Microsoft Office 2010 - Packaging
| Office Professional Plus (Volume licensing only) |
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| Office Professional 2010 |
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| Office Home & Business 2010 (New) |
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| Office Standard 2010 (Volume licensing only) |
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| Office Home & Student 2010 (Non-commercial license) |
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1983
After the release of Multi-Tool Word the first version of Microsoft Word 1.0 for MS-DOS was released.
1985
Microsoft Word 1.0 and Microsoft Excel for the Mac and also Word 2.0 for MS-DOS are released.
1986
Microsoft Word 3.0 for the Mac and Word 3.0 for MS-DOS are released.
1987
Microsoft buys Forethought, the original company behind PowerPoint.
1988
Microsoft launches PowerPoint 2.0 for the Mac.
1989
Office 1.0 for the Mac is launched It includes Word 4.0, Excel 2.2 and PowerPoint 2.01.
1990
PowerPoint 2.0 for Windows is announced. Office 1.0 for Windows is available and includes Excel 2.0, Word 2.1 and PowerPoint 2.0.
1991
Microsoft announced the availability of Microsoft Excel for Windows 3.0.
1992
Office 3.0 for Windows is available and includes Microsoft PowerPoint 3.0 in combination with Microsoft Word for Windows 2.0 and Microsoft Excel 4.0.
1993
Office 4.0 for Windows ships with updated versions of Excel and Word.
1994
Office 4.3 Professional for Windows is available, featuring Access 2.0.
1995
Office 95 is the first complete package of 32-bit applications available for Windows 95.
1996
Exchange Server 4.0 is released. This is the original version of Exchange Server and was introduced as an upgrade from Microsoft Mail.
1997
Microsoft Outlook 97 and Exchange Server 5.0 are available.
1998
Office 98 the Mac Edition includes Word 98, Excel 98, PowerPoint 98 and Outlook Express.
1999
Access 2000 and Microsoft Office 2000 are launched.
2000
Exchange 2000 Server is released.
2001
Microsoft Office SharePoint Portal Server 2001 and Microsoft Office XP are released.
2003
Microsoft launches Office 2003, with Microsoft Office SharePoint Portal Server 2003. Microsoft Office OneNote and InfoPath have been added the Office line-up. Exchange Server 2003 is released.
2005
Microsoft buys Groove.
2006
Exchange Server 2007 is released.
2007
Microsoft Office 2007 is released, including Office SharePoint Server 2007.
2008
Microsoft announced the worldwide availability of Office Live Workspace beta.
2009
Live@edu services become known as Outlook Live while Exchange 2010 and Office 2010 are launched respectively as Beta and Technical Preview.
The best way to take a look at Windows 7 is to actually see it. Although my video making skills could best be described as ‘crap’, adding a bit of music to it does show a slight improvement on earlier attempts.
The six Windows 7 versions are:
Windows Home Basic
Home Basic is not intended for Microsoft’s main markets therefore it will only be available in countries that come under the underdeveloped category.
Windows 7 Starter
At the bottom end of the Windows 7 spectrum that will be available is Windows 7 Starter, which, to my knowledge will be pre-installed on Netbooks and appear on some low-end computers.
What you get is the basic Windows 7 interface minus the good bits. The ‘good bits’ being the Aero and preview effects which will be covered in detail later. It does include such features as the Action Center, Windows Search, Windows Firewall, Windows Media Player (not Windows Media Center), Windows Gadgets and the usual games and accessories (Paint, WordPad Etc.). Unless you buy a Netbook with Windows 7 pre-installed you can place it safely on the ‘don’t touch with a barge-pole’ list. The unnecessary restrictions on things like changing the desktop image and the absence of the visual effects make it unattractive.
Windows 7 Home Premium
Have a good look at Windows Home Premium because for the next few years this is what you are going to be using. I will cover the features included with Windows 7 Home Premium and other versions in the next post.
Windows 7 Professional
If you need to handle up to 192 gigabytes of ram (in 64 bit version) as opposed to 16 gigabytes and you also need a virtual PC that runs Window XP (licensed version of Windows XP service pack 3 included) for the remaining compatibility issues that will linger, then Windows 7 Professional is for you. Network backup and EFS (Encrypting File System) support are also included.
Windows 7 Enterprise
Like Windows 7 Home Basic there is not much to be said about a product that will not be available. Windows 7 Enterprise contains all the features of Windows 7 Ultimate but is aimed at Microsoft’s corporate customers and is not available for purchase by individuals.
Windows 7 Ultimate
Top of the range is Windows 7 Ultimate which will contain all Windows 7 components, including BitLocker Drive Encryption is the choice for someone who has to have everything. Unfortunately for those who have to have everything is that the ‘everything’ not included in Windows 7 Home Premium can be downloaded from third party software makers.
Try them all
When you buy a Windows 7 disc (any version) and try to install it, it will install the version you bought, obvious really. But if you like playing around with things like that then you will discover that all versions are contained on the disc. To access the other versions and try the 30 day trials for them you need to rip the disc and delete the ei.cfg file. After creating an ISO image (minus the deleted file) and burning it to a new disc the next time you insert the disc there will be a ‘Select the operating system you want to install’ screen showing all versions except Windows 7 Enterprise.
Sometime last week a story appeared on the web about a bug in Windows 7 which allows you to extend the 30 day trial period, or as Microsoft call it 'Rearm' it, for another 30 days. The process can be repeated three times in all giving four months (approximately) or 120 days of free use before deciding to buy.
At the moment there are no actual discs available for Windows 7, only downloads, but when they do become available, regardless of which version you buy, you will have access to all versions including a 30 day trial period to try it.
