Over last week I’ve blogged about a few applications make up the new Microsoft Office 2010. About 60 features were discussed. Many have suggested to archive the blogs on the apps, so we get to the Office 2010 blog archive.

Microsoft Office Outlook 2010. What’s new?

It’s time to throw your Sticky Notes away. Microsoft Office OneNote 2010 is here.

Microsoft Office Excel 2010 – More power to the Excel power user in you.

Microsoft Office Word 2010 - Collaborate like never before.

Microsoft Office PowerPoint 2010 - Why just present, when you can broadcast.

Microsoft Office Access 2010–Building macros is now everybody’s business.

Please feel free to share your comments, thoughts, or ideas.

Access 2010 comes with a new macro builder, this is one feature gets all the features take a back seat in terms of my attention. In addition to the new macro builder you might be interested in the new data types from SQL server 2008 and getting then on to your Access projects and it’s integration with Access services and SharePoint 2010.

Share a database using Access Services

With Access 2010, you have access to Access Services in Microsoft SharePoint Server 2010, you can create a Web database by using Access 2010. Users can access a database in a Web browser window, but the author must use Access 2010 to make design changes. Although some desktop database features do not translate to the Web, you can do many of the same things by using new features, such as calculated fields and data macros. In Office Access 2007, there was limited support in sharing a database to the Web, where you could only publish your lists and move the database to document libraries.

Connect to a Web service.

With a web definition file provided by a Web service administrator, you can connect to a Web service as an external data source. After the definition file is installed you can link to the Web service as a linked table.

Export to .pdf and .xps

In Access 2010, you can export data to a .pdf file format or an .xps file format (XML Paper Specification) to print, post, and distribute e-mail. This makes it possible for users to view your datasheet without having to install Access on their computers and is easily distributable. In Office Access 2007 this capability was also available through a downloadable add-in. Beginning with Office Access 2007 SP2 and continued with Access 2010, this feature was built into the product.

Enhanced security

Strong integration with Microsoft SharePoint Foundation 2010 help you more effectively manage data and allow you to make your information tracking applications more secure than before. You can audit revision history, recover deleted information, and set data access permissions by storing your tracking application data in lists on SharePoint Foundation 2010.

Support for SQL Server 2008 data types

Access 2010 provides limited support in Access projects (.adp) for the following seven new data types introduced in Microsoft SQL Server 2008:

• date
• datetime2
• datetimeoffset
• time
• geography
• geometry
• hierarchyID

geography,geometry and hierarchyID are data types that are unsupported in table or view design mode in Access 2010. SQL Server 2008 design tools is an alternative for creating tables, views, stored procedures, and functions when you use any of these three data types. You can still use Access 2010 to design reports, forms, modules and macros that reference these data types.

A new macro builder

In Access 2010, Macro Builder is more flexible and easier to use, macro actions are easier to find, and IntelliSense helps you type expressions more accurately.

Watch this video as an introduction to the new Macro builder.

Calendar control (mscal.ocx)

The Microsoft Calendar control was controller by mscal.ocx in previous versions of Microsoft Office. This is not available in Microsoft Office 2010. An alternative is to use the new date picker control in Access 2010. Opening an application from an earlier version of Access where the control was used will generate an error message in Access 2010 and the control will not appear. This applicable to all applications designed in previous versions of Microsoft Office relying on mscal.ocx

Backward compatibility between Access 2010 and Access 2007

Access 2010 introduces features that are not supported in Office Access 2007. Office Access 2007 SP2 offers limited viewing and designing capabilities. Office Access 2007 SP1 will not open databases that contain these features.

PowerPoint 2010 comes with a variety of new features and has adopted several from PowerPoint 2007 and aligned those with the new core architectural changes in Office 2010. Broadcasting your presentation is the best feature PowerPoint 2010 is showcasing in this version. Wide range of file formats that you can embed in your presentation, packaging and security are few other features that would please you.

Presentations to live and virtual audiences

PowerPoint 2010 lets you run a slide show and lets you present a slide show over the Web or a network connection to virtual attendees or live attendees, or both.

Working with text and objects

PowerPoint 2010, helps you transform your images with a new set of Photo effects and improved editing tools.

• Video and audio editing
• Graphics, transitions, and animations
• Help and translation

Maximum sound file size

With PowerPoint 2010 there is no restriction on the file size on embedding files to your presentations. With PowerPoint 2007 , this limit used to be 50 MB and could only be .wav files. Also, PowerPoint 2010 has the capability to embed files of various formats, unlike PowerPoint 2007.

Storing or sharing files

PowerPoint 2010 supports exporting files to all previous file formats that were found in PowerPoint 2007 and OpenDocumentation Presentations. There is a quick-click sharing capability to send a presentation via e-mail as an attachment, as a link to the presentation on a Web server, or as a .pdf or .xps copy in the Office Backstage view. You can also share the presentation via an instant message, in the Presentation Window, via Internet Fax, by publishing to Microsoft SharePoint 2010 Products or any specific location, or packaging it for a CD.

