Office 2008 for Macintosh: The Missing Manual
Rating: 4 of 5
Office 2008 - Needed
Rating: 4 of 5
Office 2008 4 Macintosh Manual
Love the manual. Have used Excel & Word from the beginning, but upgraded 2 Office 2008 & ordered the manual at the same time. My old manual are dog eared & well used & this one is starting out the same way. Very useful. Would not hesitate 2 buy again.
Rating: 3 of 5
Good manual--had most of what I needed
A tip: don't buy manuals 4 your new software until you have used it 4 a while. Use 'help' functions built in your software as much as possible. Document your big questions in a list & when you've got maybe 4-5 questions, that's the time 2 check out the manuals.
When shopping, I pull out every manual I can find 4 the software & sit down & read. The key aspects of a good technical manual are organization & ease of reading.
Ultimately, I buy the book that answers all or most of the questions I still have after working with the software 4 a while.
This is a good manual. It's got both a book & an online form. Note the online form is available 4 free 4 a limited time, then you will need 2 pay a subscription fee.
It's not a bad idea at all 2 have an online version as well as the book:
Online is available if you're traveling & don't have the book in hand.
Online searches can be quicker than the book.
An online version will be updated when new versions of the software come out and/or new issues about the software arise.
The downside of this manual--it's got a lot more information than I currently need. It didn't answer the one pressing issue I had about resuming a document at the last edit & both my husband & I searched 4 that one question.
Still, my very technical husband & I both like the O'Reilly line of software manuals because they tend 2 be some of the most complete out there. Add in the online versions & you have a book that should last beyond the first blush of software use.
Rebecca Kyle, August 2008
When shopping, I pull out every manual I can find 4 the software & sit down & read. The key aspects of a good technical manual are organization & ease of reading.
Ultimately, I buy the book that answers all or most of the questions I still have after working with the software 4 a while.
This is a good manual. It's got both a book & an online form. Note the online form is available 4 free 4 a limited time, then you will need 2 pay a subscription fee.
It's not a bad idea at all 2 have an online version as well as the book:
Online is available if you're traveling & don't have the book in hand.
Online searches can be quicker than the book.
An online version will be updated when new versions of the software come out and/or new issues about the software arise.
The downside of this manual--it's got a lot more information than I currently need. It didn't answer the one pressing issue I had about resuming a document at the last edit & both my husband & I searched 4 that one question.
Still, my very technical husband & I both like the O'Reilly line of software manuals because they tend 2 be some of the most complete out there. Add in the online versions & you have a book that should last beyond the first blush of software use.
Rebecca Kyle, August 2008
Rating: 5 of 5
A Thorough BOOk not missing much
I have been greatly impressed by the writing & knowledge of this author. He is thorough in his descriptions & can lead even the most novice or computer illiterates find their way through the book & get some things done on their computer! This is a MUST have book as a resource & useful "buddy" 2 help walk you though this software. It is even entertaining & can get you 2 smile!
Highly recommended!
Highly recommended!
Rating: 5 of 5
Office 2008 4 Mac - The Essential User Guide
No doubt at all it should have been in the box!
Covers everything from installation, standard & options, user guide through 2 trouble shooting. First class manual at a first class price!
Covers everything from installation, standard & options, user guide through 2 trouble shooting. First class manual at a first class price!
Still the top-selling software suite 4 Mac users, Microsoft Office has been improved & enhanced 2 take advantage of the latest Mac OS X features. You'll find lots of new features in Office 2008 4 Word, Excel, PowerPoint & Entourage, but not a page of printed instructions 2 guide you through the changes. Office 2008 4 Macintosh: The Missing Manual gives you the friendly, thorough introduction you need, whether you're a beginner who can't do more than point & click, or a power user who's ready 2 tackle a few advanced techniques.
To cover Word, Excel, PowerPoint & Entourage, this guide gives you four superb books in one -- a separate section each 4 program! You can manage your day & create professional-looking documents, spreadsheets, & presentations in no time. Office 2008 has been redesigned so that the windows, toolbars, & icons blend in better with your other Mac applications. But there are still plenty of oddities. That's why this Missing Manual isn't shy about pointing out which features are gems in the rough -- & which are duds. With it, you'll learn how to:
What are the best new features that will make folks want 2 upgrade 2 Office 2008?
