(Msg. 17) Posted: Sat Dec 29, 2007 11:25 am
Post subject: Re: Word 2007 Learning Curve [Login to view extended thread Info.] Archived from groups: microsoft>public>word>newusers (more info?)
"Terry Farrell" <mvpng.RemoveThis@po193qw.co.uk> wrote in message
news:B38AEA71-8D2D-454A-B1DF-59F6DDD62288@microsoft.com...
> But the user research team employed at huge expense by Microsoft said that
> normal users never change their toolbars and such. Obviously they were not
> monitoring real users and took the results at face value.
I have to say as an Advanced Excel user and a not-so advanced Word user /I/
never bothered with customizing the tool bar in previous versions - just as
I don't bother customizing IE or Firefox.....
(Msg. 18) Posted: Sat Dec 29, 2007 11:53 am
Post subject: Re: Word 2007 Learning Curve [Login to view extended thread Info.] Archived from groups: per prev. post (more info?)
In previous versions, I always modified the Toolbars. Many of the tools I
never used (such as cut, copy, past, bold, italics underline, etc.) I always
dragged off and added useful tools that were hidden (such as
ParaPageBreakBefore, Doc Properties, File New... and custom macros, etc.).
I always like that there were always so many different ways to work in Word
that allowed users to customize and work in a way that suited themselves and
their principal tasks. To me, much of this choice seems to have been
removed. I was privileged to be shown demos of the proposed Ribbon before it
went beta and was enthusiastic as I could see that so many more commands
could be made available for users, rather than having to dig deep to find
the hidden nest of tools available. But I wasn't aware of how rigid the
Ribbon was to be until beta testing started. I was deeply disappointed and I
still am. And I will remain disappointed until the Ribbon is user
customizable out-of-the-box.
Terry
"Gordon" <gbplinux.DeleteThis@gmail.com.invalid> wrote in message
news:u0ILC2gSIHA.5404@TK2MSFTNGP03.phx.gbl...
> "Terry Farrell" <mvpng.DeleteThis@po193qw.co.uk> wrote in message
> news:B38AEA71-8D2D-454A-B1DF-59F6DDD62288@microsoft.com...
>
>> But the user research team employed at huge expense by Microsoft said
>> that normal users never change their toolbars and such. Obviously they
>> were not monitoring real users and took the results at face value.
>
> I have to say as an Advanced Excel user and a not-so advanced Word user
> /I/ never bothered with customizing the tool bar in previous versions -
> just as I don't bother customizing IE or Firefox.....
>
(Msg. 19) Posted: Sat Dec 29, 2007 12:19 pm
Post subject: Re: Word 2007 Learning Curve [Login to view extended thread Info.] Archived from groups: per prev. post (more info?)
"Terry Farrell" <mvpng DeleteThis @po193qw.co.uk> wrote in message
news:90BB1CBE-1740-44AC-803A-28B104641260@microsoft.com...
> In previous versions, I always modified the Toolbars. Many of the tools I
> never used (such as cut, copy, past, bold, italics underline, etc.) I
> always dragged off and added useful tools that were hidden (such as
> ParaPageBreakBefore, Doc Properties, File New... and custom macros, etc.).
>
> I always like that there were always so many different ways to work in
> Word that allowed users to customize and work in a way that suited
> themselves and their principal tasks. To me, much of this choice seems to
> have been removed. I was privileged to be shown demos of the proposed
> Ribbon before it went beta and was enthusiastic as I could see that so
> many more commands could be made available for users, rather than having
> to dig deep to find the hidden nest of tools available. But I wasn't aware
> of how rigid the Ribbon was to be until beta testing started. I was deeply
> disappointed and I still am. And I will remain disappointed until the
> Ribbon is user customizable out-of-the-box.
>
> Terry
I hear what you say, but from a support perspective in a commercial
environment, a User customising ANYTHING on an individual basis turns into a
support/helpdesk nightmare.....
(Msg. 20) Posted: Sat Dec 29, 2007 1:44 pm
Post subject: Re: Word 2007 Learning Curve [Login to view extended thread Info.] Archived from groups: per prev. post (more info?)
Paul Gauci wrote:
> Yes Ok I have tried the QAT approach but I disovered that some of the
> icons for different commands look exactly alike and there is no
> fast-and-easy way to edit the icons as we were able to do with 2003.