Presentation security

Security setting introduces in PowerPoint 2007 has been retained in PowerPoint 2010 in addition to new security mechanisms. Permissions are set in PowerPoint 2010 using the Backstage view. Following are the security features in PowerPoint 2010

• Prevent unintended changes to a final version of a document by using the Mark as Final command.
• Provide assurance as to the authenticity, integrity, and origin of the presentation by adding a digital signature.
• Assign permissions that prevent other users from copying, printing, or editing the presentation by selecting the access level specific to their requirements.
• Manage document properties through the Backstage view.

Macro recorder

The macro recorder is not available in PowerPoint 2010. Instead, you can use Microsoft Visual Basic for Applications (VBA) to create or configure macros. A macro created in an earlier version of PowerPoint using the macro reader can be configured using VBA.

PowerPoint Viewer

A new version of PowerPoint viewer is is available online. This is for users who require viewing a PPT/PPTX presentation offline. The Viewer lets you view presentations created in Microsoft PowerPoint 2000, PowerPoint 2002, PowerPoint 2003, PowerPoint 2007, and PowerPoint 2010. The Viewer also supports opening password-protected PowerPoint presentations. Unlike previous viewers, users will have the option to use Reading mode or Full Screen Slide Show mode.

Personalized video experience

PowerPoint 2010 lets you embed and edit video files directly to your slides. Also, trim your video to show relevant sections. Bookmarks embedded in videos allows quick access or trigger animation to begin when those bookmarks are reached. There are several built-in video styles available such as reflections, bevels, 3D rotations etc. Now, capture your audiences’ attention with your presentations crafted in PowerPoint 2010.

Word 2010 comes with a wide range of new features and has improved many of the features from the previous version. Many of the changes are associated with the core architecture. Fluent UI, The ribbon and the Backstage view are few changes that you will see across all of the new Microsoft Office 2010 suite.

File format

New features such as co-authoring, new graphic and text effects, and new numbering formats are the advantages Word 2010 brings with it, all with the new file format. Word 2007 files are also compatible with Word 2010. The RTF file format is no longer able to retain the new features that Word 2010 can support.Features and functionality that are new to Word 2010 and future versions of Word are lost when they are saved in RTF. In addition, Word 2010 supports a new converter interface based on Open XML Formats

Protected View

Protected view safeguards your computer from malicious code running on your computer when you open files from a potentially unsafe location (such as the Internet or an e-mail attachment) or files that contain active content (such as macros, data connections, or ActiveX controls).Editing functions are inactive in this mode.

Backstage view gives you more information about the file.

Collaboration and sharing features

If your IT environment has a SharePoint 2010 (or a cobalt-enabled server), Word 2010 can support concurrent editing of documents by multiple users. A group of users can work on a document at the same time, or a single user can work on the same document from different computers at the same time, all without locking the file.

Graphic enhancements

Word 2010 comes with improved editing tools with a new set of Picture Tools that enable you to transform your documents into artistically engaging documents.

• Picture Correction Options
• Artistic Effect Options
• Background Removal
• Picture Layout Options

Navigation pane

The new navigation pane brings improved ways to navigate content by heading, page or object. The document map is replace by navigation pane. All the headings of a document, their relative positions, and the current location are visible on the navigation pane. User’s can move between various heading by clicking parts of the pane. Like in previous versions outlines can be collapsed to hide nested headings, for long and complex documents.

Cut, copy, and paste options

Word 2010 can copy and paste content in many formats. Word 2010 has many options available at paste time through the Preview before you paste. Paste options include the following:

• Keep Source Formatting
• Merge Formatting
• Use Destination Theme
• Keep Text Only

Set regions to edit while co-authoring

With Word 2010 you get to select the regions that you will be editing so that nobody overwrites those regions in a co-authoring session. Other users will be notified about the regions that others are working on to avoid a conflict.

Print preview

The Print preview and the Print dialog box have been combined into the Print Place through the Backstage view. This feature is consistent across all Office applications. It can be invoked through the object model for third-party developers to create add-ins for Word 2010.The Print Preview Edit Mode was fully deprecated.

Microsoft Excel 2010 helps you analyze, manage and share information in more ways than ever before, helping you make better, smarter decisions. New data analysis and visualization tools help you track and highlight important data trends. Whether you’re producing financial reports or managing personal expenses, Excel 2010 gives you more efficiency and flexibility to accomplish your goals.

Macro recording support for chart elements.

In earlier versions of Microsoft Office Excel, a macro recording could not generate any macro code while formatting a chart or any related object. With Microsoft Office 2010, all operations that are performed on a chart can be recorded. Now, you could start to standardize your charts across your organization by distributing those macros.