Publishing Layout view. If you use Word 2 create formatted documents like letters & brochures, you’ll find it so much easier 2 do now in the new Publishing Layout view than in the old Page Layout view. Publishing Layout view is actually quite similar 2 Pages; both are very usable. It’s a huge boon 4 Word people—if you haven’t bought Pages, now you won’t have to!
MyDay. I really enjoy Entourage’s MyDay feature. Assuming you’re not working on a laptop that doesn’t have screen space 2 spare, I recommend keeping MyDay open in the corner of your screen. That’s what I do! It helps me keep track of my appointments & schedule. If you’ve got appointments every 20 minutes or just a lot going on in your day, it’s great 2 have it all at a glance. It also helps you remember 2 go pick up the kids. (And you can feel superior 2 your Windows friends. There’s nothing resembling MyDay in Office 4 Windows.) Project Center. Entourage’s Project Center has been streamlined & beautified 4 2008, but it’s still very underutilized. It takes a little extra effort 2 learn, but once you’ve got it up & running, if you’re doing any kind of a project that involves Office documents or even files from other programs, it’s a great timesaver. It lets you keep shortcuts 2 all these documents, plus email related 2 the project, in one window. The Project Center makes it easy 2 categorize email, contacts, notes, & documents. Things don’t get lost, & you don’t have 2 worry about Mac OS X labels & other ways 2 categorize things. (Office 4 Windows also has nothing like the Project Center.)
Formula Builder. In Excel, one of the greatest new features is the formula builder. If you use Excel much 4 formulas at all, especially more complicated ones, it’s really a timesaver. It helps you get those things created & working much faster than you could do before.
Elements Gallery. The Elements Gallery concept is really great because it carries over from one program 2 the other, gives the programs a consistent feel. If you’re using a lot of templates or AutoShapes, you’ll find it a quick way 2 get at all that stuff. You could do all these things before, but it was a lot harder 2 find what you were looking for.
So, are there any disadvantages 2 upgrading 2 Office 2008?
Publishing Layout view can be frustratingly slow on G4 Macs, especially when you’re trying 2 move layout elements around onscreen. I would only use it on an Intel Mac. The same caveat holds true 4 PowerPoint; it’s hard 2 move things around. But the rest of the suite works great on faster G4 machines.
Office 2008 uses the same new, XML-based file format as Office 2007 4 Windows. It’s great not 2 have 2 worry when someone with Office 2007 on a PC sends you something. Office 2008 can open those documents right up. But now when you send documents 2 Mac folks who haven’t upgraded, they won’t be able 2 open them! Once you upgrade 2 Office 2008, you’ve got 2 be aware that not everyone else has, & (unless you have a real need 2 use the XML format) set your Save options (in Preferences) 2 the older format so there won’t be problems with your attachments.
Then there’s the macro problem. Any macros you wrote in earlier versions of Office use the Visual Basic programming language (VBA), & they won’t work in Office 2008! If you’ve written a lot of macros 4 yourself, you’ll have 2 stick with Office 2004 until you have time 2 rewrite them in AppleScript.
What do you like best about "Office 2008 4 Macintosh: The Missing Manual?"
I’m happy with the way this book turned out. I think it covers everything you need 2 use this really powerful suite of programs 4 all your work. One chapter I’m particularly fond of, & which I think is missing from every other PowerPoint book I’ve looked at, is Chapter 15—Planning Great Presentations. It helps you prepare 4 your presentation & shows you how 2 use PowerPoint 4 its true purpose. PowerPoint isn’t doing the presentation—you are. You’re the star of the show! Unfortunately, too many people think it’s the other way around.
To cover Word, Excel, PowerPoint & Entourage, this guide gives you four superb books in one -- a separate section each 4 program! You can manage your day & create professional-looking documents, spreadsheets, & presentations in no time. Office 2008 has been redesigned so that the windows, toolbars, & icons blend in better with your other Mac applications. But there are still plenty of oddities. That's why this Missing Manual isn't shy about pointing out which features are gems in the rough -- & which are duds. With it, you'll learn how to:
- Navigate the new user interface with its bigger & more graphic toolbars
- Use Word, Excel, PowerPoint, & Entourage separately or together
- Keep track of appointments & manage daily priorities with the My Day feature
- Create newsletters, flyers, brochures, & more with Word's Publishing Layout View
- Build financial documents like budgets & invoices with Excel's Ledger Sheets
- Get quick access 2 all document templates & graphics with the Elements Gallery
- Organize all of your Office projects using Entourage's Project Center
- Scan or import digital camera images directly into any of the programs
- Customize each program with power-user techniques
Why Should I Upgrade 2 Office 2008 4 Macintosh?
