Boost user productivity with these Microsoft Office tuning tips

Some of Microsoft Office's rich functionality can actually stand in the way of the tasks your users need to accomplish. This sample book chapter explains some across-the-board tweaks they can make so that the apps work in a more straightforward and friendly way.

Users tend to adapt to whatever their business software throws at them, even when certain features and settings are ill-suited for the work they're trying to do. For instance, they may live with the default location for opening and saving files, ignore the Office Assistant like it's an intrusive salesperson, and wander in and out of dialog boxes in search of a way to accomplish something that a keyboard shortcut could do in three seconds.

This sample chapter from the popular Paraglyph Press guide Degunking Microsoft Office will introduce your users to a variety of strategies they can follow to make Office work for them in a more efficient and logical way. The chapter covers:

• Getting rid of the Office Assistant
• Changing the default file save locations
• Using default file views to make new file creation more efficient
• Simplifying and customizing menus
• Using keyboard and navigation shortcuts
• Effectively using the print settings in each Office app

Title: Degunking Microsoft Office
ISBN: 1-932111-95-6
Published: April 2005; Paraglyph Press
Authors: Christina Palaia and Wayne Palaia
Chapter: Chapter 5, Degunking Office's Common Features

Join the discussion of this download.