Microsoft Office

Free up disk space
By freeing disk space, you can improve the performance of your computer. The Disk Cleanup tool helps you free up space on your hard disk. The utility identifies files that you can safely delete, and then enables you to choose whether you want to delete some or all of the identified files.

1. Use Disk Cleanup to:

• Remove temporary Internet files.

• Remove downloaded program files (such as Microsoft ActiveX controls and Java applets).

• Empty the Recycle Bin.

• Remove Windows temporary files.

• Remove optional Windows components that you don’t use.

• Remove installed programs that you no longer use.

2. Speed up access to data
Disk fragmentation slows the overall performance of your system. When files are fragmented, the computer must search the hard disk when the file is opened to piece it back together. The response time can be significantly longer.

Disk Defragmenter is a Windows utility that consolidates fragmented files and folders on your computer’s hard disk so that each occupies a single space on the disk. With your files stored neatly end-to-end, without fragmentation, reading and writing to the disk speeds up.

When to run Disk Defragmenter
In addition to running Disk Defragmenter at regular intervals—monthly is optimal—there are other times you should run it too, such as when:

• You add a large number of files.

• Your free disk space totals 15 percent or less.

• You install new programs or a new version of Windows.

3. Detect and repair disk errors
In addition to running Disk Cleanup and Disk Defragmenter to optimize the performance of your computer, you can check the integrity of the files stored on your hard disk by running the Error Checking utility.

As you use your hard drive, it can develop bad sectors. Bad sectors slow down hard disk performance and sometimes make data writing (such as file saving) difficult, or even impossible. The Error Checking utility scans the hard drive for bad sectors, and scans for file system errors to see whether certain files or folders are misplaced.

If you use your computer daily, you should run this utility once a week to help prevent data loss.

4. Protect your computer against spyware

Spyware collects personal information without letting you know and without asking for permission. From the Web sites you visit to usernames and passwords, spyware can put you and your confidential information at risk. In addition to privacy concerns, spyware can hamper your computer’s performance. To combat spyware, you might want to consider using Microsoft Windows Defender, which is included in Windows Vista, and is available as a free download for Microsoft XP SP2. Alternatively, there are other free anti-spyware software programs available.

5. Learn all about ReadyBoost
If you’re using Windows Vista, you can use ReadyBoost to speed up your system. A new concept in adding memory to a system, it allows you to use non-volatile flash memory—like a USB flash drive or a memory card—to improve performance without having to add additional memory.

Join the fun about World of Warcraft over on Got 2 WoW.

Hello, my name is Brick ONeil and I’m the new blogger for Microsoft Office here on the 451 Press Network. I’ve been with 451 Press for a year and half, starting with Encouraging Health and enjoy blogging here immensely.

I, myself, use a HP/Compaq TC1100 Tablet PC loaded with Microsoft XP for tablet and Microsoft Office Ultimate 2007. I would be lost without these. I bought my tablet in 2007 preloaded with XP for tablet and was offered the chance to upgrade to Vista. I thought long and hard about it, but decided my tablet wasn’t powerful enough to load and run Vista appropriately. I really need to upgrade the RAM/memory to be more effective, and thats on ‘the list’ of things to do, if you know what I mean.

We’ll be discussing Microsoft Office products, the suites, updates and upgrades, tips and tricks. There are wonderful programs that Microsoft has come out with, especially Word, Excel and Outlook. There are programs for everyone out there, from home and student workers, small businesses and corporations.

So, keep in contact, watch this space, as the saying goes, contact me with your tips, comments and concerns and we’ll figure this out together.

While you’re here, go check out Home Computer Talk.

Brace your self for a service pack for Microsoft Office 2007. As per this blog post, it is scheduled for December 11, 2007. That’s next Tuesday.

The 2007 Microsoft® Office System Service Pack 1 (SP1) reflects unceasing efforts by the Microsoft Office System team to address customer concerns. Nearly all of the improvements included in the 2007 Office System SP1 are in response to direct feedback from power users at large organizations or indirect feedback from home and office users through the Dr. Watson bug-reporting system.

