If you've been putting off upgrading to Office 2007 because you're anxious about the changes Microsoft has made, relax. There are at least 10 reasons why you'll love the new Office suite...
Most of us are resistant to new-issue software. After all, it looks different, we can’t find what we need quickly, and it always appears cluttered and confusing. That was the initial reaction when Microsoft introduced Office 2007. Fear not, friends—change is good. Microsoft Office 2007 can make your life easier. (We promise.)
Released on January 30, 2007, Microsoft Office 2007 contains a number of new features and introduces a novel user interface and working environment. New users may find themselves searching for the familiar, and coming up empty-handed. Traditional menus are gone and command tabs and command sets have taken their place. The good news is that this release offers significant new capabilities to help increase personal productivity and workgroup collaboration. Relax
Below are the Top 10 reasons you will learn to love Microsoft Office 2007.
1. The Ribbon
For visual learners, Microsoft Office 2007 is great. The Ribbon replaces traditional menus and toolbars in Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Access and certain components of Outlook. It organizes traditional menus and toolbars into logical groups, or command tabs. Each tab relates to a type of activity, and within each tab are command sets.
2. Open XML
Open XML is the new file format used by Office 2007. It offers reduced file size, improved security and better damaged file recovery. It provides tremendous savings to storage and bandwidth requirements and reduces the burden on IT personnel. It is also backward compatible, which means that you can use Microsoft Office 2007 files in Microsoft Office 2000, XP and 2003 systems. Plus, opening and editing files saved in previous versions are fully supported in 2007; when you open a prior version file and resave the file, the file format keeps the traditional extension (.doc, .ppt, etc.). Then, you decide whether to save the file in its original format or in the XML format. Note that when you create new documents in Microsoft Office 2007, the default file format is Open XML so file extensions will have an “x” on the end of them (.docx, .pptx, etc.).
3. Super Tooltips
Microsoft Office 2007 wants to help. For example, when you hover over an icon super tooltips appear with extended descriptions, suggestions and pictures to explain and assist with a particular command.
4. Live Preview
See it before you implement it. Microsoft Office 2007’s live preview feature allows you to see changes directly in your document as you hover over font and formatting options. This means that you can instantaneously see how a selection will impact your work and you can spend more time writing and less time formatting.
5. Contextual Tools
Microsoft Office 2007 “thinks” for you and logically guides you to the next step—additional tabs and commands appear depending on actions performed or objects selected. For example, if you are inserting a table into a document, a whole new design and layout menu appears on the Ribbon.
6. New Prepare Command
Microsoft Office 2007 helps you prepare your documents in a smart way. The file menu includes a new prepare command to help safeguard your document, set document properties, remove hidden metadata info, set permissions, add a digital signature, check compatibility with prior versions and mark file as read only. This helps ensure that your file is in perfect shape before it is circulated.
7. Building Blocks in Word
The system’s building blocks recognize and pull frequently used or predefined content (disclaimer text, pull quotes, cover page content, etc.) when you are assembling documents. This saves you time; you no longer have to recreate content or copy and paste between documents. It also helps to increase consistency across all documents in your organization.
8. SmartArt in PowerPoint
Prepare presentations that impress with Microsoft Office 2007. The diagrams and new charting engine can help you create professional content with 3-D shapes, transparency, drop shadows and other effects.
9. No Third Party Needed
With Microsoft Office 2007, you can convert word documents to portable document format (PDF) or XML paper specification (XPS) format without the addition of third party tools. This saves time and ensures that your document can be received and viewed by a variety of recipients/systems.
10. Document Inspector
The new system looks out for you. Microsoft Office 2007’s Document Inspector reviews work products to ensure that you have removed tracked changes, comments, hidden text and personally identifiable information from documents. This helps safeguard you from a potentially embarrassing printing or circulation.
Last word
Change is good. Microsoft Office 2007 will help your employees increase productivity and introduce them to a computing environment that will become increasingly prevalent. Before implementing the system, though, be sure to budget for employee training. Because the interface looks and operates differently, the transition will not be successful without appropriate user education and preparation.
Note: This article was written with input from Softek Services Inc. , a company that specializes in end-user training, software consulting and database programming.
If you have a question about Microsoft Office 2007, please contact Optimal Networks at
This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it
.
Is there a new technology you would like to learn more about? Have a technological question that you think others might have as well? We want to hear from you. Email us at
This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it
and tell us. Your topic may be covered in a future issue of Optimal Impact!
0 Comments