Sparklines.

With the advent of Sparklines you can take business decisions based on data contained in a single cell. Sparklines condense data from various sources into a single cell and is instrumental in demonstrating trends using line, column or win/loss charts.

Excel 2010 64-bit advantages.

If you get to work on really large worksheets, your best bet is the 64 bit version of Excel 2010. The size of worksheet is limited only by the available physical memory. Memory consumption is optimized the the 64 bit architecture to keep cell table operation as fast as possible. You can also create bigger workbooks using 64-bit Excel that can be too big for 32-bit Excel to open.

File loading performance.

Excel 2010 has put parallel processing and multi-core functionality to its best use, you’ll notice this if you deal with files containing several large worksheets. The performance gains are noticeable depending on the content and structure of the workbook. That is, if you have one large worksheet and few smaller sheets, you wouldn’t notice much difference, but if you have two large worksheets, Excel 2010 can fetch the second sheet off the disk while the first one is being loaded to memory.

PivotTable Enhancements.

Your PivotTables will load faster with the new Excel 2010 architecture. Data retrieval, sorting and filtering in PivotTables is enhanced with multithreading.

OLAP Write-back support.

With Excel 2010, OLAP PivotTable values can be changed and written back to the Analysis Services cube on the OLAP server. You need to have CubeCellvalue add-in installed for Excel 2010 to be able to use Online Analytical Processing. Excel 2010 is capable of storing workbook data directly to an OLAP cube, and it can be written back to a worksheet as required and you can get the OLAP server to perform calculations and summarize the data in PivotTable report that shows up in your Excel worksheet.

New Charting Limits.

In Excel 2010, your data points in a data series in limited only by the available memory. In Excel 2007 you could have 32,000 data points in a data series for 2-D charts. This adds the capability of being able to visualize and analyze larges sets of data in Excel 2010.

MSXML6.

Extensibility solutions in Excel 2010 uses MSXML 6 or you could use managed code that uses .NET Framework. Users will receive a runtime error if attempted to run a solution that was created using MSXML5

New version of Solver.

Excel 2010 is shipped with a new version of Solver add-in. Optimal solutions in what-if analysis, an improved interface, a new Evolutionary Solver, based on genetic algorithms, that handles models with any Excel functions, new global optimization options, better linear programming and non-linear optimization methods, and new linearity and feasibility reports are few features that the new Solver bring along and it is available in 64 bit too.

Slicers.

They improve PivotTables and CUBE functions in a workbook, Slicers make filtering and interpretation of data easier. Slices filtered data interactively. You can hook them to PivotTables, Pivot Charts, or CUBE functions to create interactive reports or dashboards, they float above the grid and behave like report filters

Microsoft Office OneNote offers a unique combination of intuitive, electronic note-taking, easy researching with total flexibility. OneNote's integration with other office applications and ease of use are the main reasons why it's a popular choice among students, small business owners, entrepreneurs and high-powered executives.

New File Format.

OneNote 2010 comes with a new file format and this adds new capabilities like versioning, sharing on the web, mathematical equations, and linked note-taking. By default OneNote doesn’t convert your OneNote 2007 files to the new format, do not change if you plan to share your notes with OneNote 2007 users.

Microsoft OneNote Web App.

With the advent of OneNote Web App, you can access and edit notebooks from a Web browser, even on computers on which the full version of OneNote is not installed.

Sync to Windows Live.

OneNote 2010 and WebApp allows to sync your Notebooks via Windows Live or SkyDrive. This gives you the flexibility of being able to access your content form anywhere.

Share on SkyDrive.

Sharing on SkyDrive is probably the best bet to share your data to your friends or colleagues anywhere in the work. You can edit these notes even from a computer that doesn’t have OneNote 2010 installed with OneNote WebApp. You also get the advantage of Co-authoring.

Once the document is on the SkyDrive its accessible to everyone you have shared it with, the permission controls can be managed from your SkyDrive account. A permalink can be send to people you wish to share your Notes with.

Templates.

Microsoft Office OneNote 2010 come with a wide range of templates and you would probably find one tailored for any needs, if you don’t find one in the templates gallery in the OneNote you have an option to look up an Online gallery.

You can even create your own templates in case you find the built-in templates not meeting requirements.

Copy text from picture.

This is a really cool feature, it lets you right click on an image and paste it to text with out any hassle. This is in my opinion one of the greatest capabilities of OneNote.

Record Audio and Video.

OneNote lets you record audio and video and link notes that you take as the recording proceeds and is associated with time scale. During playback those notes get highlighted.

Search multilingual text in images.

If you have an image in your notes, say a screenshot; OneNote is capable of searching through the text contained in the images. The language capabilities depend on the language packs you have installed for Microsoft Office 2010.