By tapping these extensive customer-feedback channels, the Microsoft Office System team has targeted the issues that customers care about most. As a result, the 2007 Office System SP1 will deliver significant stability and performance improvements to the applications that home and office workers rely on every day. 

The 2007 Office System SP1 will be critical service pack for a variety of reasons.  It will eliminate many deployment barriers to deployment you may have in your environment, it will provide support for Windows Server 2008, and will provide critical fixes to products such as Project and Project Server.
The use of Automatic Update (AU) Deployment has been a concern we have heard from many customers in recent months.  Because of this, the 2007 Office System SP1 will not be released to AU immediately.   Instead, the Microsoft Office System team will provide guidance as to a date at which we will begin throttling up so that you have time to educate yourself on what is in SP1 and determine the best method for you to deploy it in your environment. 

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When you copy your Microsoft Office PowerPoint 2007 presentation to a CD, a network, or a local disk drive on your computer, Microsoft Office PowerPoint Viewer 2007 and any linked files (such as movies or sounds) are copied as well. For information about Office PowerPoint Viewer 2007, see Install and run PowerPoint Viewer.

Office PowerPoint 2007 does not support the direct burning of content to any DVD formats. As an alternative, follow the steps below to copy your presentation to a folder, and then use DVD-burning software to import the content and create a DVD.

Important   Before you copy and distribute your presentation, inspect your presentation for hidden data and personal information (see step 10 below), and then decide whether it is appropriate to include this information in the copied presentation. Hidden information might include your name as the presentation’s creator, your company’s name, and other confidential information that you might not want outsiders to see. Also, check your presentation for objects or hidden slides that are formatted as invisible.

Note   This solution is a more convenient method that replaces the Pack and Go Wizard, which you may have used in earlier versions of PowerPoint.

Copy your presentation

1. Open the presentation that you want to copy, or, if you are working with a new presentation that has not been saved, save the presentation.
2. Do one of the following:
   • If you are copying your presentation to a network or to a local disk drive on your computer, go to step 3.
   • If you are copying your presentation to a CD, insert a CD into the CD drive.

       Notes 

     • You can copy to a blank recordable CD (CD-R), a blank rewritable CD (CD-RW), or a CD-RW that contains existing content that can be overwritten.
     • In PowerPoint, if you copy your presentation to a CD, make sure that you copy all of the files in a single operation. After the first set of files is copied, you cannot add any more files to the disc by using PowerPoint. However, you can use Windows Explorer to copy additional files to a CD-R or CD-RW that contains existing files. See Windows Help for more details.
3. On the Microsoft Office Button, point to the arrow next to Publish, and then click Package for CD.
4. In the Package for CD dialog box, in the Name the CD box, type a name for the CD or the folder that you want to copy your presentation to.
5. To choose the presentations that you want to copy and the order in which you want them to play, do the following:
   • To add a presentation, click Add Files, select the presentation that you want to add, and then click Add. Repeat this step for each presentation that you want to add.

     Note   If you want to add other related, non-PowerPoint files in the package, you can. These files will be copied, but Office PowerPoint Viewer 2007 will not play them.

   • If you add more than one presentation, the presentations will play in the order in which they are listed in the Files to be copied list. To change the order, select a presentation that you want to move, and then click the arrow buttons to move the presentation up or down in the list.

     Note   The presentation that is currently open automatically appears in the Files to be copied list. Files that that you linked to the presentation are included automatically, but they do not appear in the Files to be copied list.

   • To remove a presentation or file from the Files to be copied list, select the presentation or file, and then click Remove.
6. Click Options.
7. Under Package type, do one of the following:
   • To specify how a presentation will play in the PowerPoint Viewer, click Viewer Package (update file formats to run in PowerPoint Viewer), and then select an option in the Select how presentations will play in the viewer list.
   • To make a package that you are certain viewers will view on a computer that has PowerPoint or PowerPoint Viewer installed, click Archive Package (do not update file formats).

