Hi - I am querying what is the best method to create an Office application. I have in the past used WinForms and VBA and that will work for me in what I need to do but am hoping there are better ways of doing things. Essentially my corporation will not allow the deployment of applications to users e.g. an exe installer as it would be seen as shadow IT and I would get in trouble deploying something like this. However I am allowed to create standalone applications such as an excel/word doc with macro's etc. that an individual can utilize.
I have looked at VSTO add-ins but this would need deployment and seems to always be on e.g. as a custom task pane.
I would really like to be able to use the enhanced features of WPF instead of WinForms but keep everything central to the document e.g. open an excel doc that pops up a main menu form with buttons etc. that when I continue on may open word docs etc. - I can work out how to do all of this but need advice on the best tools to meet these needs - or if I am restricted to just opening one office doc with no deployment requirements will I be stuck with WinForms?
Any ideas - hints / thoughts are appreciated