Microsoft Office XP
Software Review by Alan LoboschefskiBy combining Microsoft’s flagship programs into one unified application suite (Microsoft Office XP), Microsoft has created a general-purpose tool that can handle virtually all data processing, forecasting, communication, and Web publishing activities of a modern business or organization. Each application shares common commands, dialog boxes, and procedures, so once you learn how to use one application, you’ll be able to apply most of what you’ve learned to all the rest. Also the Office applications have been designed to work together, enabling you to combine text from Word, a chart from Excel, and database from Access into one compelling presentation, Office applications also support a variety of file formats (including HTML and XML), so you don’t have to invent the wheel each time you start a new project. In short Microsoft Office XP is designed to adapt itself to the way you work...
Office XP has a new look that is streamlined and flatter to take advantage of high color displays. Playing off the flatter look of Office controls are the new floating toolbars, which slowly fade to a neutral color when they are not being used. Office XP now has closer integration with the web. Each application in Office can save files in HTML format, Streamlining integration with the Internet and corporate intranet, Excel and Access.
You are also able to read and save in XML format. The following features are common to all or most Office programs.
Task Panes combines command options based on the task you are completing, to get you finished with your documents faster than ever. Office now includes Microsoft’s speech recognition technology, so you can speak the names of the toolbar buttons, menus, and menu items in office to complete your work without using the keyboard or mouse. Whenever an Office application makes an automatic spelling correction, Office places an AutoCorrect Options button in your document, so that you can undo automatic actions, or select a different AutoCorrect option, so you undo automatic actions, or select a different AutoCorrect option.
The Clipboard toolbar has been expanded to hold up to 24 items. It also appears as the Office Clipboard in the task pane, and features rich previews of the text or pictures currently in the Clipboard.
Office XP includes several new collaboration features that help you track, review, and merge changes made to documents, spreadsheets, and presentations shared by multiple people in your work group. Outlook now tracks the documents you send out for review as attachments, making it easier to manage the changes that your coworkers make.
As hard discs get larger, and networks get more sophisticated, and workgroups are spread across multiple Internet and intranet servers, searching for files has become more important. Office XP has an updated search engine which lets you search your own computer, networked computers, and Outlook simultaneously, so you don’t have to switch away from your document to find what you are looking for.
Office XP provides even more tools to let you integrate drawings and artwork into your projects. You can create, edit, and format organization charts in Word, Excel, and PowerPoint. You can create conceptual diagrams without purchasing third party tools. Word supports additional creative artwork options with the Drawing Canvas, which allows you to create new, complex drawings and convert your MS Draw objects.
With it’s many enhancements Office XP is a very powerful tool worth considering upgrading or adding to your software library.System requirements: PC with 133MHz or higher; Pentium III recommended. Windows 98 second edition, ME, Windows XP, Windows NT 4.0
128 (MB) of Ram. CD drive.
Super VGA (800 X 600) OR higher resolution, mouse or other pointing device.
A microphone and modem and a camera are required to use some of the special features.
Microsoft Office XP
Microsoft Corporation|
One Microsoft Way
Redmond, WA 98052-6399
Average retail price US $149.00425-635-7222
http://www.microsoft.com/office