Getting Started with the Windows Live Messnger Add-In API

By creating add-ins for the Windows Live Messenger 8.0 client, you can add new abilities to the client. This document explains how you can create add-ins and make them available to customers.

This release of the Messenger Add-in API relies on the Microsoft .NET Framework as the hosting platform. Using the Code Access Security feature of the .NET Framework, you can isolate add-ins from the system on which they run.

User Scenarios


Users install add-ins by way of the Messenger Options dialog box. Add-ins can perform a variety of functions; for example, users can designate an add-in as their "agent." The agent add-in acts on behalf of the local user, responding to messages from other users without intervention from the local user. The add-in may also change the local user's status, usertile, personal status message, and friendly name.

Configuring Your Development Environment

When creating add-ins, you can use any integrated developer environment such as Visual Studio® .NET 2005 (this is the recommended environment). You can also use Visual Studio Express, available as a free download from Microsoft.

If you use Visual Studio.NET 2005 or Visual Studio Express, you can take advantage of the following features: 

  • An add-in that automatically generates project templates.
  • A snippet manager that you can use to easily reproduce code.
  • A feature for auto-completion of function prototypes.

Note Add-ins must be compatible with .NET Framework version 2.0.

Languages

You can use any of the languages that interact with the .NET platform. That includes Visual Basic.NET, Visual J#, Visual C#, or Visual C++, as well as any other language that has a port to .NET. Such languages include python.net, perl.net, or cobol.net.

Configure Messenger to Support Add-Ins

Messenger 8.0 relies on a registry entry to indicate whether or not it supports add-ins. When the registry entry is set appropriately, Messenger provides controls on its Options pages for add-in options.

Important As a developer, you must set this registry entry in order to test your add-ins.

To instruct Messenger to support add-ins, configure the HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\MSNMessenger\AddInFeatureEnabled registry entry.

This is a DWORD entry with the following values:

Value Description
1 On. Messenger enables the add-in settings. Messenger honors all of the add-in settings and stores them with the user's per-passport settings.
0 Off. Messenger does not show the add-in related user interface. Messenger does not support any add-in settings.

 

Sourced from http://msdn2.microsoft.com/en-us/library/bb229391.aspx

Getting Started with Activities

To develop single-user and multiuser applications by using the Windows Live Messenger Activity object model, you should be familiar with:

  • The Windows Live Messenger client.
  • How to manipulate dynamic HTML (DHTML) using a scripting language such as Microsoft JScript.
  • An event-driven programming language such as Microsoft Visual Basic.

The Activity object model can be manipulated by using a scripting language such as Microsoft Visual Basic Scripting Edition (VBScript), JScript, or JavaScript, and the output is displayed in a DHTML window. The object model makes it simpler to write compelling applications by providing a multiuser framework. Because the Activity programming environment is part of the Windows Live Messenger client, you can take advantage of existing contact lists and other Windows Live Messenger features.

You can start with a new or existing HTML page. Your HTML page will be displayed within the Windows Live Messenger client. The largest window that the Windows Live Messenger client can display is 500 by 500 pixels, so you should design your Activity accordingly. Event handlers and functions are placed in the scripting part of the document, as shown in the following example. Output and information are displayed in the body part of the document. If you have an existing application or game that uses DHTML, you may be able to make it into a Windows Live Messenger Activity by adding some additional scripting.



<HTML> 

<HEAD> 

<!-- Script area --> 

</HEAD> 

<BODY> 

<!-- Display area --> 

</BODY> 

</HTML>

Sourced from http://msdn2.microsoft.com/en-us/library/aa751015.aspx

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