>
> I am now trying out the pschmid Ribbon Customiser. However, I still
> have to find out how to customise the ribbon.
>
>
>
>> Use the QAT as much as possible to collect your most frequently used
>> tools. One good thing about Office 2007 is that it's really easy to
>> add items to the QAT. Right-click what you want, and choose Add to
>> Quick Access Toolbar. The other thing that will make it less of a
>> pain (literally) is to move the QAT to below the ribbon. That way,
>> it will a shorter mouse journey, and easier to access. (Right-click
>> the QAT and choose "Show QAT Below the Ribbon".) The QAT has been my
>> salvation.
>>
>> --
>> Herb Tyson MS MVP
>> Author of the Word 2007 Bible
>> Blog: http://word2007bible.herbtyson.com >> Web: http://www.herbtyson.com >> "JMB" <jmb DeleteThis @discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message
>> news:9653F319-18ED-45D8-ADCB-1B293BBDCCBE@microsoft.com...
>>> Herb and Susan, thanks for the useful feedback. Like Herb I have no
>>> choice,
>>> with my company about to make a massive migration to Vista and
>>> Office 2007.
>>> And I can't afford to loose much time and productivity because of
>>> this. Hence
>>> my present preparatory work at home in my spare time. So I'll have
>>> to bite the bullet, but this looks like it is going to be a very
>>> tough and bitter one. Quite frankly I fail to understand what
>>> Microsoft was/is thinking. Preparing a new document or spreadsheet
>>> seems to be all about coping with the
>>> user interface and appearances now, and in the meantime many people
>>> seem to
>>> forget what it is really about, i.e. the contents of the message
>>> ... The next
>>> release has been aptly code named MS Office HAB (Hot Air Balloon).
>>> On the other hand I suppose it is also fair to point out that I'm
>>> not getting any younger and possibly my flexibility to adjust is no
>>> longer what it used to be.
>>>
>>> --
>>> JMB
>>>
>>>
>>> "Herb Tyson [MVP]" wrote:
>>>
>>>> When I agreed to write a book about Word 2007, I faced exactly the
>>>> same problem you're facing. But, because Word 2007 was the object
>>>> rather than the
>>>> means, I had no choice in the matter. At the outset, I was using
>>>> Word 2003
>>>> to write the book, but at some point, critical productivity mass
>>>> was achieved, and I found that new Word 2007 features made me more
>>>> productive,
>>>> and so I wrote the last half of the book using Word 2007.
>>>>
>>>> I don't know if there are "classic" interface tools for Excel, but
>>>> there are
>>>> several for Word 2007:
>>>>
>>>> http://www.addintools.com/english/menuword/ >>>>
>>>> http://pschmid.net/blog/2007/04/20/111 >>>>
>>>> I believe that the second option is free. So, for Word, at least,
>>>> you have
>>>> at least three choices:
>>>>
>>>> 1. Bite the bullet and learn Word 2007, knowing that Word 14 will
>>>> surely build on Word 2007/12 rather than on Word 2003/11; this is
>>>> the best option
>>>> if you need to keep up with future versions of Word. If it's hard
>>>> to get used to the new interface now in Word 12, it will only be
>>>> more difficult several years from now with Word 14.
>>>>
>>>> 2. Use a classic interface tool, relying on it when you're in a
>>>> hurry, but
>>>> otherwise dabbling and gradually learning the ribbon approach.
>>>> This is a good option if Word 2007 has features that you need, but
>>>> you don't need to
>>>> learn Word 2007 in a hurry. There are other learning aids you can
>>>> use, as well, such as the interactive guide that shows you where
>>>> to find Word 2007
>>>> commands and features:
>>>> http://office.microsoft.com/assistance/asstvid.aspx?assetid=XT10076633...3&vwidt >>>>
>>>> 3. Revert to Word 2003. This is a good option if Word 2003 provides
>>>> everything you need and if you won't need to work with documents
>>>> that rely
>>>> upon Word 2007-specific features that aren't preserved when using
>>>> the Office
>>>> 2007 Compatibility Pack.
