MATC Matters

As you may be aware, Microsoft has launched its newest version of software named Office 2007. There have been significant changes in this version that may impact your classes. For this reason, The Windows Migration Committee, made up of MATC faculty, PSRP and Administrative staff, recommended that we not migrate District computers to Office 2007 this year.

The Committee will continue to meet this school year with the goal of recommending a schedule to implement Office 2007 and the new Vista operating system districtwide. In the meantime, please be aware of the following:

• New File Format – Compatibility Issues with Earlier Office Versions
  The default file format is XML (Extensible Markup Language). The new format is indicated with an “x� in the file extension. For instance, Word documents are .docx; Excel are .xlsx, etc.
• Users who have previous versions of Office may not to be able to open files in the new formats. The two suggestions below should resolve this potential problem.

Suggestion 1 – Faculty should instruct students using Office 2007 to use the “Save As” option to save files down to the Office 97 – 2003 version. To do so, click the Microsoft Icon (Office Button) in the upper-left corner of the application screen, select Save As. In the Save as type: field, select 97 – 2003 for the application you are using. This saves the file in compatibility mode so that others using older versions of Office can open and use the files. Faculty using Blackboard and Office should make sure all of their students receiving and sending Office documents are aware of this save method.

Suggestion 2 – Recommended for ALL faculty and staff who have received Office 2007 documents and are unable to open them. Please call the Help Desk at (608) 246-6666 for assistance in downloading the Compatibility Pack from Microsoft. Installation of this Compatibility Pack will allow you to open, edit, and save files using these new file formats about 50% of the time. This download requires that previously released updates for Microsoft Office have been applied.

• New Interface
  Office 2007 has a significantly different interface from previous versions. Instead of the menus and toolbars users are accustomed to, there is a new “Ribbon� interface. The new interface looks and operates completely differently than previous Office versions. Part of the implementation plan for Office 2007 will be the development of a customer training plan.

Currently you can test drive Office 2007 on the Microsoft web site.

In addition, the Business Technology Department offers one-credit, eight-week Office 2007 classes both online and on-campus. A list of applications offered in Office 2007 during the Fall 2007 and Spring 2008 semesters is available on the Business Technology website.

Can Office 2003 and Office 2007 be installed on the same computer?
Microsoft does not support components of Office 2003 being installed on the same computer as components of Office 2007. For example, PowerPoint 2007 can not be installed on the same computer as Word 2003.

What is Office 2007 Compatibility Mode?
Review the attached document on Office 2007 compatibility (WORD: 24KB) for more information.

Is Office 2007 installed anywhere?
Office 2007 is installed in labs where there are classes that require Office 2007. All other labs and employee workstations have Office 2003 installed. The list of lab locations (WORD: 20KB) currently running Office 2007 is attached.

If you have questions or concerns about Office 2007, please contact Terrie Thorstad at tthorstad@matcmadison.edu or (608) 246-6113 or the Help Desk at (608) 246-6666.