CCA Upgrades to Microsoft 2007
A companywide shift from Microsoft Office 2003 to 2007 is now underway. While there are several reasons for the upgrade, one of the greatest benefits is increased efficiency.
“Over the past two years, Office 2007 has become the new standard for productivity suites,” says Rob Gabbert, CCA project manager. “It allows users to be more productive because like features are grouped together.”
Another reason for the change, Gabbert says, is that Microsoft is undergoing a transition of its own. “In a very short time, Microsoft will no longer support Office 2003.”
The companywide transition will occur in phases.
“In the beginning of January, we will start rolling it out by business unit,” Gabbert says. “We hope the transition will be complete companywide by the end of the first quarter of 2010.”
While Office 2007 can help users be more productive, it’s markedly different from Office 2003.
“There’s a sharp learning curve because many buttons, tools and controls have been moved,” says Gabbert.
To ease the transition, the Technology Support Center is directing employees to multiple educational tools, many of which are available on the Technology department's MyCCA page.
“Everyone has found one reference, called the interactive guide, extremely useful," Gabbert explains."It displays a picture of a 2003 application like Word or Excel and allows you to click on buttons you’re used to. When you click on them, the 2003 version fades out, the 2007 version fades in, and points to exactly where it’s located in the new application.”
Documents created with Office 2003 applications are still compatible with Office 2007.
“With Office 2007, you may work with departments that need to use Office documents saved in an earlier format,” says Rob Jett, CCA manager, Technology Support Center. “And you can still share documents between the 2007 Office system and earlier versions of Office programs.”
by DeAndra Mack
Sound Out
Linda Sevison at Idaho Correctional Center:
Out with the old; in with the new. When it comes to computers, if you don't stay on top of the latest technology, you will be left out in the cold. I'm glad to see that CCA is advancing with the times and I look forward to seeing the new "look".
Tamiko Carter at Coffee Correctional Facility:
It is wonderful that CCA is shifting from Microsoft Office 2003 to the newer and updated version of 2007. I am advanced in the Microsoft Office 2003 and 2007 packages and look forward to assisting anyone at Coffee Correctional Facility with the migration. Once everyone becomes familiar with where everything is located in 2007, I am sure they will be pleased with the shift. Change is always good!
Rebecca Williams at North Fork Correctional Facility:
Yay! I am so glad we are upgrading to Office 2007. That is what I have on my home computers and I find it much more user friendly. This is a good thing!
Fran Collins at Marion Adjustment Center:
I taught MS Office 2007 for 4 years at the college level before joining CCA. The only real difference between 2003 and 2007 is window dressing. Like.... in Word, if you are trying to formate paragraphs, under the buttons on the "ribbon" is the "word" paragraph. If you click on the word it will open up the same window that users are use to seeing in 2003. It has all the same formating options as 2003. The same is true for Word, Excel and PowerPoint. MS Access 2007 is the most changed from 2003. It has reduced creating a form with sub-form to the clicking of one button. In 2007, wizards and buttons have almost made Access simple to use even for the novice. I am looking forward to 2007.