Word 2007 Usability

[Philip J Smith]

Why did Microsoft introduce a product that was so radically different to it's
earlier offerings?

I spend half my time trying to work out how to do things that used to be easy!

Documents prepared by others which were inadequately spell checked show no
errors even with the most glaring of mistakes! (Yes Spell checking is
switched on)

Inserting lines above formatted lines retain the same format, which would be
fair enough in itself, but it cannot be changed.

I used to create diagrams in Excel, then copy as picture, an paste into
Word. In offices current imcarnation the pasted image is cropped to the left
and has large blank spaces to the right and bottom.

All commands, previously available from menus have been redistributed among
ribbons or have been moved to the big office button in ways that cannot be
guessed!

I've been using word since 1998 and considered myself reasonably competent
but now i'm no better than an absolute beginner!

Installing this product has destroyed rather than improved productivity!

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[Mary Fisher]

Why did Microsoft introduce a product that was so radically different to
it's
earlier offerings?

I spend half my time trying to work out how to do things that used to be
easy!

I've heard this from several people but I love it!Mine works well, after the first visual shock and taking ages to find Help
(a small query sign) I wouldn't go back to any previous version.

Mary

 

[Philip J Smith]

Hi.

I've spotted the small query sign, F1 also works!

The main difficulty is phrasing a question that generates a relevant answer
if one is not forthcoming then one has to plough through lots of other "help"
notes to get a clue as to where to look next.

Sorry but I'd go back in an instant if I could at work, but I can't.
However, I don't intend to upgrade the version on my home machine!

Many thanks for your response though - I thought that this message was being
posted as a message for Microsoft rather than a posting requiring a response.

Kind regards

 

[Mary Fisher]

Hi.

I've spotted the small query sign, F1 also works!

Keep forgetting that

The main difficulty is phrasing a question that generates a relevant
answer
if one is not forthcoming then one has to plough through lots of other
"help"
notes to get a clue as to where to look next.

I agree - but the only time I wanted it I was told (here) that the facility
I couldn't find was there all the time!

Sorry but I'd go back in an instant if I could at work, but I can't.
However, I don't intend to upgrade the version on my home machine!

Many thanks for your response though - I thought that this message was
being
posted as a message for Microsoft rather than a posting requiring a
response.

I realised that as I hit 'send' - sorry,

Mary

 

[grammatim]

Hi.

I've spotted the small query sign, F1 also works!

The main difficulty is phrasing a question that generates a relevant answer
if one is not forthcoming then one has to plough through lots of other "help"
notes to get a clue as to where to look next.

That is nost definitely not a problem of Office2007 alone. I have
_never_ encountered an application's "Help" system that takes the
place of a comprehensive, sensibly arranged, printed Manual. (Such as
the one that came with my first few versions of Word.)

 

[Ewersalways]

I like a lot of the new features, though it took quite a long time to figure
out where things were and how to do certain tasks. I would like to have the
ability to add things to the main tool areas rather then a small toolbar, the
abiltiy to change the toolbar buttons as in the past, and I would like the
option of changing the taskbar to a horizontal position. The biggest help
would be better offline and online help and support for such an expensive,
and radically changed product.

 

[Graham Mayor]

The ribbon is editable
http://gregmaxey.mvps.org/Customize_Ribbon.htm
and
http://ribboncustomizer.com/

--
<>>< ><<> ><<> <>>< ><<> <>>< <>><<>
Graham Mayor - Word MVP

My web site www.gmayor.com

<>>< ><<> ><<> <>>< ><<> <>>< <>><<>

 

[DiSSo]

So now we are expected to pay for the ability to essentially customize the
replacement for the menus and toolbars? That is insane considering the price
of the office system in the first place. Though it is somewhat comforting to
know that it is problematically possible

 

[Bob Buckland ?:-\)]

Hi DiSSo,

Actually there are no 'expectations' one way or the other on the approach you take to using the Office 2007 products, but a number
of the 'bring in the menu' choices are free.

=================
So now we are expected to pay for the ability to essentially customize the
replacement for the menus and toolbars? That is insane considering the price
of the office system in the first place. Though it is somewhat comforting to
know that it is problematically possible <<
--

Bob Buckland ?
MS Office System Products MVP

*Courtesy is not expensive and can pay big dividends*