>>>>
>>>> A 4th option--not incompatible with #1 and #2--is to set up Word
>>>> 2007's Quick Access Toolbar so that it contains your most-used
>>>> tools from Word 2003
>>>> (do the same for Excel 2007). This is the approach I use for my
>>>> everyday work, and it has alleviated a lot of Word 2007's ergonomic
>>>> inefficiencies.
>>>> One approach to this is shown here:
>>>>
>>>> http://word2007bible.herbtyson.com/2007/05/02/making-word-2007-a-littl...ore-fam >>>>
>>>>
>>>> --
>>>> Herb Tyson MS MVP
>>>> Author of the Word 2007 Bible
>>>> Blog: http://word2007bible.herbtyson.com >>>> Web: http://www.herbtyson.com >>>> "JMB" <jmb DeleteThis @discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message
>>>> news:0AB12808-0879-4AD7-B3EE-57299613C21A@microsoft.com...
>>>>> I'll make an honest attempt to give this question/feedback a
>>>>> positive twist.
>>>>> I have been using Word/Excel etc. for years now and consider
>>>>> myself somewhat
>>>>> of an expert user. Now I have a new computer with Vista and Office
>>>>> 2007.
>>>>> And
>>>>> I essentially find myself facing this predicament of going up an
>>>>> enormously
>>>>> steep learning curve, i.e. relearning how to wordprocess and
>>>>> spreadsheet
>>>>> almost from scratch all over again. The new and improved of
>>>>> Office 2007 apps
>>>>> may look much more "politically correct" than in previous
>>>>> versions, but so
>>>>> far my experience has been that it can hardly get any less user
>>>>> friendly
>>>>> and
>>>>> more convoluted than this. I'm giving it a very serious try here,
>>>>> but I'm
>>>>> also beginning to think about throwing in the towel. Anybody out
>>>>> there that
>>>>> can offer any useful advice as to how I can actually start using
>>>>> the Office
>>>>> 2007 applications without letting all my previous experience and
>>>>> know-how
>>>>> completely go to waste?
>>>>> --
>>>>> JMB
(Msg. 21) Posted: Sat Dec 29, 2007 3:33 pm
Post subject: Re: Word 2007 Learning Curve [Login to view extended thread Info.] Archived from groups: per prev. post (more info?)
Gordon
I'm not sure why this should be a support nightmare. If you use roaming
profiles, surely, the customisations stay with the user. So if I log into
any computer on the network, I get My Profile with My Desktop displayed and
in Word I will see all my toolbars as I want to use them. Why is that a
support nightmare?
Terry
"Gordon" <gbplinux RemoveThis @gmail.com.invalid> wrote in message
news:OGWaYUhSIHA.748@TK2MSFTNGP04.phx.gbl...
> "Terry Farrell" <mvpng RemoveThis @po193qw.co.uk> wrote in message
> news:90BB1CBE-1740-44AC-803A-28B104641260@microsoft.com...
>> In previous versions, I always modified the Toolbars. Many of the tools I
>> never used (such as cut, copy, past, bold, italics underline, etc.) I
>> always dragged off and added useful tools that were hidden (such as
>> ParaPageBreakBefore, Doc Properties, File New... and custom macros,
>> etc.).
>>
>> I always like that there were always so many different ways to work in
>> Word that allowed users to customize and work in a way that suited
>> themselves and their principal tasks. To me, much of this choice seems to
>> have been removed. I was privileged to be shown demos of the proposed
>> Ribbon before it went beta and was enthusiastic as I could see that so
>> many more commands could be made available for users, rather than having
>> to dig deep to find the hidden nest of tools available. But I wasn't
>> aware of how rigid the Ribbon was to be until beta testing started. I was
>> deeply disappointed and I still am. And I will remain disappointed until
>> the Ribbon is user customizable out-of-the-box.
>>
>> Terry
>
> I hear what you say, but from a support perspective in a commercial
> environment, a User customising ANYTHING on an individual basis turns into
> a support/helpdesk nightmare.....
>
(Msg. 22) Posted: Sat Dec 29, 2007 3:33 pm
Post subject: Re: Word 2007 Learning Curve [Login to view extended thread Info.] Archived from groups: per prev. post (more info?)
Because the help desk person is not looking at the same screen the user is,
so the user is referring to buttons and menu items the IT person may not
even be aware exist, much less have in his UI.