To get the extension to the trial period is simple and is already in built into the system. I would not advise experimenting with it until it is close to expiring because it will reset the clock on the trial regardless of how many days left you have.
The easiest way to check how long is left on the trial is to right-click on Computer from the Start menu and select Properties. At the bottom of the page is Windows activation showing the number of days left before activation is needed.
The thing I like about 'The Bug' is that it was built into the system by Microsoft so it is not some hack or crack found on a forum that could screw up your system and/or complicate your license agreement.
Before reaching the end of your trial period (Windows 7 any version) go to the Start menu and in Accessories right-click on the Command Prompt selecting 'Run as administrator'. In the Command Prompt type 'slmgr -rearm' (without quotes) and hit Return. Restart windows and check the properties page which will now show 30 days before activation is required.
Usage: slmgr.vbs [MachineName [User Password]]
MachineName: Name of remote machine (default is local machine)
User: Account with required privilege on remote machine
Password: password for previous account
Global Options:
/ipk
Install product key (replaces existing key)
/ato [Activation ID]
Activate Windows
/dli [Activation ID | All]
Display license information (default: current license)
/dlv [Activation ID | All]
Display detailed license information (default: current license)
/xpr [Activation ID]
Expiration date for current license state
Avanced Options
Clear product key from the registry (prevents diclosure attacks)
/ilc
Install license
/rilc
Re-install system license files
/rearm
Reset the licensing status of the machine
/upk [Activation ID]
Uninstall product key
/dti [Activation ID]
Display Intallation ID for offline activation
/atp
Activate product with user-provided Confirmation ID
Volume Licensing: Key Management Service (KMS) Client Options
/skms
Set the name and/or the port for the KMS computer this machine will use. IPv6 address must be specified in the format [hostname]:port
/ckms [Activation ID]
Clear name of KMS computer used (sets the port to the default)
/skhc
Enable KMS host caching
/ckhc
Disable KMS host caching
Volume Licensing: Token-based Activation Options:
/lil
List installed Token-based Activation Issuance Licenses
/ril
Remove installed Token-based Activation Issuance License
/ctao
Clear Token-based Activation Only flag (default)
/stao
Set Token-based Activation Only flag
/ltc
List Token-based Activation Certificates
/fta
Force Token-based Activation
Volume Licensing: Key Management Service (KMS) Options
/sprt
Set TCP port KMS will use to communicate with clients
/sai
Set interval (minutes) for unactivated clients to attempt KMS connection. The activation interval must be between 15 minutes (min) and 30 days (max) although the default (2 hours) is recommended.
/sri
Set renewal interval (minutes) for activated clients to attempt KMS connection. The renewal interval must be between 15 minutes (min) and 30 days (max) although the default (7 days) is recommended.
/sdns
Enable DNS publishing by KMS (default)
/cdns
Disable DNS publishing by KMS
/spri
Set KMS priority to normal (default)
/cpri
Set KMS priority to low
Create Forms in Access 2010
Access 2010 is different from other Office 2010 applications in that the basic functions of programs like Word and Excel are fairly obvious and work well ‘out of the box’. Access on the other hand needs a bit more preparation. There are, of course, Wizards to help you through the creation of simple Forms, Queries and Reports though some kind of in-depth knowledge is needed to advance the programs functions any further and get the most out of the application.
Creating Forms
It is possible to create a decent looking form in just a few easy steps from the Tab Create > Forms.
Create a form that lets you enter information for one record at a time.
Create a new blank form in Design View. In Design View, you can make advanced design changes to forms, such as adding custom control types and writing code.
Create a form with no controls or format.
Automatically create a form choosing fields from Tables or Queries
Create a web form that shows multiple records at once.
Enters the Form Tools > Datasheet Tab to create a form directly from the Datasheet.
Create a Modal Dialog from Form Design Tools
Create a PivotChart from the PivotChart Tools > Design Tab
Create a PivotTable view. PivotTable views are interactive, making it easy for you to lay out the data in the format that works best for you, view summary data, or to see more detailed data.
A new feature of Word 2010 is the Navigation Pane which has a series of functions to let you move, with no trouble, around the document. Basically it is the Document Map and Thumbnails Pane combined with search and find options. To open the Navigation Pane go to View > Show > Navigation Pane.
Headings
The first Tab is Headings and lets you browse the headings within the document. One click on the Heading will take you to an insertion point at the beginning of that heading. Whenever a new heading is entered it will show automatically in the Pane and, although the Tabs themselves cannot be edited, they remain synchronised with the rest of the document.
Dragging a Heading up or down will move it, and the contents associated with it, to its new location including any subheadings. Content cannot be dropped onto a Headings Tab though if you drag the content over the Headings it will scroll to that Heading and can be dropped into the document.
When a document has multiple authors a small icon will appear on the right of the Heading to indicate that the document is being edited by a different user. After saving changes in a multi-user document the Headings where the changes have been made will be highlighted the next time the document is reopened. Using the Search Document feature at the top of the Navigation Pane will highlight any of the Headings where the search term has been found.
Browse
The second Tab on the Navigation Pane is ‘Browse the pages in your document’ more or less the same has the Thumbnails Pane of old. The only real difference from the Thumbnails Pane is that it now shows all layout views, Web Layout, Outline, Draft, Etc. Also new to the Thumbnail/Browse is really useful feature whereby the pages are filtered to show only pages containing the terms from a search.
Search
The third and final Tab is ‘Browse results from your current search’ which shows a list of boxes each giving a bit of context to the term.