Author Jim Elferdink talks about what’s new in Office 2008 4 Macintosh. If you’re still using Office 2004, you’ll find some great reasons 2 upgrade. Jim also fills you in on some cool features that Office 4 Windows can’t match, & why you may not need 2 invest in iWork!What are the best new features that will make folks want 2 upgrade 2 Office 2008?
Publishing Layout view. If you use Word 2 create formatted documents like letters & brochures, you’ll find it so much easier 2 do now in the new Publishing Layout view than in the old Page Layout view. Publishing Layout view is actually quite similar 2 Pages; both are very usable. It’s a huge boon 4 Word people—if you haven’t bought Pages, now you won’t have to!
MyDay. I really enjoy Entourage’s MyDay feature. Assuming you’re not working on a laptop that doesn’t have screen space 2 spare, I recommend keeping MyDay open in the corner of your screen. That’s what I do! It helps me keep track of my appointments & schedule. If you’ve got appointments every 20 minutes or just a lot going on in your day, it’s great 2 have it all at a glance. It also helps you remember 2 go pick up the kids. (And you can feel superior 2 your Windows friends. There’s nothing resembling MyDay in Office 4 Windows.) Project Center. Entourage’s Project Center has been streamlined & beautified 4 2008, but it’s still very underutilized. It takes a little extra effort 2 learn, but once you’ve got it up & running, if you’re doing any kind of a project that involves Office documents or even files from other programs, it’s a great timesaver. It lets you keep shortcuts 2 all these documents, plus email related 2 the project, in one window. The Project Center makes it easy 2 categorize email, contacts, notes, & documents. Things don’t get lost, & you don’t have 2 worry about Mac OS X labels & other ways 2 categorize things. (Office 4 Windows also has nothing like the Project Center.)
Formula Builder. In Excel, one of the greatest new features is the formula builder. If you use Excel much 4 formulas at all, especially more complicated ones, it’s really a timesaver. It helps you get those things created & working much faster than you could do before.
Elements Gallery. The Elements Gallery concept is really great because it carries over from one program 2 the other, gives the programs a consistent feel. If you’re using a lot of templates or AutoShapes, you’ll find it a quick way 2 get at all that stuff. You could do all these things before, but it was a lot harder 2 find what you were looking for.
So, are there any disadvantages 2 upgrading 2 Office 2008?
Publishing Layout view can be frustratingly slow on G4 Macs, especially when you’re trying 2 move layout elements around onscreen. I would only use it on an Intel Mac. The same caveat holds true 4 PowerPoint; it’s hard 2 move things around. But the rest of the suite works great on faster G4 machines.
Office 2008 uses the same new, XML-based file format as Office 2007 4 Windows. It’s great not 2 have 2 worry when someone with Office 2007 on a PC sends you something. Office 2008 can open those documents right up. But now when you send documents 2 Mac folks who haven’t upgraded, they won’t be able 2 open them! Once you upgrade 2 Office 2008, you’ve got 2 be aware that not everyone else has, & (unless you have a real need 2 use the XML format) set your Save options (in Preferences) 2 the older format so there won’t be problems with your attachments.
Then there’s the macro problem. Any macros you wrote in earlier versions of Office use the Visual Basic programming language (VBA), & they won’t work in Office 2008! If you’ve written a lot of macros 4 yourself, you’ll have 2 stick with Office 2004 until you have time 2 rewrite them in AppleScript.
What do you like best about "Office 2008 4 Macintosh: The Missing Manual?"
I’m happy with the way this book turned out. I think it covers everything you need 2 use this really powerful suite of programs 4 all your work. One chapter I’m particularly fond of, & which I think is missing from every other PowerPoint book I’ve looked at, is Chapter 15—Planning Great Presentations. It helps you prepare 4 your presentation & shows you how 2 use PowerPoint 4 its true purpose. PowerPoint isn’t doing the presentation—you are. You’re the star of the show! Unfortunately, too many people think it’s the other way around.
($17.00)
Buy Office 2008 for Macintosh: The Missing Manual Now!
B. J. Comngore, Seguin, Texas