Hidden Office usability features - The Research Pane

Summary: Press ALT and at the same time click on a word when in Outlook or Word etc...

I now use Office 2007 but I sometimes take for granted some of the cool innovation introduced in Office 2003 like the Research Pane. However it is safe to say not a lot of people know how to access it. 

The Research pane is accessible in Office 2003/2007 and in Internet Explorer and really opens a channel to resources about information you are currently creating or working with. Its a task pane that opens to the right of you're work space, although in IE it opens on the left; go figure. These resources can be those supplied by Microsoft, 3rd parties like Factiva or those created by an organsitation and exposed only internally or externally to the world at large. Moreover the search web service in SharePoint Portal Server 2003 and Office SharePoint Server both conform to the Research web service format and hence can be registered as a provider through the Research Options. Sweet... 

I use the Research pane quite often; today I was creating an email and I needed to look up a word. I wasn't sure it was the right word to use in the context I was using it, so I simply clicked ALT whilst clicking the word and the Research pane showed up and provided the alternatives I was looking for. Too easy. 

I take this tool for granted but how many others wouldn't even know this huge time saver is available to them?

I have the Research Pane configured for Dictionary, Thesaurus and Intranet only but you can add additional services via the Research options at the bottom of the Research Pane. They even have Parental controls.

If you want to build one this is the place to start. http://msdn2.microsoft.com/en-us/office/aa905529.aspx

I really like some of the suggestions in the comments of this blog too by Dave Burke.

http://dbvt.com/blog/archive/2006/10/26/An-aid-to-IE7-Assimilation_3A00_-the-Research-Task-Pane.aspx

The Research Pane in all its glory.