--
Suzanne S. Barnhill
Microsoft MVP (Word)
Words into Type
Fairhope, Alabama USA
"Terry Farrell" <mvpng.RemoveThis@po193qw.co.uk> wrote in message
news:4A6CDCD9-779C-4264-8BEF-5EC9DD32A17A@microsoft.com...
> Gordon
>
> I'm not sure why this should be a support nightmare. If you use roaming
> profiles, surely, the customisations stay with the user. So if I log into
> any computer on the network, I get My Profile with My Desktop displayed
> and in Word I will see all my toolbars as I want to use them. Why is that
> a support nightmare?
>
> Terry
>
> "Gordon" <gbplinux.RemoveThis@gmail.com.invalid> wrote in message
> news:OGWaYUhSIHA.748@TK2MSFTNGP04.phx.gbl...
>> "Terry Farrell" <mvpng.RemoveThis@po193qw.co.uk> wrote in message
>> news:90BB1CBE-1740-44AC-803A-28B104641260@microsoft.com...
>>> In previous versions, I always modified the Toolbars. Many of the tools
>>> I never used (such as cut, copy, past, bold, italics underline, etc.) I
>>> always dragged off and added useful tools that were hidden (such as
>>> ParaPageBreakBefore, Doc Properties, File New... and custom macros,
>>> etc.).
>>>
>>> I always like that there were always so many different ways to work in
>>> Word that allowed users to customize and work in a way that suited
>>> themselves and their principal tasks. To me, much of this choice seems
>>> to have been removed. I was privileged to be shown demos of the proposed
>>> Ribbon before it went beta and was enthusiastic as I could see that so
>>> many more commands could be made available for users, rather than having
>>> to dig deep to find the hidden nest of tools available. But I wasn't
>>> aware of how rigid the Ribbon was to be until beta testing started. I
>>> was deeply disappointed and I still am. And I will remain disappointed
>>> until the Ribbon is user customizable out-of-the-box.
>>>
>>> Terry
>>
>> I hear what you say, but from a support perspective in a commercial
>> environment, a User customising ANYTHING on an individual basis turns
>> into a support/helpdesk nightmare.....
>>
>
(Msg. 23) Posted: Sat Dec 29, 2007 10:26 pm
Post subject: Re: Word 2007 Learning Curve [Login to view extended thread Info.] Archived from groups: per prev. post (more info?)
I see. So we dumb down Word to help the helpers?
Terry
"Suzanne S. Barnhill" <sbarnhill.RemoveThis@mvps.org> wrote in message
news:%23GyRmfjSIHA.4440@TK2MSFTNGP06.phx.gbl...
> Because the help desk person is not looking at the same screen the user
> is, so the user is referring to buttons and menu items the IT person may
> not even be aware exist, much less have in his UI.
>
> --
> Suzanne S. Barnhill
> Microsoft MVP (Word)
> Words into Type
> Fairhope, Alabama USA
>
> "Terry Farrell" <mvpng.RemoveThis@po193qw.co.uk> wrote in message
> news:4A6CDCD9-779C-4264-8BEF-5EC9DD32A17A@microsoft.com...
>> Gordon
>>
>> I'm not sure why this should be a support nightmare. If you use roaming
>> profiles, surely, the customisations stay with the user. So if I log into
>> any computer on the network, I get My Profile with My Desktop displayed
>> and in Word I will see all my toolbars as I want to use them. Why is that
>> a support nightmare?
>>
>> Terry
>>
>> "Gordon" <gbplinux.RemoveThis@gmail.com.invalid> wrote in message
>> news:OGWaYUhSIHA.748@TK2MSFTNGP04.phx.gbl...
>>> "Terry Farrell" <mvpng.RemoveThis@po193qw.co.uk> wrote in message
>>> news:90BB1CBE-1740-44AC-803A-28B104641260@microsoft.com...
>>>> In previous versions, I always modified the Toolbars. Many of the tools
>>>> I never used (such as cut, copy, past, bold, italics underline, etc.) I
>>>> always dragged off and added useful tools that were hidden (such as
>>>> ParaPageBreakBefore, Doc Properties, File New... and custom macros,
>>>> etc.).
