Office 2003 Editions: Compare them to Previous Versions
Published: September 25, 2003 | Updated: December 3, 2003
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• What's in the Office 2003 Editions?
See how upgrading to Office 2003 Editions can benefit you and your business. Compare the features and benefits of Office 2003 Editions with your version in the following areas:
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Connecting People
Connecting Information
Connecting Business Processes
Connecting People
KEY: = Feature Included = Improved in Office 2003 Editions = New in Office 2003 Editions
Collaborating on Documents with Team Members
Feature Office 97 Office 2000 Office XP Office 2003
Document Workspaces
Simplify the process of working with others to co-author, modify, and review files using Document Workspaces. Document Workspace are centralized sites where team members can access files, see lists of tasks, find helpful links, and collaborate. Team members can also send instant messages to each other.1
Shared attachments
Simplify the process of working with others to co-author, edit, and review files. When you send a file as a shared attachment with Microsoft Office Outlook® 2003, you can create a Document Workspace.1
Shared Workspace task pane
Check for updated versions of files, see if team members are online, see lists of related links and files, and view file properties. The Shared Workspace task pane is available from Microsoft Office Excel 2003 spreadsheets, Outlook 2003 e-mail messages, Microsoft Office PowerPoint® 2003 presentations, and Microsoft Office Word 2003 documents.1
Integration with Windows SharePoint Services
Create a team intranet site and then upload files using your browser or Excel 2003, PowerPoint 2003, or Word 2003. Integration with Microsoft Windows® SharePoint™ Services enables you to use the Shared Workspace task pane, Document Workspaces, and shared attachments.1
Included with FrontPage 2002
KEY: = Feature Included = Improved in Office 2003 Editions = New in Office 2003 Editions
Exchanging Contact Information
Feature Office 97 Office 2000 Office XP Office 2003
Shared contacts
Share your contacts with others to ensure that team members have the contacts they need to reach people and conduct business. View shared contacts from within Outlook 2003.
KEY: = Feature Included = Improved in Office 2003 Editions = New in Office 2003 Editions
Organizing Meetings and Events
Feature Office 97 Office 2000 Office XP Office 2003
Meeting Workspaces
Plan for and organize meetings by storing and sharing agendas, visuals, document links, attendee lists, and other documentation in a location everyone can access. Meeting Workspaces can be automatically created when you send meeting invitations from Outlook 2003.1
Side-by-side calendars in Outlook 2003
View multiple calendars next to your own. The calendars are color-coded and labeled to help you quickly compare schedules or schedule meetings. After you open another person's calendar you can easily show or hide that person's calendar.
Events
Team members can add and store information about an event in a central location, and then export the event information directly to an Outlook calendar.
Share Outlook free/busy information
More easily schedule meetings with Outlook users who don't share a Microsoft Exchange server by providing free/busy information over the Internet.
KEY: = Feature Included = Improved in Office 2003 Editions = New in Office 2003 Editions
Managing Document Changes
Feature Office 97 Office 2000 Office XP Office 2003
Word 2003 editing restrictions
Lock down portions of Word documents to prevent anyone from editing sections they are not authorized to edit. Choose to allow others to make changes with revisions marks, or make the entire document read-only.
Word 2003 formatting restrictions
Lock down a document through the Protect Document task pane. Give coworkers permissions to edit content in a document, but not any of the styles that make up the document formatting.
Reviewing Toolbar
View changes by specific reviewers or by all reviewers, and then accept or reject changes one at a time or all at once.
Markup Balloons
Markups in Word 2003 and PowerPoint 2003 now appear in the right margin of the file. Balloons identify revisions and reviewer comments without obscuring the original document or presentation, or affecting its layout.
