Frequently Asked Questions:

• How is Office 2007 different from Office 2003?
• Can I install BOTH Office 2003 and Office 2007?
• How will this impact the exchange of electronic files?
• How do I ensure compatibility when I create and edit documents?
• How will this impact a teacher?
• How will this impact a student?
• How will this impact a staff person?
• Will I need a new computer and/or Vista?
• Where can I find training resources?
• Who should I call or email when I have additional questions?

Question: How is Office 2007 different from Office 2003?
Office 2007 has an improved user interface which will help most users take better advantage of the existing and new features of the programs.
Among the many improvements: smaller file sizes, new Smart Art, new Equations, new Charts, and new Styles. New features in Word 2007 can be viewed at
http://office.microsoft.com/en-us/getstarted/HA100742241033.aspx

Question: Can I install BOTH Office 2003 and Office 2007?
While it is possible to install both programs, we strongly recommend against it, and will not support dual installations. The installations are not compatible and you will need to uninstall Office 2003 or any other versions of Office before you install Office 2007.

Question: How will this impact the exchange of electronic files?
By saving files in "Compatibility Mode" users running Office 2007 will be able to save documents in a format that can be shared with Office 2003/Office XP users. All of the installations performed by UDit and installers at UDSoftware (the link on your Start menu) will default to saving all new documents in "Compatibility Mode."

This effort will not prevent users from changing the default settings, or from converting their older documents--so users of Office 2003 or Office XP may want to add the "Microsoft Office Compatibility Pack for Word, Excel, and PowerPoint 2007 File Formats" converter.

Keep in mind that if a group accesses shared files on network drives, everyone in the group will need to use the same (older) format to facilitate file sharing.

Eventually, we will have a majority of users running Office 2007, and "compatibility mode" will become unnecessary. But for now we recommend the majority of PC users at UD remain with Office 2003.

Question: How do I ensure compatibility when I create and edit documents?
If you are using Office 2003 or Office XP, simply continue to create and edit as you have been.

If you need to upgrade to Office 2007, any installation provided by UDit will have all new documents saving to the older format.

If you continue to use Office 2003 and you need to open or view files that were saved in the new Office 2007 format, you will need to have the "Microsoft Office Compatibility Pack for Word, Excel, and PowerPoint 2007 File Formats" converter installed, or one of the "Viewer" programs installed, such as PowerPoint 2007 Viewer.

When you open existing documents that were created in Office 2003 (or earlier) they will open without any problems. Microsoft Office 2007 opens these documents in "compatibility mode" so that people who are using previous versions of Word will have full editing capabilities.

If you are using older versions of software such as Adobe Acrobat, the pdf's you create will probably not look right. There is a pdf creator (FREE) for use with Office 2007. You can download it here

Question: How will this impact a teacher?
If you teach first-year students, there is a chance students will submit assignments in the new file formats, incompatible with earlier versions of Office. We recommend instructors of first-year students either upgrade to Office 2007 or install the "Microsoft Office Compatibility Pack for Word, Excel, and PowerPoint 2007 File Formats" converter.

If you teach upper-class students, we do not anticipate a great impact at this time. While students have been able to download Office 2007 as of 1 July 2007, specifying to your students the file format(s) you will accept for assignment submissions should avoid any problems.

Returning students will be able to download Office 2007 from UD Software beginning 1 July 2007.

Question: How will this impact a staff person?
We do not anticipate any immediate impact from this change on UD staff.

Question: Will I need a new computer and/or Vista?
Office 2007 does not require an upgrade to Microsoft's newest Operating System Windows Vista. Office 2007 does require a computer that is relatively new. For example, the IT Training Department has been using Office 2007 on a Tangent notebook that was distributed to incoming students in Fall 2005. The system requirements for Office 2007 can be viewed at:
http://office.microsoft.com/en-us/suites/HA101668651033.aspx#8

Question: Where can I find training resources?
There are training resources available at http://training.udayton.edu/office2007/resources.htm
The UDit Training Department will be adding seminars and online resources as this update continues.

Question: Who should I call or email when I have additional questions?
Call the UDit Help Desk at 9-3888, or email pchelp@notes.udayton.edu.
If you are serviced by the CAS Help Desk, email cashelp@notes.udayton.edu

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