Office 2007 is the latest version of Microsoft’s Office suite of products for the PC, which consists of a number of productivity applications. The most popular applications in the Office suite are Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and Access. Office 2008 is the latest version of Microsoft’s Office suite of products for the Mac. This LIS training document is meant to help point you to the training resources that are offered. Contact the Technology Help Desk at x1000 or helpdesk@luther.edu with questions.

General Information

Office 2007 introduces a number of significant changes in how the programs work and behave. Office programs no longer use menus and toolbars, but instead use a completely redesigned interface that makes it easier for users to get things done.

Office 2008 for the Mac uses an interface similar to Office 2004 for the Mac, though it does introduce a number of new features such as SmartArt and Themes as well as new ways to view your documents, spreadsheets, and presentations.

Compatibility

All versions of Microsoft Office from Office 97 to Office 2003 have used the same file formats for Word, Excel, and PowerPoint files. Office 2007 programs use a new XML based file format, which offers a number of benefits, including smaller file size and less risk for file corruption. Office 2007 programs can still open and save documents in the older format, and there is also an add-on for Office 2000, XP, and 2003 that allows users to open Office 2007 documents in the native XML format without actually having Office 2007 installed.

You will be able to recognize Office 2007 documents by an “x” added to the end of the normal extension name (e.g. .docx, .xlsx, .pptx) Office 2007 users have the option to save down to the previous versions’ formats, but that is not the default. Luther faculty and staff can install the file converter to allow them to open and edit Office 2007 docs.

Use of the Compatibility Pack

A brief explanation of the compatibility pack is shown below. For more detailed information from Microsoft, see How to Use Earlier Versions

• Word 2000
  • You can open a Word 2007 file, modify it, and then save your changes to Word 2007 without any extra steps. The file will remain a .docx file.

• Excel 2000
  • You cannot open an Excel 2007 spreadsheet directly from within Excel 2000. If you try, you will get an error message that Excel does not recognize the file format. You need to open the file from outside Excel 2000 (e.g. from Windows Explorer or as an email attachment). Once opened, the spreadsheet will be in Read Only mode. You can make changes to the file, but you will need to save the spreadsheet to a new, Excel 2000, name. This does mean you will end up with two different files (an .xls and an .xlsx) and you may want to remove one of them when done. If you want the final version in Excel 2007, you can go to Windows Explorer and right click on the file to save it as a 2007 file which, of course, will make another copy. Be intentional with versions of your files.

• PowerPoint 2000
  • You cannot open a PowerPoint 2007 presentation directly from within PowerPoint 2000. You need to open the file from outside PowerPoint 2000 (e.g. from Windows Explorer or as an email attachment). Once opened, the presentation will be in Read Only mode. You can make changes to the file, but you will need to save the presentation to a new, PowerPoint 2000, name. This does mean you will end up with two different files (a .ppt and a .pptx) and you may want to remove one of them when done. If you want the final version in PowerPoint 2007, you can go to Windows Explorer and right click on the file to save it as a 2007 file which, of course, will make another copy. Be intentional with versions of your files.

Windows(PC) Compatibility Pack

The Office 2007 compatibility pack for the Windows (PC) install is located at
http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/

Macintosh Compatibility Pack

The Office 2007 compatibility pack install for the Macintosh platform is located at http://www.microsoft.com/mac/downloads
(Listed as “Microsoft Office Open XML File Format Converter for Mac 0.2.1 (Beta)” and found in the lower 1/3 of the page under “Browse for Downloads”.)

Microsoft Office for your Home Computer

Microsoft Office is provided to employees of Luther College on Luther-owned computers. If you are interested in having Microsoft Office on your home computer (not a Luther-owned computer), know that there are several Microsoft Office suites, for both the PC and the Macintosh, and there are many ways to purchase the suites as well.

Microsoft Office 2007 system suites:

The Ultimate Steal (for Students)

One recent promotion from Microsoft is called “The Ultimate Steal” and provides Microsoft Office Ultimate 2007 for only $59.95 to students at U.S. educational institutions who are enrolled with at least a 0.5 course load. For more information, visit http://www.theultimatesteal.com/

Who’s eligible?

1. Individual must possess a valid e-mail address at a U.S. educational institution which contains the domain suffix .edu OR have a valid email address at one of the educational institutions listed, AND
2. Individual must be a student at a U.S. educational institution and must be actively enrolled in at least 0.5 course credit and be able to provide proof of enrollment upon request.

Microsoft Work At Home (for Employees)

The Work At Home Program (WAH) allows Luther employees to install Luther licensed Microsoft Office on one home computer for use for work purposes only while employed at Luther. Budget director approval is requested prior to distribution of installation media, and a small fee for purchase of installation media and program administration will be charged to departmental accounts. For more information, including the Program Description and Request and Acceptance Forms, go to this page

Microsoft Home Use Program (for Employees)

The Home Use Program (HUP) allows Luther employees to install Luther licensed Microsoft Office on one home computer for use for personal and/or work purposes while employed at Luther. The individual pays a $9.95 charge when ordering online. For more information, including the HUP Request Form, go to this page

Academic Pricing (for Students and Employees)

Employees who would like Microsoft Office on their home computer for personal use may purchase it themselves at academic pricing which is lower cost than found on the shelf. Students may also purchase software using academic pricing, though The Ultimate Steal (see above) is a better deal. Academic pricing is available by searching for a reseller in your area using the following link: http://www.microsoft.com/education. You can also purchase online at academic pricing on some sites, such as through http://www.academicsuperstore.com

As you are considering your purchase of Office 2007 for personal use on your home computer, keep in mind there are various suites offered – each with different products included and each with its own price tag. For more details on the suites, visit http://office.microsoft.com/en-us/products.