KEY: = Feature Included = Improved in Office 2003 Editions = New in Office 2003 Editions
Controlling Access to Vital Business Information
Feature Office 97 Office 2000 Office XP Office 2003
Information Rights Management (IRM) in Office Professional Edition 2003 files
Help reduce the risk of having confidential e-mail messages and files fall into the wrong hands, whether by accident, carelessness, or malicious intent. Specify who can receive files and set restrictions on copying, forwarding, or printing them. IRM functionality is available in Excel 2003, Outlook 2003, PowerPoint 2003, and Word 2003.2
Note Microsoft Office Professional Edition 2003 enables you to create IRM-protected content and grant other users the rights to access and modify your files or e-mail messages. With Microsoft Office Standard Edition 2003, Microsoft Office Small Business Edition 2003, and Microsoft Office Student and Teacher Edition 2003 you can read IRM-protected files and e-mail messages; with permission, you can modify them as well.
IRM document expiration dates
Give your files an expiration date, after which they cannot be viewed or shared.2
IRM organizational policy templates
Create custom templates, geared for specific use, that help protect files. For example, an organization can create a company-wide "confidential" template that helps protect sensitive documents and e-mail messages from unauthorized use.2
Digital Signatures
Use digital certificates to enable access to files or macro projects. The certificate used to create this signature confirms that the macro or file originated from the signer. The signature confirms that it has not been altered.
File password encryption
Word 2003 and Excel 2003 offer improved password security through the addition of the Microsoft CryptoAPI standard. PowerPoint 2003 now includes password encryption.
Simple password protection without encryption
1 Requires Microsoft Windows Server™ 2003 running Windows SharePoint Services.
2 Requires Windows Server 2003 with IRM functionality, or access to a Web service that supports IRM.
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Connecting Information
KEY: = Feature Included = Improved in Office 2003 Editions = New in Office 2003 Editions
Preventing E-Mail Overload
Feature Office 97 Office 2000 Office XP Office 2003
E-Mail Desktop Alerts
Announcements inform you immediately of new e-mail messages coming in, no matter which program you are using. You can open or delete the e-mail message from this notification window.
E-Mail Reading Pane
Outlook 2003 makes it easier to read messages, including long ones. The Reading Pane displays twice as much content as before and reduces the need to scroll to read e-mail messages.
Enhanced privacy features
To help protect privacy and combat Web beacons, Outlook 2003 can block the download of external content from the Internet. If an e-mail message tries to connect unannounced to a Web server, Outlook blocks that connection until you decide to view the content. This feature also helps prevent you from viewing potentially offensive messages. If you're on a slow connection, it allows you to decide whether an image warrants the time required to download it.
Safe Senders/Block Senders lists
Automatically move junk e-mail messages to a folder so you can decide later whether to keep or delete the messages. The Safe Senders list tells the filters not to flag messages from senders as junk messages. The Block Senders list filters out e-mail from that sender altogether.
Improved junk mail filtering
The improved Junk E-Mail Filter can help you prevent junk e-mail messages from cluttering your Inbox. Microsoft provides updates to the filter periodically from Office Online so that it continues to be effective.
KEY: = Feature Included = Improved in Office 2003 Editions = New in Office 2003 Editions
Organizing Your E-Mail Inbox
Feature Office 97 Office 2000 Office XP Office 2003
Arranged By feature
Find e-mail messages easier by grouping messages by date, size, conversation, subject, and other criteria. Use Arranged By to view groups of the most recent messages first, then quickly change to view all of the conversations in a message thread, view all messages from a particular person, or several other options.
Quick Flags
Tag messages by priority or time sensitivity, and then find them in whatever folder they reside. When you need to follow up on an e-mail message, flag it in one of six colors so that it's easy to find. The For Follow Up folder shows all Quick Flagged messages, regardless of the folder they are in.
