Microsoft Office Reference Guide

Mar 26, 2004

␡

⎙ Print

< Back Page 23 of 342 Next >

If you’ve read some of my recent blog entries you know that I am a bit disappointed and disillusioned with Microsoft these days; their focus is on marketing Windows 7 and Office 2007 and not so much on making sure that their current products work properly.

That is why there is such a movement afoot to keep Windows XP alive.

This problem of promoting “new” features at the expense of making functionality work properly for users is also apparent in the promotion and support for Office Live, which we will look at again next week.

I was going to write that article this week, but a funny thing happened. Maybe this has happened to you or one of your users — I was getting ready to just start working when my document in Word 2007 did not respond.

No right click on mouse. Then no selection capability in mouse. Changed the batteries on portable mouse and checked — it worked fine in other programs.

Then I tried to close Word 2007 (running on Vista Ultimate)...

Figure 1

Naturally I tried to reopen it, and then the same stuff happened.

Like an idiot I tried to run Office “Diagnostics.” This froze my router on the first screen in trying to access the web, but after resetting the router I was able to get started.

I took a shower and made breakfast. Here’s what I saw.

Figure 2

Ten minutes later it was beginning round 2 of the fifth diagnostic test. The slider — always a joy in Vista — kept stopping.

I needed to get my work done. I was half an hour screwing around and I jumped on my laptop. On the desktop, I might have booted in Windows XP (Office 2003) with some real confidence, but I wanted to see what would finally happen in Vista/Office 2007.

In my blog post I described an OS router networking issue for which Microsoft posted a “fix” on the web that was almost incomprehensible to anyone not a networking expert, which harkened back to the same issue when it first emerged in Windows 3.11!

What I have described here is something that Windows users have been accustomed to since day 1, getting worse with Office — which is why Office includes a “recovery” tool and diagnostics in the first place.

This is decades after the debut of both the OS and the Office suite. I believe at this point it is totally inexcusable and unacceptable.

Windows and Office users have long learned to save duplicate versions of their files and do copious backups simply because they cannot depend upon the most simple tasks, like opening a document and beginning to do work.

I’ve written about some interesting alternatives. In my coverage of Web 2.0 I highlighted Zoho, an Office suite that has a bit fewer features than Office 2007 but works online and also offers online collaboration without SharePoint or Exchange servers. In a previous update I highlighted Blist, an online relational database that truly rivals Access, again with web collaboration capability.

When you think about moving to web apps, all you really need to know is that you have a working internet connection (not a sure thing in Vista either, as we’ve seen) — but remember there are now these alternatives.

One of my closest friends in the computer field, with whom I’ve often joked about the religious zealotry of Apple users — just bought a Mac. He just had enough and I can’t say I blame him at all.

Back on my desktop I bailed on diagnostics and decided to just reboot back into Vista Ultimate (the ultimate what, I wonder) to see where I stood.

(40 minutes after I opened my original document to begin working).

I have now rebooted and reopened Word 2007 with no improvement. I search on Office online for Word 2007 mouse problem — I see documents relating to Word 2002.

Under Word 2007 Issues (to be fair) I am reminded of the feature to Open and Repair.

I try it, the document opens and works properly.

Figure 3

As an Office Reference Guide and author I might have known or remembered “Open and Repair” — and maybe it would have worked.

But why should I have to? (This feature is apparently geared specifically to opening previous versions, which I was actually doing — I write my updates in Word 97 — 2003 format).

The file in question was created two days earlier on my notebook; why should I have to Open and Repair it at all?

Besides which I have had Word 2007 crash (which it did when I started this morning) on numerous occasions.

My point is simply that if the focus were on dependability and usability, instead of cramming in new (and largely unnecessary features) customers would be happier with Microsoft software and much more loyal.

You can say, okay, we have a feature called Open and Repair — but why — WHY do I need to know this arcane feature to open a Word 2007 (or earlier) document on my desktop that I moved from my Notebook? This is the essence of usability — not needing to search an hour to fix a “problem,” but not having the problem at all.

Incidentally, Open and Repair has been around since Word 2002; it’s interesting that my first real encounter based on a situation of need comes with the current version.