In addition, you may want to export and save to the PDF format from Microsoft Office. The computers on campus will have this installed for you, but your home installation will not include it by default. To download and install this plug-in, click Microsoft Save as PDF.

Office 2007 Test Drive

You can take a look at Office 2007 and download it for a free 60-day trial. Go to Office 2007 Test Drive to try Access, Excel, PowerPoint, Publisher, and Word.

LIS Training Classes

LIS will be offering training on Office 2007. Classes will be available to each department prior to their upgrade. In addition, classes will be available to faculty, staff, and students beginning in J-Term 2008. These classes will be held in the Olin Round Table Room where both Office 2000 and Office 2007 are currently installed. Watch the Tuesday for more information as well as the list of training and instruction currently available.

LIS Training Materials

There are many ways in which you can familiarize yourself with the new Office 2007 /2008 suite and begin to learn about the changes, even before you have Office 2007 / 2008 installed on your computer. Each of the following links contains a wealth of information including screen shots of the product, colorful one page “Getting Started” and “New Features” guides, online demos such as “Up to Speed with Word 2007”, and Office 2007 Test Drive where you can download Office 2007 for a free 60-day trial.

• Access 2007 Training
• Excel 2007 Training
• PowerPoint 2007 Training
• Publisher 2007 Training
• Word 2007 Training
• Excel 2008 for the Mac
• PowerPoint 2008 for the Mac
• Word 2008 for the Mac
• For more related articles not listed here, go to http://lis.luther.edu, and use the Search LIS box in the upper right hand corner to search for “Office 2007”
• For more articles on other topics, go to http://lis.luther.edu/learn/articles.

Luther’s Timeline for Office 2007

Microsoft Office 2007 upgrades are being be gradually phased in during normal computer replacement cycles. Office 2007 will replace Office 2000 on office computers.

Staff Computers

Staff departments are on a distributed 2-year cycle. The staff rollout happens every two years. The departments are divided in halves, and each half is upgraded on alternate years.

• The following departments are upgraded on the odd-even budget years (i.e. ’07-’08):

• The following departments are upgraded on the even-odd budget years (i.e. ’08-’09):

• The following upgrade conversations have been scheduled for Fall 2009:
  • Pending – LIS (Library), Financial Aid, Peace & Justice, Dining Services, Campus Safety & Security, LIS (Main)

• The following upgrade conversations have been scheduled for J-Term/Spring 2009:
  • Jan 6 – Print Shop
  • Jan 29 – Legends Center Rec Sports
  • Jan 30 – Round Table Room
  • Feb 18 – Facilities Management
  • Feb 19 – Sense of Vocation
  • Feb 24 – Mail Center
  • Mar – SASC
  • Mar 26 – Registrar’s Office
  • Mar 30 – Campus Programming
  • Mar 30 – Dean’s Office
  • Jun – Music

• The following upgrade conversations have been scheduled for Fall 2008:
  • Sep 10 – College Ministries
  • Sep 25 – Residence Life
  • Oct 2 – Administrative Services
  • Oct 9 – Student Life / SAC
  • Oct 20 – Health Services
  • Nov 6 – Financial Services
  • Nov 12 – Career Center
  • Nov 17 – Human Resources
  • Nov 20 – Diversity Center
  • Nov 20 – Book Shop
  • Dec 3 – Celebration Iowa
  • Dec 4 – International Studies
  • Dec 18 – Counseling

• Upgrade Process
  • The upgrade procedure is initiated by LIS. LIS will contact the department selected as next for upgrading to schedule a meeting with the members of the department. At the meeting, handouts are distributed that (1)explain the machine classifications, (2)show current hardware, room number, and Track-It “name”of each workstation and printer, and (3) show current training topics available through LIS Training. We discuss the classifications of everyone’s workstation, printing issues, and answer questions about other peripherals, accessories, etc. At the meeting, we will schedule Office 2007 training for the department and begin to schedule the upgrades for the computers within the department. The intent is for the power users to be upgraded first in each department so they are able to help others in the department use Office 2007 more effectively.

Faculty Computers

The replacement cycle for faculty is being standardized with that for other employees at four years. Faculty had been replaced every three years, including the summers of 2002 and 2005. A four year cycle is manageable for most needs and maximizes our hardware investments.

Summer 2008 we replaced hardware for 3/4 of those involved in the rollout and all involved received updated versions of the software. Summer 2009, the remaining 1/4 of those involved received new hardware and software. Thereafter, 1/4 of those involved will receive new hardware and software each summer.

Computer Labs and Classroom Podiums

Computer labs and classroom podiums had Office 2007 prior to the start of Fall Semester 2008.

Luther’s Timeline for Office 2008 for the Mac

Office 2008 for the Mac became available to Luther on Friday, February 1, 2008. Office 2008 for the Mac to follows the same schedule as Office 2007 for faculty and the computer labs. Office 2008 became part of the staff roll by summer of 2008.

Contact the Technology Help Desk

• Call 563-387-1000
• Email helpdesk@luther.edu
• Stop by the Technology Help Desk in Preus Library