Search Folders
Find e-mail messages that meet specific search criteria regardless of where the messages are stored. You no longer need to rerun common searches; instead turn your commonly used searches into Search Folders and click on them whenever you need them.1
KEY: = Feature Included = Improved in Office 2003 Editions = New in Office 2003 Editions
Saving Time with Tools
Feature Office 97 Office 2000 Office XP Office 2003
Research and Reference task pane
Do research without leaving the program in which you're working. The Research task pane brings electronic dictionaries, thesauri, online research sites, and proprietary company information into Excel 2003, Outlook 2003, PowerPoint 2003, and Word 2003.2
Office Online services
Office 2003 Editions offer new and improved integration with Office Online services. More powerful, better integrated, and with an improved online interface, these services are seamlessly available in programs in Office 2003 Editions.3
Help improvements available in a task pane
Regularly updated articles and information help users accomplish their goals by making Help and useful online resources easily accessible from Assistance on Office Online in the Help task pane.
Task panes
Perform important tasks from a single location in your document. Task panes give you access to online help and templates and allow you to view open documents in that particular application, view Clipboard contents, format documents, and complete other tasks.
KEY: = Feature Included = Improved in Office 2003 Editions = New in Office 2003 Editions
Application-Specific Improvements
Feature Office 97 Office 2000 Office XP Office 2003
Word 2003 Reading Layout view
The Reading Layout view makes it easier to read documents online. It optimizes the document for reading on screen, including larger text, shorter lines, and pages that fit exactly on the screen.
Excel 2003 list integration with Windows SharePoint Services
Save time using Excel with Windows SharePoint Services. Select ranges of data in Excel spreadsheets to create lists in sites created with Windows SharePoint Services. If the list is linked to the Windows SharePoint Services site, any changes made to the data in the Excel worksheet are reflected in the Windows SharePoint Services site when synchronized. Excel can also be used to edit or print existing Windows SharePoint Services lists.4
Excel 2003 enhanced statistical functions
Excel 2003 offers enhancements in collinearity detection, calculations of sum of squared deviations, normal distributions and continuous probability distribution functions.
PowerPoint 2003 Package for CD
Package a PowerPoint presentation to a CD for broader sharing or distribution. When the recipient inserts the CD into their CD drive, the presentation automatically launches in slide-show mode using the improved PowerPoint Viewer.
PowerPoint 2003 smart tag support
Smart tags are now in PowerPoint. When a name, address, or other key phrases comes up, a smart tag icon appears that can provide additional information and options so that you can complete tasks more quickly.
PowerPoint 2003 enhanced multimedia support
PowerPoint 2003 supports additional play list formats and playback of full-screen video. Play video full screen and use playback to stop, start, rewind, or find screens from within a slide show. Supported file types include ASX, WMX, M3U, WVX, WAX, and WMA. If a media codec is not available, PowerPoint and Windows Media Player will attempt to download it.
Improved error checking in Access 2003
The new error checking feature flags common errors in forms and reports, making testing and fixing errors faster than ever. Once flagged, you can have the option to correct errors, saving more time than ever.
Field property changes in Access 2003
Field properties and all the forms or reports that have controls bound to them are updated automatically for accurate information.
KEY: = Feature Included = Improved in Office 2003 Editions = New in Office 2003 Editions
Improving Performance and Administration
Feature Office 97 Office 2000 Office XP Office 2003
Intelligent network detection
Local caching downloads all necessary information to your computer as it comes in—so you're not affected by network performance issues. When the mail server is unavailable due to network, maintenance, or outage conditions, you can continue to work without interruption.5
Outlook 2003 connectivity performance enhancements
Outlook 2003 stays connected even when you roam between network connections, making it easier to switch between working at the office or remotely. Outlook 2003 adapts for bandwidth availability. You can also choose when to download large messages, when to synchronize your Inbox and mobile device, and other ways to improve how you work in different networks.
Application and document recovery
Should an error occur, you'll have the option to save the files you're working on when the error occurs. The recovered document(s) is displayed in the Recovery task pane.
File Format Compatibility
Backward compatibility between Office 2003 Editions, Office XP, Office 2000, and Office 97 (with the exception of Access 97) lets users of all four versions seamlessly share documents. Access 2003 uses the Access 2000 file format by default.
