OpenOffice.org Add-Ons

OpenOffice.org Add-Ons provide one or more functions through the user interface of OpenOffice.org. A typical Add-On is available as a UNO package (or component) that is easily deployed with the deployment tool. In addition to an ordinary UNO package, an Add-On package contains configuration files which specify the user interface, registration for a protocol scheme, and first-time instantiation. An Add-On will typically react on one or more commands defined for the protocol of the Add-On.
See for example Add-Ons.

The commands that are defined in an Add-On are available either in an menu, in a toolbar, or in both a menu and a toolbar in OpenOffice.org. The context of a command determines in which OpenOffice.org application it will be visible. Possible contexts are:

Bibilography
Chart
Draw
Formula
Presentation
Spreadsheet
Writer

The context can be selected for every command. If you do not select a specific context, then your Add-On will be available in all contexts including the backend window. If you select all contexts, then your Add-On will be available in all contexts excluding the backend window.
You can use sub-menus and separators to organize the commands in the menu structure, and separators to organize the command in the toolbar.

Using Add-Ons in OpenOffice.org

After you have deployed the Add-On in an OpenOffice.org installation you can use it directly from the user interface. You will see the name of your new top-level menu in the OpenOffice.org menu bar. When you click on the new menu item, the menu structure with the commands you defined will drop down. A toolbar is shown containing the new commands for the current context.
You must implement the calls to your commands in your main Java file with the actions that should happen when your command is selected.

See Also