Word add-in overview
Understand how the BriefCatch task pane coordinates document text, suggestions, and reports.
This is an overview of the task pane for people using it, not developer documentation. It does not cover manifests, private configuration, or release operations.
The BriefCatch Word add-in is a Microsoft Office task pane that reads the active document through the Office APIs, requests BriefCatch analysis, and applies user-approved changes back to Word.
Main areas
- Suggestions — writing and citation-format cards anchored to document text.
- RealityCheck — citation-substance verdicts, filters, comments, and a PDF report.
- Reports — review progress, document scores, readability, strengths, and improvement ideas.
- Settings — account, subscription links, real-time updates, inline suggestions, and eligible AI controls.
The add-in preserves the distinction between applying a suggestion and suppressing a rule. It also adapts to Office host limits: for example, real-time updates are unavailable in Office Online.
Third-party integrations should use the curated API contract. Reusing add-in network calls, internal state shapes, or document-parsing code is unsupported and can bypass permission or retention controls.
Related
- Review a document — the same engine on the web
- Work with suggestions — accepting and rejecting cards
- Get started — installing the add-in from AppSource
- Troubleshooting — add-in sign-in and refresh problems