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Smart & Easy Software Tips: Office 2007 Release
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Smart & Easy Software Tips, Tricks & Techniques: Issue #33
Publisher: Dawn Bjork Buzbee Dawn@SoftwarePro.com
The Software Pro(R), Certified Microsoft Office Expert
http://www.SoftwarePro.com
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In This Issue: Microsoft Office 2007
With the official release of Microsoft Office 2007 (and Windows Vista) at the end of January, I'm getting more questions about the new features and what to do about the upgrade.
Although some of my readers have already been testing the Office 2007 beta for months now, what do you want to know about the latest version of Office?
In this and future issues, I'll highlight new features and pass on recommendations on what to expect with Office 2007 and how that might fit into your business or personal computing plans.
In addition to an expanded focus on Microsoft Office 2007, I will still offer you plenty of web content, lessons, and tips and tricks for Office 2003 and earlier.
Discover more about Office 2007:
* A New Look
* Different File Formats
* What Version Are You?
* When is the Right Time to Upgrade?
* Try It!
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A New Look
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After a series of tame Office upgrades, Microsoft Office 2007 is a significant update paired with a steep learning curve.
The dramatic design changes will take some time to explore and adjust to. Instead of the multitude of cascading text menus and skinny taskbars found in earlier versions, Office 2007 puts most of the action on the "ribbon." Found in the same location as the taskbars, the ribbon is packed with tools and commands that graphically display features that change as you click the menu-bar tabs. The Office 2007 ribbon includes a useful new feature called live preview which displays how choices such as a different font will look in a document before you actually apply the change.
The intent of the remodeled interface is that it will be more logical to work in Office 2007. As there is no option to use the previous (or classic) menu and commands, you must learn the ribbon interface and other changes if you upgrade.
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Different File Formats
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In addition to a updated interface, each of the Office 2007 applications have new XML-based default file formats for Word, Excel, and PowerPoint with different file extensions (.docx, .xlsx, and .pptx) from their older generations' (.doc, .xls, and .ppt). This change in file formats could create some huge obstacles as Office 2007 users share files with everyone else. Conversion options are available on both sides but require patience and knowledge to build a successful strategy for exchanging Office files.
By default, Microsoft Office Access 2007 databases are also saved with a new file format (.accdb) but the file format of earlier versions (.mdb) can be implemented to allow for continued sharing of data.
Find more Microsoft Office 2007 resources at:
http://www.softwarepro.com/reviews/office2007.htm
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What Version Are You?
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A helpful piece in a decision to upgrade to Office 2007 is to know what version of Office you are currently running. It shouldn't be that surprising that many folks do not know what version they have at the office or home. After all, if you are getting the results you want, why change?
To find out what version of an Office program you have installed on your computer(s), you may be able to catch the splash screen as you launch the program. Otherwise, from any Office program, choose Help > About (program name).
Expect to also see retail copies of Microsoft Office 2003 still available for awhile even as Office 2007 hits the shelves.
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When is the Right Time to Upgrade?
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Although there will always be "bleeding-edge" companies and individuals that want the latest and greatest right away, my recommendation to most organizations and people is to wait.
Upgrading is costly. On top of the price of software, add new and upgraded hardware, training and support, plus the cost of lost productivity as Office users deal with new processes, different file formats, and other disruptions. It is also standard policy in many organizations to delay upgrades until at least the first release of bug fixes (also called Service Packs).
Why change? I have delivered training, seminars, and coaching for a number of major roll-outs of updates to Microsoft Office (and other applications). My experience has been that unless there are specific compelling business reasons to upgrade, most updates are not motivated by user needs but, frankly, by IT issues such as changes in licensing agreements or improved security features in a newer version of Windows. That is, an upgrade to Microsoft Office 2007 is more likely to piggyback on an IT-driven switch to Windows Vista than is Office going to be the primary reason for the push. That's often why I hear Office users ask, "Why are we changing again when everything is working just fine?"
For a smooth transition if you do upgrade to Microsoft Office 2007, contact The Software Pro(R) for customized preview seminars, training, and coaching.
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Try It!
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Right now, you can download a 60-day trial of the new Microsoft Office 2007 System. This offer may be discontinued in the future. Find the link at:
http://www.softwarepro.com/reviews/office2007.htm
Important! Don't try this at home...or the office...or any place unless you can install the trial on a powerful, non-critical computer. Do not load this trial on your primary computer or you may encounter problems or conflicts that impact your daily work. Plus, the beta (trial) version will need to be fully uninstalled before loading the "real" Office 2007.
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To learn more about Microsoft Office 2007, look for future newsletter issues as well as expanded content at:
http://www.softwarepro.com/reviews/office2007.htm
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Administrivia
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From this issue forward, newsletters will simply be identified by an issue number without a year or month. For instance, this is Issue #33. It is still my intent to share valuable tips, tricks, reviews, articles, and more about once a month (more frequent if possible). :)
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Dawn Bjork Buzbee
The Software Pro(R)
11675 Bent Oaks Street, Suite 200
Parker, CO 80138 USA
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