Office Hours: Surviving the switch to Excel 2007
(Office Hours columns are conceived and written by Microsoft employees -- for the times when only insider information will do.)
It takes time to get used to a new version of a product, particularly one with a revamped interface. Microsoft employees aren't immune to the productivity hit when called to upgrade. Anneliese Wirth aims to lessen that hit for you by offering tips for surviving the upgrade to Excel 2007.
Is upgrading to Excel 2007 a productivity hit you could do without? Yeah, I felt that way, too (although as a card-carrying member of the Office team, I'm probably not supposed to say so). But hey, I lived through the upgrade and actually became more productive as a result. And I want you to do the same.
This column contains a few tips for getting started with Excel 2007. It's particularly suited for those who are converting from Excel 2003, but a lot of it is just as relevant if you're switching from an earlier version. I found these tips by reviewing the comments you left about various Excel 2007 Help topics. (Yes, we really do read and appreciate your comments, even the ones where you yell at us in ALL CAPS. Heh.)
Tip 1: Add a Get Started tab to the Ribbon
In Excel 2007, toolbars and menus no longer appear along the top of the window. Instead, you'll see the Ribbon, which is part of Microsoft Office Fluent user interface. When you first start using Excel 2007, you'll probably have questions about where to find Excel 2003 commands and toolbar buttons. To help answer those questions, I recommend that you download a free add-in that adds a Get Started tab to the Ribbon.
You can use the commands on this tab to get to training courses, video demos, newsgroups, and other content designed to help you learn Excel 2007. The most useful tool for those who are new to the Ribbon is the Interactive Guide (the button on the far left), which shows you exactly where to find Excel 2003 buttons and commands in Excel 2007. Trust me, it's a lifesaver.
You can download the Get Started Tab for Excel 2007 from the Microsoft Download Center. If you don't want to add the Get Started tab to Excel 2007, or if your company prohibits you from downloading the add-in, you can access the Excel 2003 to Excel 2007 command reference guide directly.
To get tips 2-6, read the full column on the Office Hours blog.
-- Anneliese
