C#

Ahmed Manzoor wrote:

What software/patches/libraries etc are required?

Developing with VSTO requires a version of Visual Studio greater than Express Edition. The current beta of Visual Studio can be downloaded from http://lab.msdn.microsoft.com/vs2005/get/. Of course, Microsoft Office Professional 2003 (Service Pack 1) is also a requirement for this article, 
or at least Outlook 2003 SP1. Be aware that Outlook Express will not function as a replacement for Outlook. 

void Panel1_Paint(object sender, PaintEventArgs e)
{

    Graphics Graphics = e.Graphics;
    Rectangle Bounds = new Rectangle(Point.Empty, splitContainer1.Panel1.Size);

    if (Bounds.Width > 0 && Bounds.Height > 0)
    {

        using (Brush GradientBrush = new LinearGradientBrush(Bounds, Color.FromArgb
        (183, 214, 183), Color.FromArgb(221, 235, 221),
        LinearGradientMode.BackwardDiagonal))
        {
            Graphics.FillRectangle(GradientBrush, Bounds);
        }
    }
}

private void Form1_Load(object sender, EventArgs e)
{
    splitContainer1.Panel1.Paint += new PaintEventHandler(Panel1_Paint);
}