>>>>
>>>> I always like that there were always so many different ways to work in
>>>> Word that allowed users to customize and work in a way that suited
>>>> themselves and their principal tasks. To me, much of this choice seems
>>>> to have been removed. I was privileged to be shown demos of the
>>>> proposed Ribbon before it went beta and was enthusiastic as I could see
>>>> that so many more commands could be made available for users, rather
>>>> than having to dig deep to find the hidden nest of tools available. But
>>>> I wasn't aware of how rigid the Ribbon was to be until beta testing
>>>> started. I was deeply disappointed and I still am. And I will remain
>>>> disappointed until the Ribbon is user customizable out-of-the-box.
>>>>
>>>> Terry
>>>
>>> I hear what you say, but from a support perspective in a commercial
>>> environment, a User customising ANYTHING on an individual basis turns
>>> into a support/helpdesk nightmare.....
>>>
>>
>
>
(Msg. 24) Posted: Sat Dec 29, 2007 10:26 pm
Post subject: Re: Word 2007 Learning Curve [Login to view extended thread Info.] Archived from groups: per prev. post (more info?)
No, but that would be why customization would make it difficult to support.
--
Suzanne S. Barnhill
Microsoft MVP (Word)
Words into Type
Fairhope, Alabama USA
"Terry Farrell" <mvpng.DeleteThis@po193qw.co.uk> wrote in message
news:EF69B8E3-36A8-4550-A569-7681BBEE6817@microsoft.com...
>I see. So we dumb down Word to help the helpers?
>
> Terry
>
> "Suzanne S. Barnhill" <sbarnhill.DeleteThis@mvps.org> wrote in message
> news:%23GyRmfjSIHA.4440@TK2MSFTNGP06.phx.gbl...
>> Because the help desk person is not looking at the same screen the user
>> is, so the user is referring to buttons and menu items the IT person may
>> not even be aware exist, much less have in his UI.
>>
>> --
>> Suzanne S. Barnhill
>> Microsoft MVP (Word)
>> Words into Type
>> Fairhope, Alabama USA
>>
>> "Terry Farrell" <mvpng.DeleteThis@po193qw.co.uk> wrote in message
>> news:4A6CDCD9-779C-4264-8BEF-5EC9DD32A17A@microsoft.com...
>>> Gordon
>>>
>>> I'm not sure why this should be a support nightmare. If you use roaming
>>> profiles, surely, the customisations stay with the user. So if I log
>>> into any computer on the network, I get My Profile with My Desktop
>>> displayed and in Word I will see all my toolbars as I want to use them.
>>> Why is that a support nightmare?
>>>
>>> Terry
>>>
>>> "Gordon" <gbplinux.DeleteThis@gmail.com.invalid> wrote in message
>>> news:OGWaYUhSIHA.748@TK2MSFTNGP04.phx.gbl...
>>>> "Terry Farrell" <mvpng.DeleteThis@po193qw.co.uk> wrote in message
>>>> news:90BB1CBE-1740-44AC-803A-28B104641260@microsoft.com...
>>>>> In previous versions, I always modified the Toolbars. Many of the
>>>>> tools I never used (such as cut, copy, past, bold, italics underline,
>>>>> etc.) I always dragged off and added useful tools that were hidden
>>>>> (such as ParaPageBreakBefore, Doc Properties, File New... and custom
>>>>> macros, etc.).
>>>>>
>>>>> I always like that there were always so many different ways to work in
>>>>> Word that allowed users to customize and work in a way that suited
>>>>> themselves and their principal tasks. To me, much of this choice seems
>>>>> to have been removed. I was privileged to be shown demos of the
>>>>> proposed Ribbon before it went beta and was enthusiastic as I could
>>>>> see that so many more commands could be made available for users,
>>>>> rather than having to dig deep to find the hidden nest of tools
>>>>> available. But I wasn't aware of how rigid the Ribbon was to be until
>>>>> beta testing started. I was deeply disappointed and I still am. And I
>>>>> will remain disappointed until the Ribbon is user customizable
>>>>> out-of-the-box.
>>>>>
>>>>> Terry
>>>>
>>>> I hear what you say, but from a support perspective in a commercial
>>>> environment, a User customising ANYTHING on an individual basis turns
>>>> into a support/helpdesk nightmare.....
>>>>
>>>
>>
>>
>
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