I decided to check out how long certain things had been in progress at Microsoft:

10/27/92 Microsoft announces the worldwide availability of Microsoft Windows for Workgroups 3.1 which integrates networking and workgroup functionality directly into Windows 3.1.
12/2/94 Microsoft Office is the #1 product in its category, with sales of more than seven million units in little over one year.

In the blog referenced earlier I mentioned an IP address conflict issue that had been first addressed in Windows 3.1. So this issue has plagued network users for over 27 years — one would think it might be a priority to fix once and for all?

Similarly Microsoft Office has been around as the leader in its class for over 27 years — one would think that full backward compatibility would be built into any new version before even contemplating new features — like a Ribbon?

Maybe it’s just me, but my first priority in using a PC is getting my work done, not learning its new features — like Open and Repair. This is something Microsoft might consider when planning Windows 7, and future versions of MS Office.

By the way, my friend loves his Mac.

InformIT Articles and Sample Chapters

Troubleshooting: Typing and Editing Text in Word 2007

Twelve Things I Hate About Microsoft Office

Books and eBooks

Microsoft® Office Word 2007 Step by Step

Word Hacks

< Back Page 23 of 342 Next >

🔖 Save To Your Account

InformIT Promotional Mailings & Special Offers

I would like to receive exclusive offers and hear about products from InformIT and its family of brands. I can unsubscribe at any time.

Privacy Notice

Overview

Pearson Education, Inc., 221 River Street, Hoboken, New Jersey 07030, (Pearson) presents this site to provide information about products and services that can be purchased through this site.

This privacy notice provides an overview of our commitment to privacy and describes how we collect, protect, use and share personal information collected through this site. Please note that other Pearson websites and online products and services have their own separate privacy policies.

Collection and Use of Information

To conduct business and deliver products and services, Pearson collects and uses personal information in several ways in connection with this site, including:

Questions and Inquiries

For inquiries and questions, we collect the inquiry or question, together with name, contact details (email address, phone number and mailing address) and any other additional information voluntarily submitted to us through a Contact Us form or an email. We use this information to address the inquiry and respond to the question.

Online Store

For orders and purchases placed through our online store on this site, we collect order details, name, institution name and address (if applicable), email address, phone number, shipping and billing addresses, credit/debit card information, shipping options and any instructions. We use this information to complete transactions, fulfill orders, communicate with individuals placing orders or visiting the online store, and for related purposes.

Surveys

Pearson may offer opportunities to provide feedback or participate in surveys, including surveys evaluating Pearson products, services or sites. Participation is voluntary. Pearson collects information requested in the survey questions and uses the information to evaluate, support, maintain and improve products, services or sites, develop new products and services, conduct educational research and for other purposes specified in the survey.

Contests and Drawings

Occasionally, we may sponsor a contest or drawing. Participation is optional. Pearson collects name, contact information and other information specified on the entry form for the contest or drawing to conduct the contest or drawing. Pearson may collect additional personal information from the winners of a contest or drawing in order to award the prize and for tax reporting purposes, as required by law.

Newsletters

If you have elected to receive email newsletters or promotional mailings and special offers but want to unsubscribe, simply email information@informit.com.

Service Announcements

On rare occasions it is necessary to send out a strictly service related announcement. For instance, if our service is temporarily suspended for maintenance we might send users an email. Generally, users may not opt-out of these communications, though they can deactivate their account information. However, these communications are not promotional in nature.

Customer Service

We communicate with users on a regular basis to provide requested services and in regard to issues relating to their account we reply via email or phone in accordance with the users' wishes when a user submits their information through our Contact Us form.

Other Collection and Use of Information

Application and System Logs

Pearson automatically collects log data to help ensure the delivery, availability and security of this site. Log data may include technical information about how a user or visitor connected to this site, such as browser type, type of computer/device, operating system, internet service provider and IP address. We use this information for support purposes and to monitor the health of the site, identify problems, improve service, detect unauthorized access and fraudulent activity, prevent and respond to security incidents and appropriately scale computing resources.

