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Software

Office Web Apps Technical Preview

By Ed Bott September 20, 2009, 4:06 AM PDT

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Office Web Apps Technical Preview

Getting started with Office Web Apps

Getting started with Office Web Apps

By Ed Bott

rnrnThe four Office Web Apps (Excel, PowerPoint, Word, or OneNote) work in conjunction with the Windows Live SkyDrive service. After you sign into a SkyDrive account using a Windows Live ID, you can manage up to 25 GB of files and create new Office documents on the fly.

rnrnFor more details, see A close-up look at the new Office Web Apps.

Office Web Apps Technical Preview

Uploading Office documents to SkyDrive

Uploading Office documents to SkyDrive

[Click graphic to view full-size copy]

If you’ve created a document using a desktop Office prorgam, you can upload it to the SkyDrive environment. Use this drag-and-drop uploader or a conventional browse dialog box.

rnFor more details, see A close-up look at the new Office Web Apps.

Office Web Apps Technical Preview

Creating a new Office document online

Creating a new Office document online

[Click graphic to view full-size copy]

The New menu in a SkyDrive folder lets you create an Office document on the fly. After creating a file, you can add comments, grant read or edit permissions to other users, and use folders to organize files.

rnFor more details, see A close-up look at the new Office Web Apps.

Office Web Apps Technical Preview

Managing files in SkyDrive

Managing files in SkyDrive

[Click graphic to view full-size copy]

All files you’ve created or uploaded appear in this web-based SkyDSrive file manager. You can add comments and assign edit or view permissions to other people here. Click to open any Office document in its web-based program.

rnFor more details, see A close-up look at the new Office Web Apps.

Office Web Apps Technical Preview

Editing a new Excel workbook

Editing a new Excel workbook

[Click graphic to view full-size copy]

The Excel Web App interface is remarkably similar to its desktop counterpart. Note the tabs at the bottom of the sheet, the ribbon-based command interface, and the green File menu.

rnFor more details, see A close-up look at the new Office Web Apps.

Office Web Apps Technical Preview

What's missing from the Excel web app?

What's missing from the Excel web app?

[Click graphic to view full-size copy]

Comparing the Excel Web App with Excel 2010 on the desktop reveals the many missing pieces. The desktop program has fara more options on its ribbon, and the web app has no way to create a chart or a PivotTable, to list just two key missing features.

rnFor more details, see A close-up look at the new Office Web Apps.

Office Web Apps Technical Preview

Unsupported features lead to errors

Unsupported features lead to errors

[Click graphic to view full-size copy]

A handful of features available in desktop apps are completely unsupported in the web apps. This workbook contains a single comment attached to a single cell, but that’s enough to prevent a user from opening the worksheet for editing.

rnFor more details, see A close-up look at the new Office Web Apps.

Office Web Apps Technical Preview

Creating a new PowerPoint slide

Creating a new PowerPoint slide

[Click graphic to view full-size copy]

If you create a new PowerPoint presentation in a SkyDrive folder, you can add new slides using the templates shown here. Some key features, including the capability to add a video or chart, are missing.

rnFor more details, see A close-up look at the new Office Web Apps.

Office Web Apps Technical Preview

Adding SmartArt to a web presentation

Adding SmartArt to a web presentation

[Click graphic to view full-size copy]

In the case of SmartArt illustrations, at least, there’s near parity between web and desktop apps. The SmartArt toolbar offers an impressive collection of options for creating org charts and info-graphics.

rnFor more details, see A close-up look at the new Office Web Apps.

Office Web Apps Technical Preview

Missing pieces from PowerPoint on the web

Missing pieces from PowerPoint on the web

[Click graphic to view full-size copy]

A close comparison of the PowerPoint web and desktop interfaces reveals many missing pieces. The formatting options for SmartArt are nowhere to be found, for example. You can’t create transitions between slides, either.

rnFor more details, see A close-up look at the new Office Web Apps.

Office Web Apps Technical Preview

Word on the web: look but don't touch

Word on the web: look but don't touch

[Click graphic to view full-size copy]

This technical preview as delivered by Microsoft is only partially complete. The most glaring absence is the complete inability to create new Word files or edit existing ones. As in this example, you can view a Word docukment with full fidelity, but if you want to do more with it, you’ll need to open it in the desktop edition of Word.

rnFor more details, see A close-up look at the new Office Web Apps.

Office Web Apps Technical Preview

Yes, Office Web Apps work on a Mac

Yes, Office Web Apps work on a Mac

[Click graphic to view full-size copy]

The Office Web Apps work surprisingly well on alternate platforms. This presentation, created on a PC, looks completely faithful to the original when viewed in Safari 4 on a Mac. Adding the Silverlight plug-in makes slide shows smoother.

rnFor more details, see A close-up look at the new Office Web Apps.

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