MS Office Professional 2003

let's see what the new version of Office has to offer. One thing we already know from reviewing its beta version, in February 2003 (page 114), is that the new version has a major focus on XML. All office applications now speak XML and can interact with each other as well as other applications using the same. 

This product improves collaboration in a workplace and provides better security to the documents. Single users or those in a SME environment may not find extravagant new features worth upgrading to in this office suite. They might be better off with the versions they currently own. 

Most of the collaboration features in the Office suite are available if it's integrated with MS's SharePoint services. Using SharePoint, you can create, manage and build collaborative websites on the network. They can use it to share, edit, modify, and revise documents online. 

Security on the other hand gets a boost because of intellectual rights management (IRM). IRM allows users to create content with various permission options such as limited access or expiry dates on documents. This feature is available with Word, PowerPoint and Excel only.

Here we would look at the enhancements of the applications of this package. 

Word 2003



Word can now save all files in XML and even work with XML tags in the same document. You can now choose an XML schema to be applied to the document. Word also incorporates a new task pane called XML Structure, which allows one to add and view existing XML tags in the document.

Word incorporates file-level security to documents in collaboration with IRM and Windows SharePoint. This restricts access to files controlled by the administrator of the document. Also, you can put restrictions on formatting and which parts of the document can be edited. It allows you to distribute a file with these restrictions. You can even easily control document versioning with this. 

Another improvement includes support for ink devices (those that support handwriting input) such as tablet PCs. There is also a new reading view for documents, which removes unnecessary toolbars, uses MS ClearType and a different page layout to make the document more pleasant to work on. 

PowerPoint 2003



There is a new 'package for CD…' option in the file menu. This helps you to make a CD of your PowerPoint presentations directly, if you're using Win XP. If you are on another OS or just want the files to be bundled in one place instead of burning them on a CD, you can choose the copy to folder option instead. 

Besides the options of copying linked files and the embedded fonts, this option also copies the new PowerPoint viewer in the folder/CD. The enhancements in the viewer include better graphics and sounds, along with the option of printing. Also, quality of exported bitmaps has been improved. 

Excel 2003



One major enhancement you would be able to see in Excel is the new list-a portion of the worksheet that is used to hold related data. Features of list include a default auto-filter on each column and segregation from the rest of the worksheet using a blueborder. You can also share the list with other users of SharePoint services. 

Now you can use customized XML schemas with the workbook and map various cells to the corresponding elements of the schema. It is done using the new visual XML mapping tool in Excel. This makes it easier to import XML data in a worksheet.

Outlook 2003



Last but not the least, Outlook goes back to the Hollywood plastic surgeon and gets a whole new look. 

The panels are organized differently, the mail is displayed in a new manner and so is the calendar. Starting from the mail view, instead of the contacts and folders being on the left column and two rows for message list and message text, it is divided into three vertical columns only. You have an option to switch back to the older layout. 

Other features include better organized mail messages, multiple calendar views, where in you can share the calendars of other users, vertical mail view, the navigation pane, and a better address book that can be edited very easily using an Excel like view. Also, you can finally flag messages by a single click. Flagged messages are stored in a 'for follow up' folder. 

As an enhancement to message rules, Outlook has introduced search folders. These folders are mapped to other folders, such as inbox and outbox, in order to avoid frequent searches. They are not physically present, however, you can click on their icon and get results from a predefined criterion. The actual mail message may still be residing in your inbox. The follow up folder is an example of the same. 

Thus, better collaboration, security and some interface enhancements mark the release of this Office suite. We recommend an upgrade to this version for people who are using Office across an enterprise for collaboration and versioning. But if you are using it as a desktop application, then unless you like the Office clippy that makes a comeback in this version, the older office can still solve your purpose.

Geetaj Channana