     Note   Use this option when you want to package an Extensible Markup Language (Extensible Markup Language (XML): A condensed form of Standard Generalized Markup Language (SGML) that enables developers to create customized tags that offer flexibility in organizing and presenting information.) presentation (and files linked to it) in its original file format to preserve fidelity and quality without saving it as a binary (binary: A file that contains encoded information that is interpreted according to the application that created it. In general, a binary file can be edited only by the application in which it was created.) file format.

8. Under Include these files, do one or both of the following:
   • To ensure that files that are linked to your presentation are included in the package, select the Linked files check box. Files that are linked to your presentation can include Microsoft Office Excel worksheets that are linked to charts, sound files, movie clips, and more.
   • To use embedded TrueType fonts , select the Embedded TrueType fonts check box.

       Notes 

     • If your presentation does not currently include embedded fonts, checking the Embedded TrueType fonts check box includes the fonts when packaged. The Embedded TrueType fonts check box applies to all presentations that are copied, including linked ones.
     • If your presentation already includes embedded fonts, PowerPoint automatically honors the setting of the presentation to include the embedded fonts.
9. To require other users to supply a password before they can open or edit any of the copied presentations, under Enhance security and Privacy, type the password or passwords that you want to require to open the presentation, edit it, or both.

   Passwords apply to .pptx, .ppt, .potx, .pot, .ppsx, .pps, .pptm, .ppa, .ppam, .mhtml, and .mht files that have been converted to .ppt files, in the copied presentations. If any of the files that you copy already have passwords assigned to them, PowerPoint prompts you to choose between keeping the previously assigned passwords for those files and overriding them with the new passwords. If you choose to override the previously assigned passwords, they are no longer accepted for the copied versions of the files. However, they are still accepted for the original versions.

10. To inspect your presentation for hidden data and personal information, select the Inspect presentations for inappropriate or private information check box.
11. Click OK to close the Options dialog box.
12. Do one of the following:
    • If you are copying your presentation to a network or to a local disk drive on your computer, click Copy to Folder, enter a folder name and location, and then click OK.
    • If you are copying your presentation to a CD, click Copy to CD.

Source

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Wondering where your favorite Outlook 2003 commands are located in Outlook 2007? Or just want to explore the rich new design with a little guidance?

When you click the link below, the interactive guide will start. Once you’re there, rest the mouse pointer over an Outlook 2003 menu or button to learn its new location in Outlook 2007. To see an animation of the location of the command or button in Outlook 2007, just click it.

Start the guide

Want to download this guide? This visual, interactive reference guide helps you find your favorite Microsoft Office Outlook 2003 commands in the new 2007 interface.

Overview

Wondering where your favorite Outlook 2003 commands are located in the new Outlook 2007 interface? Or just want to explore the rich, new design with a little guidance? Help is here. We’ve developed a visual, interactive reference guide to help you quickly learn where things are.
You can use the guide any time you’re connected to the Internet or download it here any time you like.

Instructions

To install this download:

1. Download the file by clicking the Download button (above) and saving the file to your hard disk.
2. Double-click the ol2003_2007CmdRef.exe program file on your hard disk to start the setup program.
3. Follow the instructions on the screen to complete the installation.

Instructions for use:

1. Double-click the Interactive - Outlook 2003 to Outlook 2007 command reference.exe file to start the demo.
2. Rest the mouse pointer over an Outlook 2003 menu or button to learn its new location in Outlook 2007.
3. To see an animation of the location of the command or button in Outlook 2007, just click it.

To remove this download:

1. To remove the download file, delete the ol2003_2007CmdRef.exe file.
2. To remove the interactive guide, delete the Interactive - Outlook 2003 to Outlook 2007 command reference.exe file.

Download | Source

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Critical Update for Office 2003 (KB943452) addresses an issue in Office 2003 where uninstall and repair of Office behave unexpectedly after Service Pack 3 has been installed.

Download

The 2008 ODC promises to be a ground-breaking event as it’s the first time it will be open to the public. The conference promises to be especially exciting as we are riding the momentum of the 2007 Microsoft® Office system launch, and there is tremendous interest in our Office Business Applications (OBA) strategy. Even BillG will be there, delivering a special keynote presentation! 

