Keep Office add-in task pane open at document load

Question

I have a task pane (desktop) Office add-in built with the latest VS 2015 template for Excel and Word add-ins. When I open the file, the add-in task pane is not visible. My users need to click a button on the toolbar to open it, which they complain about.

In addition, I save the document with the task pane expanded but it does not affect that behavior. I remember a previous version of the add-in manifest (when it was called app for Office) kept the pane open but I upgraded it so I can use custom tabs in the Office ribbon.

Can I make the task pane stay expanded when the document or worksheet load?

Try this Auto opening task pane: [https://stackoverflow.com/a/56488042/7487988](https://stackoverflow.com/a/56488042/7487988) — Sagar Mistry, May 09 '23 at 07:52

score 1 · Answer 1 · edited May 23 '17 at 12:08

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Similar question here: Office Web App - Show task pane on load

For now you'll have to choose between persistent always-open task panes and custom tabs/buttons.

edited May 23 '17 at 12:08

Community

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answered Sep 07 '16 at 21:46

Michael Saunders

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Thanks Mike! Will this be part of the Office add-in road-map? – Miro J. Sep 08 '16 at 15:29

score 1 · Accepted Answer · answered Jul 05 '17 at 19:10

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There is now a way to do this: Automatically open a task pane with a document. And a sample at: Office OOXML EmbedAddin

answered Jul 05 '17 at 19:10

Rick Kirkham

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Keep Office add-in task pane open at document load

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