Office 2007

From IeXwiki

Microsoft Office 2007 (formerly codename Office 12) is Microsoft's upcoming successor to Office 2003, and will include a 64-bit implementation to be released after its 32-bit counterpart.

It has been confirmed that Office 2007 will support and implement the open XML standard as its default structure (Office 11, also known as Office 2003, supported XML) which will increase cross-application compatibility and significantly decrease file sizes. This is because the proprietary file formats of the Office series include highly bloated code.

Office 2007 is expected to release in Quarter 3 of 2006, with a beta version coming in late 2005.

Office 2007 Pre-Release

By September 2006, Microsoft had released a Beta 2 version, and a major update to the Beta 2 version.

Earlier versions of Office can be kept on the computer, with the exception of Outlook (Outlook 2007, however, will import the data files from earlier Outlook versions). Office 2007 uses new file formats, but will open files from earlier Office suites, and these files can be saved in their original format. Microsoft has also released a Beta compatibility pack that will allow users of Office 2000, Office XP, and Office 2003, to open files that are in the new Office 2007 format.

Major enhancements in the new suite include smaller file sizes, enhanced collaboration features, and a new bar in the suite's main programs, running across the top of the page (see screenshot). This bar displays contextual tools, and changes depending what one is doing in the document (it can also be changed manually). Although past users of Office might get initially get confused by the new layout of the icons and tools that Microsoft has adopted, it is quickly learnt and a major improvement over earlier versions of Office.

For Word users, right-clicking context menus now include major fonts tools, and for academics and students there are now extensive research tools, including the ability to quickly insert in-text citation and bibliographies properly in the standard formats (APA, Chicago, MLA, etc.) - which will be widely welcomed by university teachers everywhere.

As with earlier versions of Office, Microsoft has announced that there will be various levels of the Office 2007 suite available for retail sale, depending on the programs included, and prices are expected to range from $149 to $679.

Related Links

• Microsoft's Office 2007 Web Site