (columnData: string[]) => {
             // Ensure the symbol was found in the Excel table
             if (columnData.indexOf(symbol) !== -1) {
               this.tableUtil.deleteRow(columnData.indexOf(symbol)).then(
                 async () => {
                   symbols.splice(index, 1);
                   this.setState({ listItems: symbols });
                   this.setState({ waiting: false });
                 },
                 err => {
                   this.setState({ error: err });
                   this.setState({ waiting: false });
                 }
               );
             } else {
               symbols.splice(index, 1);
               this.setState({ waiting: false });
             }
           },
           err => {
             this.setState({ error: err });
             this.setState({ waiting: false });
           }
         );
       }

    Note: This is a good time to test the delete symbol function of your add-in.

15. Update the ExcelTableUtil utility to add support for refreshing rows in the table:

    1. Locate and open the src/components/ExcelTableUtil.tsx file.

    2. Add the following methods to the ExcelTableUtil class:

       // Updates a specific cell in the table
       updateCell = async (address: string, value: any) => {
         return new Promise(async (resolve, reject) => {
           this.ensureTable(true).then(
             async () => {
               await Excel.run(async context => {
                 const sheet = context.workbook.worksheets.getActiveWorksheet();
                 const range = sheet.getRange(address);
                 range.values = [[value]];
                 return context.sync().then(async () => {
                   resolve();
                 });
               }).catch(err => {
                 reject(err);
               });
             },
             err => {
               reject(err);
             }
           );
         });
       }

16. Update the App component to leverage the methods you added to the ExcelTableUtil class.

    1. Locate and open the src/taskpane/components/App.tsx file.

    2. Locate and update the refreshSymbol() method in the App class to specify a symbol to refresh in the Excel table.

       // Refresh symbol
       refreshSymbol = async (index: number) => {
         // Refresh stock quote and update Excel table
         let symbols = this.state.listItems;
         let symbol = symbols[index];
         this.setState({ waiting: true });
         this.tableUtil.getColumnData('Symbol').then(
           async (columnData: string[]) => {
             // Ensure the symbol was found in the Excel table
             const rowIndex = columnData.indexOf(symbol);
             if (rowIndex !== -1) {
               this.getQuote(symbol).then((res: any) => {
                 // "last trade" is in column B with a row index offset of 2 (row 0 + the header row)
                 this.tableUtil
                   .updateCell(`B${rowIndex + 2}:B${rowIndex + 2}`, res.["2. price"])
                   .then(
                     async () => {
                       this.setState({ waiting: false });
                     },
                     err => {
                       this.setState({ error: err });
                       this.setState({ waiting: false });
                     }
                   );
               });
             } else {
               this.setState({ error: 'Symbol not in table' });
               symbols.splice(index, 1);
               this.setState({ waiting: false });
             }
           },
           err => {
             this.setState({ error: err });
             this.setState({ waiting: false });
           }
         );
       }

    Note: This is a good time to test the refresh symbol function of your add-in.

17. Update the syncTable function, which is called when the add-in is launched in the constructor of App.tsx to pull in any stock symbols that might already exist in the worksheet. It calls getColumnData to get this data.

    syncTable = async () => {
      this.setState({ waiting: true });
      this.tableUtil.getColumnData('Symbol').then(
        async (columnData: string[]) => {
          this.setState({ listItems: columnData });
          this.setState({ waiting: false });
        },
        err => {
          this.setState({ error: err });
          this.setState({ waiting: false });
        }
      );
    }

The Excel Portfolio Add-in written with React and TypeScript is complete. You should now follow the steps to Sideload and Test the Office Add-in.