KEY: = Feature Included = Improved in Office 2003 Editions = New in Office 2003 Editions
Working Mobile
Feature Office 97 Office 2000 Office XP Office 2003
Inking support for the Tablet PC
If you use a Tablet PC, you can use a digital pen to annotate files in your own handwriting. Take notes, insert diagrams, or send files with comments to others.
Handwriting integration with mobile devices
Notes you take on a handheld computer can be uploaded to programs in Office 2003 Editions as text. Write directly in Word and save your work as a handwritten document or convert it to text or typed characters.
1 Search Folders require a connection to Microsoft Exchange Server 2003.
2 Some of the capabilities in the Research task pane require a connection to the Internet.
3 Office Online requires a connection to the Internet. Learn more about Office Online.
4 Requires Windows Server 2003 running Windows SharePoint Services.
5 Local caching requires Exchange Server 2003.
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Connecting Business Processes
KEY: = Feature Included = Improved in Office 2003 Editions = New in Office 2003 Editions
Harnessing Information from the Programs You Use Most
Feature Office 97 Office 2000 Office XP Office 2003
Programmable task panes
Extensible Markup Language (XML) enables developers to create solutions that incorporate information from a variety of sources into Access 2003, Excel 2003, and Word 2003 files. Programs in Office 2003 Editions can automate virtually any task involved with creating files such as reports, spreadsheets, and forms. Using Office Professional Edition 2003, you can customize schemas and task panes to integrate with other programs or XML data sources.
XML support in Word 2003
Word 2003 supports customizable XML schemas, enabling you to open business documents that contain XML data and work with them like any other document. In addition, you can save and open XML files in Word 2003 to integrate with key business data in the organization.
Note In all Office 2003 Editions, Word 2003 documents can be saved in a native XML file format which can be manipulated and searched using any program that can process industry standard XML. With Office Professional Edition 2003, companies can also use customized XML formats—or schemas—to enable easier and more advanced information creation, capture, exchange, and reuse.
Excel 2003 Visual XML Mapping tool
Use the visual mapping tool to map a user-specified XML schema to fields in an Excel spreadsheet. The visual mapping tool makes it easy to bring XML data into a spreadsheet.
Note The Visual XML Mapping tool is available in Office Professional Edition 2003.
InfoPath 2003
Use Microsoft Office InfoPath™ 2003 to streamline and control the gathering of information that your team or organization can reuse across processes and organizations. InfoPath provides support for XML, XML Web services, and custom XML schemas. Use dynamic rich authoring and built-in validation in a WYSIWYG ("what you see is what you get") environment. InfoPath 2003 is available in Microsoft Office Professional Enterprise Edition 2003. Read the InfoPath 2003 overview.
Support for custom defined XML schemas
With extensive support for industry-standard XML, Office Professional Edition programs (Access 2003, Excel 2003, and Word 2003) can communicate with disparate back-end systems and formats. XML support in Word 2003, Excel 2003, and Access 2003 streamlines the process of accessing and capturing information between computers and back-end systems, unlocking hidden information, and enabling the creation of integrated business solutions across the organization and between business partners.
In Excel and Access
In Word, Excel, and Access
KEY: = Feature Included = Improved in Office 2003 Editions = New in Office 2003 Editions
Customizing Office 2003 Editions Programs
Feature Office 97 Office 2000 Office XP Office 2003
Smart tags
A set of buttons shared across Office programs, smart tags deliver a menu of context-sensitive options when and where they are needed. For example, when you paste data or make an error in an Excel formula. They provide options for completing a task quickly.
• Context-sensitive smart tag
Automatically recognize many information types, including names, dates, addresses, telephone numbers, places, and stock symbols. Smart tags can be customized to recognize multiple types of data.
• Paste options smart tag
When pasting data from another source, you can paste data in its original style and format, modify it to match the target document's formatting, or paste it as text only.
• AutoCorrect options smart tag
When auto-corrections are made, you can undo or modify a correction or specify that the correction not be made again in the future.
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