eWEEK Labs Walk-Through: Microsoft Office 2007 Beta 2

Office 2007 introduces the new Open XML file format. Users can save their documents in the new file format or in the older Office 1997 to 2003 file formats (.doc, .ppt, .xls). Documents also can be saved in .pdf or .xps (XML paper specification) formats.

Users can use Building Blocks in Word 2007 (running on Vista Beta 2 here) to assemble documents from frequently used or pre-defined content, such as disclaimer text, pull quotes, sidebars and cover pages.

Users can create blog posts within Word and then post them directly to their blogs. The blogging feature supports platforms such as Googles Blogger and Microsofts MSN Spaces and SharePoint.

Here is Word 2007 running on Windows XP SP 2. Users will notice that write is now integrated into the ribbon.

The user experience is the same when running Office 2007 on the Vista Beta 2 operating system, but users will notice that Office 2007 has been optimized with Vistas Aero Glass capabilities (most noticeable in the upper-left-hand corner where the Office b

The review pane can be used to ensure that personal information is not left in a document.

Excel 2007 features the new ribbon and user interface. The spreadsheet application has new features–such as charting capabilities– that enable users to better visualize their data.

This is Excel 2007 running on Windows Vista Beta 2. Users can change the most popular options in Excel based on what they most frequently use.

Publisher 2007 is a business publishing tool that will enable business users to create business cards, Web sites and marketing materials such as brochures.

Users can use Publisher 2007 to create Web sites. Here, we see Web site templates.

PowerPoint features a new design and user intreface. Users can now export their presentations to .pdf format.