Fluent User Interface
MS Office 2007 does include a number of new features, the most notable being the new look known as the Fluent user interface (Microsoft Corporation, 2010). To provide an uncluttered workspace and allow users to find application features, menus, toolbars, taskpanes and dialogue boxes, previously used within the MS Office applications, have been replaced with the Fluent user interface. Microsoft made changes to the interface in an attempt to, "make it easier for people to get more out of Microsoft Office applications so they can deliver better results faster" (Microsoft Corporation, 2010).
One of the changes you will notice in the new interface is the Office 2007 button (figure 1), located in the top-left corner of the window. This button replaces the file menu and provides access to common functions including opening, closing, saving, printing and sharing a file.
Figure 1: Office 20007 button (Image retrieved January 6, 2010 from: http://wings.buffalo.edu/computing/Documentation/Vista/office2007.html)
The second change, you will notice, in the core MS Office applications including Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Access and Outlook is the Ribbon panel (figure 2). The Ribbon is a non customizable panel that consists of tabs which display command buttons for the tasks applicable to functions of the specific application (Wikipedia, 2010). The purpose of the tabs are to organize commands into common themes in order to simplify accessing application features. To view a video provided through MS Office Online titled "The Office Ribbon Overview, click here.
Figure 2: Office 2007 Ribbon (Image retrieved January 6, 2010 from: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Microsoft_Office_2007).
Contextual Tabs
Contextual tabs allow for commands related to certain objects to appear when specific objects are selected. For example, selecting a chart in MS Excel brings up a contextual tab with commands used for chart editing (figure 3). Contextual tabs remain hidden until they are needed for a specific operation.
Figure 3: Contextual Tab (Image retrieved January 6, 2010 from: http://office.microsoft.com/en-us/products/HA101679411033.aspx)
Live Preview
A new feature called "Live Preview" temporarily shows formatting and editing changes when the user moves the mouse pointer over any formatting button. Permanent changes are not made to the document until the user selects the change. View the following video to see a demo of Live Preview being used in Word 2007.New File Format
MS Office 2007 uses a new file format called Office Open XML as the default file format. The new XML format places an "x" in the file extension (.docx/.xlsx/.pptx) and is not compatible with older versions of MS Office applications (.doc/.xls/.ppt). To try and simplify and better understand...all of this means that older versions of MS Office (2003 and older) will not be able to open the default file format (XML) from MS Office 2007. However, MS Office 2007 will be able to open file formats from MS Office applications including 2003 and older.
MS Office 2007 does allow you to save your document in the older file format (without XML). To do this simply click the Office 2007 button and select "save as". In the right column you will have an option to save as a 97-2003 document which will save a copy of the document that is fully compatible with 97-2003 versions of the MS Office application you are using.
What's New In Office 2007 Videos
View the following videos to learn more about the new features available in each application. Videos include audio and video and may take a moment to load.
Free Training Resources:
- To participate in a short course to help get up to speed with MS Office 2007 through MS Office Online titled, "Get an introduction to the new look in familiar programs" click here.
- Outlook 2007 free hands-on training
- Word 2007 free hands-on training
- Excel 2007 free hands-on training
- PowerPoint 2007 free hands-on training
- Access 2007 free hands-on training
