Fordham University will be switching from Microsoft Office 2003 to 2007 over the next few months.  For more details about when computers in the labs will be upgraded and how to get a copy for your home/office computer, see the previous blog entry.

So what’s new in MS Office 2007?

The biggest change that you will notice as soon as you open a MS Office 2007 product is “The Ribbon”.  Instead of having choices that open up a drop-down menu, the new interface organizes tabs into “Tasks” that will display options on the ribbon.

Mini Tool bar

When text is selected the mini text toolbar will appear allowing you to edit such things as the font size or color without having to make a selection from the Home tab.  Right clicking will also open the floating mini toolbar.  For those of you who find the tool bar distracting and would like to turn off that feature, simply click on the Office button and select “Word Options”.  On the “Popular” menu, you can check or uncheck the box for “Show Mini Toolbar on Selection”.

Live Preview

This is another new feature in Office 2007 products.  When you mouse-over any formatting option, you will see a live preview without actually applying the new format.  For example, if you highlight a portion of text and scroll through the font choices, you will see how your selected text looks with that font applied to it.  This lets you quickly view different options without having to actually change the text.

File format issues

There are several things to keep in mind when saving documents in Office 2007 products.  If you save a document in the 2007 file format and send it to someone who has Office 2003, they will be unable to open the document unless they download the Compatibility Pack from Microsoft (see below).  To save a file in the 97 – 2003 format, select “Save As” from the Office button and choose that format from the selections offered.  For people who want to save the majority of their files in this format, it is possible to set the default for saving documents as a 97 – 2003 file.  To do this, click the Office button and select “Word Options” at the bottom.  Select the “Save” menu and choose the desired file format from the drop down menu.

What is compatibility mode?

Compatibility mode will allow you to open, edit, and save documents in the 2003 format, however; in doing so you will lose the ability to use the new features available in MS Office 2007 such as SmartArt.  It is also possible to convert a 2003 to a 2007 file format.  To do this, simply click the Office Button and select “Convert”.  To read more about compatibility mode in MS Office 2007 products, visit the Microsoft TechNet Website.

Can I still use shortcut keys?

Yes, to view the shortcut keys, press the “ALT” key at any time to display the shortcut keys next to their corresponding functions.  For example if you press the “ALT” key, the H that appears shows you that you can press “ALT + H” to move to the Home tab.  The shortcut keys can be toggled on and off at anytime by pressing the “ALT” key.

In the next several weeks, we will take a close look at Word 2007, Excel 2007, and PowerPoint 2007 by sharing tips, tutorials, and resources.  In the meantime, for more information:

Comparison of MS Office 2003 and 2007 via CNET (21 slides with text)
What’s New in Office 2007 via Microsoft
Sign up to receive MS Office tips daily, weekly, or monthly in a newsletter (via email)

Overview of MS Office 2007 via CNET (3:07)

DOWNLOADS:

Compatibility pack for Word, Excel, and PowerPoint 2007 File Formats:  If you are still using MS Office 2003 and receive a file in the 2007 format, this download will allow you to open, edit, and save the file (via Microsoft).  Please note, you need to make sure you have downloaded all critical updates first.

Microsoft Mac Downloads

Download classic menu and toolbar for MS Office 2007 (fee download)

Media Credit
Microsoft by Kristen Treglia
Attribution-Noncommercial-Share Alike 2.0 Generic

FAQs about the change-over to Office 2007:

When will the computer labs have MS Office 2007?
The computer labs on the Rose Hill, Lincoln Center, and Westchester campuses will begin installing MS Office 2007 this summer.

How do I get MS Office 2007 installed on my office computer?

Contact the University Help Desk to put in a request by phone (718-817-3999) or email (helpdesk@fordham.edu).  User Support will be notified and will schedule a mutually convenient appointment at the client’s location to install the software.
Can I get a copy of MS Office 2007 for my home computer?
If you are a full time faculty member, then you are eligible to download Microsoft Office 2007 for $9.95.
Stop by the Faculty Technology Center or Walk-In Technology Center on your campus and present a valid Fordham Faculty ID to have your license approved.  An email will then be sent to your fordham email address with a link to download Office 2007.  Payment via major credit card will be required at the time you download the software.

What if I need help using Office 2007?

Fordham IT Training is offering training classes this summer and fall semesters.  Visit the Fordham IT Training website or email training@fordham.edu.   We will also be posting tips, tutorials, and resources for the next several weeks on the ITAC blog.

Additional Information:
On July 15, 2009 Fordham IT began distributing to the University community Microsoft Office 2007 for PC users and Microsoft Office 2008 for Mac users.  The new Office Suite will be delivered with new and replacement equipment or upon request.  Prior versions will no longer be distributed at the University, however support will continue until July 1, 2012.

New or Replaced Equipment:  All new and lease-replacement desktop computers will be distributed with Office 2007/2008.  Any existing computers that must have the operating system reinstalled will be returned to the client with Office 2007/2008.

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