Microsoft Office 2003 vs. 2007 Toolbars

Searching for Your Favorite Buttons in Office 2007

If, like me, you've recently begun to use Microsoft Office 2007, you've probably found that it is a big change. Getting used to the new "ribbon" style toolbars can be a slow and somewhat painful process.

To make it easier to find your favorite buttons or functions in Office 2007, use these interactive guides. You can look up the function you like in the 2003 version and it will tell you where to find it in the 2007 version.

Word
http://office.microsoft.com/en-us/word/Ha100744321033.aspx


Excel
http://office.microsoft.com/en-us/excel/HA101491511033.aspx


PowerPoint
http://office.microsoft.com/en-us/powerpoint/HA101490761033.aspx


Access
http://office.microsoft.com/en-us/access/HA102388991033.aspx


The Microsoft website has a lot of other useful tools for new 2007 users. Of course, they've just released Office 2010, but I've heard that the changes are not really radical except in Outlook.

Microsoft Office 2010

If you're wondering about the new version of Microsoft Office, here are a couple of good articles. The first describes the improvements of the 2010 version vs. the 2007 version, and the second gives three reasons why you should upgrade.

http://www.pcworld.com/article/195542/dissecting_microsoft_office_2010.html

http://www.computerworld.com.au/article/346683/three_reasons_make_move_office_2010/



Tepato Systems is not endorsing Microsoft, however we do use their products.

Fun Free Tools to Personalize Your Desktop

In honor of our lovely spring, here are some fun, free tools that you can use to personalize your computer.

To download free images to use for your wallpaper or screensavers, including a nice tool to manage them, go to Webshots. The tool also includes a handy calendar that you can display on your desktop.

Webshots - http://www.webshots.com

This site has a variety of very cool free fonts. Some of them are from movies or TV shows, such as the Flinstones and Star Wars.

Free Fonts - http://www.typenow.net/themed.htm


This tool gives you some helpful options that can be used in Windows Explorer. It allows you to color code your folders, among other things.

Folder Marker - http://www.foldermarker.com


And finally, this one is actually useful for work-related use. If you are ever copying/pasting a series of items, this tool allows you to copy them all at once, then paste them based on a list. The normal copy/paste function can only save one item at a time.

Ditto - http://ditto-cp.sourceforge.net

How to Save an Office File in the “Old” Version

If you have Microsoft Office 2007 (Word, Excel, Powerpoint, etc.) and your friends still have the 2003 version, they can’t open your files. You’ll notice that the file name now ends in “.docx” or “.xlsx” or “.pptx”, with an “x” on the end.

It’s easy to save a 2007 file into the 2003 version. (Example shown in Microsoft Word, but it works the same in all Office applications.)

Follow these steps:





Click the Windows logo in the top right corner







Select “Save As” from the list








Select “Word 97-2003” from the list








Choose the location where you’d like to save the file, and give it a name (as you normally would).



You’re done! Your file is now the “old” version which can be opened by someone with any version between Office 97 and Office 2003.


How to Convert Office 2007 Files Automatically
Another option is to download and install a free tool that will automatically convert Office 2007 documents to the old version for you (when you open them).

To convert Office 2007 files for free to a format that you can open, use the link below. The online version of the tool is free, and there's also a desktop version that is available for purchase for $19.95.

This same site offers a variety of other conversion tools, including one to convert a variety of file types into PDF files.
Oconvert Tool - http://oconvert.com/

Keyboard Shortcuts

All of these keyboard shortcuts can be used in any Microsoft Office application, and some may also be used when surfing the Internet.

Here are the shortcuts that I use the most:
CTL+C - copy selected text
CTL+X - cut selected text
CTL+V - paste selected text
CTL+ALT+V - paste special (really useful in Excel)

CTL+Z - undo
CTL+Y - redo

CTL+A - select all (text in a document, cells in a spreadsheet, whatever)
CTL+Home - go to top of document
CTL+End - go to end of document

CTL+S - save

ALT + TAB - switch to a different window

Print Screen - to get a screenshot (works best if you have software like SnagIt)

CTL+ALT+Del - open task manager

If you have a favorite, post a comment to share it.

Password Tool - This is AWESOME!

How many passwords do you have online? I probably have over 100, between my website clients and all of my personal stuff. It's too much to remember, and I never can keep all of my bookmarks consistent between different PCs.

Check out this nifty and inexpensive tool:
http://www.roboform.com

I have the "to go" version, which works on a flash drive. So now no matter where I am, or whose computer I'm borrowing, all of my passwords (and bookmarks) are available on my flash drive.

Roboform saves your password, along with the link to the site where it's used. You can use 1 click to go to the site, login and press enter. All of your password data is encrypted under a single master password. It can also generate random passwords for you, so that you can stop using your dog's name as the password for everything you do (especially important if you are doing banking online or shopping). You can even set up "identities" which will fill in your name, address and credit card information on a page when you click a button. It's a huge timesaver if you shop online frequently.

It is one of the most useful things I've got in my computer "toolbox" and it only costs about $20! Check it out sometime and let me know how much you love it... there's even a free trial available.

New Client Sites

Recently completed sites:

http://kbentivolioformichigansenate.org

http://hvmoms.org

http://jonmungerassociates.com