Web Analytics

Pearson may use third party web trend analytical services, including Google Analytics, to collect visitor information, such as IP addresses, browser types, referring pages, pages visited and time spent on a particular site. While these analytical services collect and report information on an anonymous basis, they may use cookies to gather web trend information. The information gathered may enable Pearson (but not the third party web trend services) to link information with application and system log data. Pearson uses this information for system administration and to identify problems, improve service, detect unauthorized access and fraudulent activity, prevent and respond to security incidents, appropriately scale computing resources and otherwise support and deliver this site and its services.

Cookies and Related Technologies

This site uses cookies and similar technologies to personalize content, measure traffic patterns, control security, track use and access of information on this site, and provide interest-based messages and advertising. Users can manage and block the use of cookies through their browser. Disabling or blocking certain cookies may limit the functionality of this site.

Do Not Track

This site currently does not respond to Do Not Track signals.

Security

Pearson uses appropriate physical, administrative and technical security measures to protect personal information from unauthorized access, use and disclosure.

Children

This site is not directed to children under the age of 13.

Marketing

Pearson may send or direct marketing communications to users, provided that

Pearson will not use personal information collected or processed as a K-12 school service provider for the purpose of directed or targeted advertising.
Such marketing is consistent with applicable law and Pearson's legal obligations.
Pearson will not knowingly direct or send marketing communications to an individual who has expressed a preference not to receive marketing.
Where required by applicable law, express or implied consent to marketing exists and has not been withdrawn.

Pearson may provide personal information to a third party service provider on a restricted basis to provide marketing solely on behalf of Pearson or an affiliate or customer for whom Pearson is a service provider. Marketing preferences may be changed at any time.

Correcting/Updating Personal Information

If a user's personally identifiable information changes (such as your postal address or email address), we provide a way to correct or update that user's personal data provided to us. This can be done on the Account page. If a user no longer desires our service and desires to delete his or her account, please contact us at customer-service@informit.com and we will process the deletion of a user's account.

Choice/Opt-out

Users can always make an informed choice as to whether they should proceed with certain services offered by InformIT. If you choose to remove yourself from our mailing list(s) simply visit the following page and uncheck any communication you no longer want to receive: www.informit.com/u.aspx.

Sale of Personal Information

Pearson does not rent or sell personal information in exchange for any payment of money.

While Pearson does not sell personal information, as defined in Nevada law, Nevada residents may email a request for no sale of their personal information to NevadaDesignatedRequest@pearson.com.

Supplemental Privacy Statement for California Residents

California residents should read our Supplemental privacy statement for California residents in conjunction with this Privacy Notice. The Supplemental privacy statement for California residents explains Pearson's commitment to comply with California law and applies to personal information of California residents collected in connection with this site and the Services.

Sharing and Disclosure

Pearson may disclose personal information, as follows:

As required by law.
With the consent of the individual (or their parent, if the individual is a minor)
In response to a subpoena, court order or legal process, to the extent permitted or required by law
To protect the security and safety of individuals, data, assets and systems, consistent with applicable law
In connection the sale, joint venture or other transfer of some or all of its company or assets, subject to the provisions of this Privacy Notice
To investigate or address actual or suspected fraud or other illegal activities
To exercise its legal rights, including enforcement of the Terms of Use for this site or another contract
To affiliated Pearson companies and other companies and organizations who perform work for Pearson and are obligated to protect the privacy of personal information consistent with this Privacy Notice
To a school, organization, company or government agency, where Pearson collects or processes the personal information in a school setting or on behalf of such organization, company or government agency.

Links

This web site contains links to other sites. Please be aware that we are not responsible for the privacy practices of such other sites. We encourage our users to be aware when they leave our site and to read the privacy statements of each and every web site that collects Personal Information. This privacy statement applies solely to information collected by this web site.

Requests and Contact

Please contact us about this Privacy Notice or if you have any requests or questions relating to the privacy of your personal information.

Changes to this Privacy Notice

We may revise this Privacy Notice through an updated posting. We will identify the effective date of the revision in the posting. Often, updates are made to provide greater clarity or to comply with changes in regulatory requirements. If the updates involve material changes to the collection, protection, use or disclosure of Personal Information, Pearson will provide notice of the change through a conspicuous notice on this site or other appropriate way. Continued use of the site after the effective date of a posted revision evidences acceptance. Please contact us if you have questions or concerns about the Privacy Notice or any objection to any revisions.

Last Update: November 17, 2020

Email Address