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Interactive Command Reference Guides let you choose a feature from an Office 2003 toolbar, then see where the feature is located in Office 2007. To find the guides click here and click on Online Office 2007 Transition Resources. I found that bookmarking these links eliminated many frustrating moments searching for commands I formerly used unconsciously in Office 2003, but couldn't find easily in the new Office 2007 scheme. Using this guide also magically reinforced my learning general navigation skills in Office 2007.
~ Nancy Grayum
Issue 40, Spring 2008
by Susan Brown
Thanks to generous alumni and friends at Microsoft, we now have enough donated copies of Microsoft Office 2007 for Windows for most classrooms and labs and have begun distribution to faculty. The Western Foundation continues to work to get enough donations for all of campus. Office 2007 is currently available for $61 to staff members who would like to upgrade at this time.
How to Get MS Office 2007
Faculty members who use university-owned computers can request Office 2007 software by going to www.wwu.edu/atus/office2007, and clicking on Faculty Request.
Staff members should submit a License Request form and a Software Billing form with a budget code to approve the $61 charge. Both forms are linked at www.wwu.edu/atus/computers/software.shtml.
Office 2007 Work At Home Licenses
Office 2007 licenses for university-owned workstations include a "work at home" benefit for the exclusive use of the licensee to install the software on a computer owned by them for work-related purposes. Microsoft requires purchase of special CDs with unique authorization codes for Office 2007 work at home software. After submission of a Work at Home software license form, the media can be purchased for $10 from Software Services with a budget code or from the AS Bookstore for either a budget code or cash. Your Office 2007 Work at Home confirmation email is required for purchase at the AS Bookstore. Go to www.wwu.edu/atus/computers/software.shtml and click the Work At Home Information link for the Work At Home form and additional details.
Major Changes to User Interface
Microsoft Office 2007 for Windows is a major upgrade from Office 2003. Changes include a complete redesign of the user interface based on horizontal command "ribbons" rather than the familiar toolbars and vertical menus. Because of this new interface, it is important to plan for some extra time for exploration when transitioning to Office 2007. The package includes Outlook, Word, PowerPoint, Publisher, Excel and Access.
Resources for Transition
The Office 2007 Resources page at www.wwu.edu/atus/office2007/resources.shtml provides hardware requirements, new feature information and interactive command references that will help you find commands that have been moved. In addition, transition workshops are scheduled regularly in the Student Technology Center. Check the schedule at www.training.wwu.edu.
Try to attend a workshop just prior to upgrading to Office 2007, or, just to determine if there is a reason for you to upgrade. Customized demonstrations or workshops for departments or individuals are also available. To schedule, contact Kevin Dixey at kevin.dixey@wwu.edu or 650-7222.
Office 2007 Compatibility
Office 2007 applications, with the exception of Publisher, have a new file format which improves file and data management, data recovery, and interoperability with other software. The file extension for these new files ends with "x" (.docx, .xlsx, pptx or mdbx). These new file formats can be opened by previous Windows versions of Office using the Office 2007 Compatibility Pack available at www.wwu.edu/atus/office2007. The Compatibility Pack is installed in all general university classrooms and labs. If you have received an Office 2007 file and have not been able to open it, please take a few moments to install the Compatibility Pack on your computer.
Office 2007 applications can also be set to save in Office 2003 formats. This can minimize the potential for compatibility issues. If you have Office 2007, click the Office Button, choose Options (at the bottom), then Save to set the default save options.
There is not an Office 2007 compatibility pack for Microsoft Office 2004 for Macintosh. The file creator can save in a format that can be read by Office 2004 or the receiver of the file will need to open it on a different computer. Or, you can install docx converter software that will convert the file to a web-browsable document.
Microsoft Office 2008 for Macintosh can open Office 2007 files. It is currently available from ATUS Software Services for $50.
Office 2007 in Classrooms and Labs
Since fall quarter 2007, general university classrooms and labs have had a dual installation of Office 2003/Office 2007. This configuration will continue through summer quarter, but beginning fall quarter, only Office 2007 will be installed in general university labs and classrooms.
Since the Office 2007 interface is quite different from Office 2003, it is recommended that faculty members who create or edit Office files during class become proficient with the new interface before fall quarter. Faculty whose curricular materials reference specific keystrokes in Microsoft Word, Excel, PowerPoint or Access should plan adequate time to update the materials.
Instructors who don't use Microsoft Office during class, or who simply open files or show PowerPoint presentations, should not encounter any significant issues in the classrooms or labs next fall even if they continue to use Office 2003 to prepare their files.
Since Office 2007 is currently installed in general university classrooms and labs, faculty members are encouraged to practice with Office 2007 and the types of files typically used prior to fall quarter. For more information, or assistance with specific features, please contact David Hamiter, david.hamiter@wwu.edu.
Office 2007 Favorite New Features
Some of the most popular new features in Office 2007 include
Microsoft 2008 for Macintosh is now available. It includes Word, PowerPoint, Excel and Entourage. Donations for campus distribution have been requested through the Microsoft Donation program but are not yet available. The software can be purchased from Software Services for $50. This version of Office for Macintosh is able to open Microsoft Office 2007 for Windows files. It can be installed on both Intel-based Macs and Power-PCs. New features include a more intuitive interface, sample templates for greater productivity, and improved Entourage connectivity. For additional information, contact ATUS Software Services by email or 650-3159.
Several changes will occur in the standard configuration of general university classroom and computer lab software fall quarter 2008.
NVU web editing software will continue to be available for entry-level web page creation and editing. OpenOffice, an open source software, will also continue be available in all general university classrooms and labs.
The AS Bookstore offers academic discounts on software for personal use for faculty and staff as well as students. Personal use software is for installation on a computer owned by you and not the university, The license belongs to you, and you retain the software if you leave the university.
If the Microsoft Work At Home program doesn't work for you because you need to use the software for more than work purposes, or other family members need to use it, you can purchase Microsoft Office for personal use at the AS Bookstore ($50-$75 depending on version) and use it with no strings attached.
Many Adobe Creative Suite 3 titles are also available for personal use for about the same prices as they are available departmentally.
University identification is required for purchase and there are quantity restrictions, but do take advantage of these excellent values if they fit your needs. For more information, contact Michael Bakse 650-3652.
For Students
"Microsoft DreamSpark" is a promotion of free software for student developers. According to Microsoft, "DreamSpark is simple, it's all about giving students Microsoft professional-level developer and design tools at no charge so you can chase your dreams and create the next big breakthrough in technology - or just get a head start on your career." Included are Visual Studio, Windows Server, SQL Server, Expression Studio, XNA Game Studio 2, and a few more, all free! Go to https://downloads.channel8.msdn.com/ for complete information.
About the Author
Susan Brown has helped people use software more productively for over 20 years. As ATUS Software Services Manager, she currently manages software acquisition, distribution and technical documentation for volume and site licensed software used on faculty and staff desktops and in classrooms and labs. She can be reached by email or phone 650-7388.
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05.15.2008