Outlook Integration.

You can now create Outlook tasks right in OneNote. Not just tasks, you can also lookup meeting details from Microsoft Outlook right from OneNote.

Sharing and collaboration features

OneNote 2010 supports simultaneous editing of notebooks by multiple users. A group of users can work on a notebook at the same time, or a single user can work on the same notebook from different computers simultaneously, all without locking the file. New content gets highlighted on syncing. Versioning helps users to determine the changes made in terms of time and author.

Outlook 2010 is a totally new experience for both end users and enterprise users in several respects. Read on to know more about the new email client that will change the way we use email, calendar, SMS, voicemail, SharePoint etc. Outlook has been my favorite application in the Microsoft Office suite for several years, it remains the same in this very new version too. In this article, you will find out a few reasons on what makes a great email client great.

Conversation view.

Conversation view in Outlook 2010 is top notch, this is more pleasing to enterprise users as this will reduce the clutter and gives the right perspective without getting lost reading a series of emails that gets sorted by just date. This view is smart enough to sort the emails and show visual indication of the order in which the mails were received by joining lines between emails.

Multiple Exchange accounts.

Outlook 2010 can connect to multiple Exchange accounts at the same time in a single profile. The Exchange accounts can be in the same or different domains or servers.

Roaming Auto complete lists.

Unlike any of the previous versions of Outlook, Outlook 2010 has a roaming auto-complete recipient list and is accessible form any computer running Outlook 2010 if connected to the same exchange account. The entries may be deleted by the inline delete function.

Quick Steps.

Quick steps is a great time saver for many users. This lets you program certain steps and lets you redo those with a single click of a button. For example if you would like to forward an email to your manager it lets you do that with just a click if you assign that function to a button in the quick steps tab on the home ribbon.

Improved IMAP support.

Automatic configuration of a Webmail account will set the account type to IMAP by default for IMAP-supported Webmail accounts such as Google Gmail. Users can change the account type to POP3 by selecting the Manually configure server settings option. The Delete and Send operations for IMAP accounts are improved in Outlook 2010. IMAP accounts now have a separate Deleted Items folder. Also, Outlook 2010 does not prompt for a Sent Items folder, as Office Outlook 2007 does.

Calendar preview in meeting requests.

The Calendar Preview feature shows up in every meeting request you receive. It shows where the meeting appears in your Calendar together with any conflicting and adjacent meetings. In case of recurring meetings, you can use the Calendar Preview feature to navigate between meeting instances in the series.

Bitness.

Outlook is now available in 32 bit and 64 bit editions. The bitness of Outlook you have depends on the version of Windows Operating system and Office suite you have on your computer. If you use any MAPI application the bitness of the application has to be same as the installed version of Outlook.

Search Tools.

Search tools in Outlook 2010 helps you manage large quantities of emails, journals, calendar data or contact files. Search filter items in the search tools ribbon helps you quickly narrow down your search results. Search Filters help you refine your search results. Scope of search is also managed from here.

Unicode .ost files.

Outlook 2010, by default will create Unicode .ost files while connected to an exchange server account, unless overridden via Group Policy. ANSI offline storage is recommended only if alternate display names are used. The downside of ANSI .ost files is that it doesn't support profiles with multiple exchange server accounts.

VBA Settings.

Office 2010 is updated to use VBA 7.0. The settings from VBA 6.0 does not repopulate on installing Office 2010 because the registry settings from VBA 6.0 are in a different hive in Office 2010.

2007 Office system and previous versions	HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\VBA\6.0\Common
Office 2010	HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\VBA\7.0\Common

Over the last few weeks, We have been exploring a couple of new features in Excel 2010. Among a few features that caught my attention like Sparklines, improvised SmartArt, more conditional formatting options, Power Pivot etc. is the new Aggregate function.

Aggregate function is of great interest to me because, most of my Excel spreadsheets have arrays or ranges that need a SUBTOTAL, COUNT or a COUNTA. These functions might have a hidden or a missing, or an error field; this results in my final cell that contains my final result in the very notorious #ERROR or #VALUE! error if I were to use the SUM function for example. I have always wanted a workaround for this problem without having to manually exclude the cells in my data range while Excel computes or applies math functions; gladly, that is now built right into Microsoft Excel 2010

Below is an example of how the AGGREGATE function will make your tables cleaner, this sheet has data sources that get updated by various sales divisions and if any of them has an incomplete or erroneous cell it gives an error in my final result.

The total sales does not show up when I use the SUM function in Row 15, but AGGREGATE function comes to my rescue I use it in Row 17 and set it to ignore all errors in all cells that fall in the range.

Here’s how I get to see it in action.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Try this out for yourself and I also encourage you to learn more about Excel functions at http://office.microsoft.com/en-us/excel-help/CH006252829.aspxto realize your full potential.