When: February 10-13, 2008

Where: San Jose Convention Center, San Jose, CA

Check out the site @ www.odc2008.com for registration information, additional details, and individual track owner blogs.

This is an end user compatibility pack guide. The bottom line for end users and compatibility is: end users don’t want to care and shouldn’t have to care. They simply want to get their work done. They do not want to think about compatibility. If they do think about compatibility, they will only think about it if it impacts them getting their work done. That being said, what do end users need to know or not know about Word 2007 to ensure that they can get their work done?

End Users Don’t Need to Know

…because it is not new to Word 2007 and therefore will not change their ability to get work done

• Word 2007 creates files that can be viewed by anyone for free (via the Word Viewer & Compatibility Pack)

• Word 2007 creates files that can be opened and saved in previous versions of Word (via the Compatibility Pack)

• Word 2007 has new features that cannot be edited or cannot be represented in previous versions of Word

• Word 2007 will not change the layout of documents created in previous versions of Word

• Word 2007 can save files in the .doc (Word ’97-2003) file format

End Users Need to Know

…because it is new to Word 2007 and may change their ability to get work done

• Word 2007 creates files in a new format (.docx). Other users need to download a free tool called the Compatibility Pack to open and edit these files.

End Users May Want to Know

…because it is new to Word 2007 and can improve their ability to get work done

• Word 2007 provides a way to check for features that cannot be edited or represented in previous versions of Word (via the Compatibility Checker)

• Word 2007 provides a way to ensure that features that cannot be edited or represented in previous versions of Word cannot be put into documents (via Compatibility Mode)

• Word 2007 provides a way to refresh some of its new features after they have been saved in Word 2003

Source

HowTo: Make a smooth transition from Office 2003 to Office 2007 | HowTo: An interactive guide for Office 2007

With Microsoft Office Outlook Connector, you can use Microsoft Office Outlook 2003 or Microsoft Office Outlook 2007 to access and manage your Microsoft Windows Live Hotmail or Microsoft Office Live Mail accounts, including e-mail messages and contacts for free!

With Outlook Connector, you can use Outlook 2003 or Outlook 2007 to access and manage your Windows Live Hotmail or Office Live Mail accounts, including e-mail messages and contacts for free! Calendar, tasks and notes can also be accessed and managed in Outlook for accounts with a paid subscription.
Outlook Connector enables you to use your Live Hotmail accounts within Outlook:

• Read and send your Office Live Mail/Windows Live Hotmail e-mail messages.
• Manage your Live Mail Contacts.
• Use advanced options for blocking junk e-mail messages.
• Manage multiple e-mail accounts in one place.

With a paid subscription, Outlook Connector enables these additional features:

• Manage, share, and synchronize your Windows Live Calendar in Outlook.
• Access your Tasks and Notes.

System Requirements

• Supported Operating Systems: Windows Vista; Windows XP

• This download works with the following Office programs:
  • Microsoft Office Outlook 2003
  • Microsoft Office Outlook 2007

• The following is also required:
  • Internet access via dial-up or broadband (provided separately); local or long-distance charges may apply

• For Calendar Tasks and Notes Functionality
  • A paid subscription-based e-mail account from MSN Hotmail, Windows Live Hotmail or Office Live

Files you can download:

1. Outlook_Connector_12_0_FAQ.doc
2. Outlook_Connector_12_0_FAQ.docx
3. OutlookConnector.exe

Source 

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Further to reference guide, this is the interactive guide from Microsoft.

When you click the link below, the interactive guide will start. Once you’re there, rest the mouse pointer over an Outlook 2003 menu or button to learn its new location in Outlook 2007. To see an animation of the location of the command or button in Outlook 2007, just click it.

Start the guide

Notes

• This guide requires Adobe Flash Player 7.0 or later.
• This guide covers the most popular commands from Outlook 2003. For the complete list of command equivalents, see Reference: Locations of Outlook 2003 commands in Outlook 2007.
• The e-mail commands shown for Outlook 2003 are the ones you see when you’re using Microsoft Word as your e-mail editor. If you’re not sure which e-mail editor you’re using or how to tell, see Demo: Do more with Word as your e-mail editor.