Microsoft Learning:

Exam 70-543:

TS: Visual Studio 2005 Tools for Office

Published:October 26, 2007
Language(s):English
Audience(s):Developers
Technology:Microsoft Visual Studio 2005
Type:Proctored Exam
About this Exam
When the exam begins, you can choose the programming language in which the code segments will appear. The available code languages for this exam are as follows:
  • Microsoft Visual Basic 2005
  • Microsoft Visual C# 2005
Audience Profile
This exam is intended for experts in developing Microsoft Office automation solutions by using both Visual Studio 2005 Tools for Microsoft Office and Visual Studio Tools for the 2007 Microsoft Office System. The qualified candidate for this exam typically has at least one year of experience developing Microsoft Office automation solutions and can demonstrate the following:
  • A solid understanding of the VSTO architecture
  • Experience in deploying VSTO applications
  • Experience in programming against VSTO in a server capacity
  • Experience designing and building document solutions
  • Experience designing and building add-in solutions
Credit Toward CertificationExam 70-543: TS: Visual Studio 2005 Tools for Office: counts as credit toward the following certification(s):
  • MCTS: Visual Studio 2005 Tools for the Microsoft Office System
Note This preparation guide is subject to change at any time without prior notice and at the sole discretion of Microsoft. Microsoft exams might include adaptive testing technology and simulation items. Microsoft does not identify the format in which exams are presented. Please use this preparation guide to prepare for the exam, regardless of its format.
Skills Being MeasuredThis exam measures your ability to accomplish the technical tasks listed below.The percentages indicate the relative weight of each major topic area on the exam.
Deploying and securing Visual Studio 2005 Tools for the Microsoft Office System (VSTO) solutions (19 percent)
  • Configure a client to run VSTO solutions.
    • Primary Interop Assembly
    • VSTO runtime
  • Deploy a document-level customization to a client.
    • Deploy the customization to a client running Office 2003.
    • Deploy the customization document to a client running Office 2007.
  • Configure and deploy Code Access Security (CAS) Policy.
    • Setup
    • Group Policy
  • Deploy a VSTO document-level customization to a server.
    • Publish a VSTO solution from Visual Studio.
    • Configure the manifest for access to server-based templates.
    • Configure the client environment for offline execution.
  • Deploy an add-in project.
    • Administrative installations
    • Customize the default setup project.
  • Deploy a VSTO solution by using the Bootstrapper.
Working with data in a VSTO solution (21 percent)
  • Configure data sources in a VSTO solution.
  • Bind data to controls in Microsoft Office Excel.
    • List object
    • Named range
  • Bind data to controls in Microsoft Office Word.
    • Bookmarks
    • XML node
  • Manage data by using the document cache.
  • Access a data island in an Office document.
    • Write to a data island from another solution.
    • Read from a data island from another solution.
  • Manipulate data in an application from within another application.
Integrating XML in Office applications (16 percent)
  • Manipulate custom XML document parts outside the application.
    • Delete a custom XML part.
    • Insert a custom XML part.
  • Manipulate custom XML document parts within an application.
    • Delete a custom XML part.
    • Insert a custom XML part.
    • Use event handlers with a custom XML part.
  • Connect to business data by using content controls.
    • Delete a content control.
    • Insert a content control.
    • Link a content control to a node in a custom XML part.
    • Use event handlers with a content control.
    • Use locking on content controls.
    • Manage schema validation for a document that contains XML-linked content controls.
  • Manipulate custom XML data in Word 2003 by using XML nodes.
    • Mark up a document with XML nodes.
    • Manage schema validation.
    • Save and open a document that has XML data.
  • Manipulate custom XML data in Excel.
    • Map cells to a schema.
    • Import XML documents.
    • Refresh XML data.
Developing application-level solutions (24 percent)
  • Customize the ribbon.
    • Design the ribbon interface.
    • Configure the ribbon to respond to user actions.
    • Customize the ribbon UI for different Microsoft Office Outlook inspector types.
  • Manage task pane behavior.
    • Single document interface (SDI)
    • Multiple document interface (MDI)
    • Manage state of task pane data.
  • Troubleshoot errors in a VSTO add-in.
    • Troubleshoot loading errors.
    • Troubleshoot runtime errors.
    • Handle exceptions in a VSTO add-in.
  • Create an Outlook add-in that manipulates Outlook items.
    • Access folders.
    • Access items and manipulate their data.
    • Access collections.
  • Manipulate data in an Excel workbook by using the Range object.
    • Tie a range to a chart.
    • Access ranges across worksheets.
    • Dynamically navigate through a worksheet.
Developing document-level solutions (20 percent)
  • Customize the actions pane.
    • Create and display Microsoft Windows Forms controls on the actions pane.
    • Activate and hide the actions pane.
    • Respond to orientation change events.
  • Embed VSTO controls in a document.
    • Manipulate control contents.
    • Respond to control events.
    • Access the host application's object model from the VSTO object.
  • Extend the document surface by using embedded Windows Forms controls.
  • Add a control programmatically.
  • Add smart tag capability to a document.
    • Build a recognizer.
    • Build an action handler.
  • Implement event handlers.
    • Prevent the event handler from being reclaimed by garbage collection.
    • Select an appropriate event handler interface.
  • Manipulate document customizations at run time.
    • Attach a customization.
    • Remove a customization.
Preparation Tools and ResourcesTo help you prepare for this exam, Microsoft Learning recommends that you have hands-on experience with the product and that you use the following training resources. These training resources do not necessarily cover all of the topics listed in the "Skills Measured" tab.
Classroom Training There is no classroom training currently available.
Microsoft E-Learning
Microsoft Press Books There are no Microsoft Press books currently available.
Practice Tests
Microsoft Online Resources
  • Microsoft Visual Studio 2005 – Learning Portal: Find special offers and information on training and certification.
  • Product information: Visit the Visual Studio 2005 Web site for detailed technology information.
  • Microsoft Learning Community: Join newsgroups and visit community forums to connect with peers for suggestions on training resources and advice on your certification path and studies.
  • TechNet: Designed for IT professionals, this site includes how-to instructions, best practices, downloads, technical resources, newsgroups, and chats.
  • MSDN: Designed for developers, the Microsoft Developer Network (MSDN) features code samples, technical articles, downloads, newsgroups, and chats.
Have Questions? For advice about training and certification, connect with peers: For questions about a specific certification, chat with a Microsoft Certified Professional (MCP): To find out about recommended blogs, Web sites, and upcoming Live Meetings on popular topics, visit our community site:
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