Microsoft Office in an Emergency

[Tubacap]

So I found this when I was perusing how to use Outlook 2007 in a business environment with multiple user profiles (if anyone knows about this, please PM me).

http://office.microsoft.com/en-us/groove/HA102164261033.aspx

It is pretty basic, but it was interesting to me to see that a large business oriented software company took the time to write it up.

[mynetdude]

I use MS Office 2007 regularly, there are a lot of features it has.  I have discovered a few features that is very usable by squadrons or perhaps wings too the problem would be cost and the viability of installing it to several computers (site licenses).

I agree this would be a great tool to use if it weren't so costly thats the catch.

As for your multiple profiles, MS Outlook (even Outlook Express) has always had multiple profiles as far as I can remember.  I am pretty sure you can do it in 2007.  Let me look into this and PM you when I find out

[mikeylikey]

Isn't Office 2007 being shipped with new laptops already from NHQ?  I think it is!  CAP already has the necessary licenses.

[badger bob]

The latest edition NHQ supplied laptops were purchased with Windows XP and Office 2003

[mikeylikey]

^ Thats right.  Sorry, I had a slip in memory.  The 2003 product is good, but the 2007 version is so much better.   

[mynetdude]

Isn't Office 2007 being shipped with new laptops already from NHQ?  I think it is!  CAP already has the necessary licenses.

hey watch that sarcasm man I like it too... but c'mon watch that hot head of yours 

Really? I haven't seen any laptops coming our way, we could use a new one in addition to the one we already have so yeah.  But I'm talking about licenses for desktop computers that the squadron already has or issued by NHQ.

We'd need more than just the laptop to have MS Office 2007 licenses really... if that laptop gets deployed out to a staging area or remote base or ICP how is the base gonna utilize the same MS Office tools if the laptop has it not in the squadron at the time of mission need?

Luckily for me I have it both on my own laptop and on my PC and soon to be 3rd PC.

[mynetdude]

The latest edition NHQ supplied laptops were purchased with Windows XP and Office 2003

AFAIK the laptop we have is from NHQ a Toshiba has windows XP on it I'm not sure what version of Office is on it though.

[mynetdude]

You all probably know that Office 2003 does not have the same features as 2007, they added/removed some features either as replacements or totally redesign.  I don't recall Groove 2007 (or if there was a Groove 2003) being part of Office 2003, it is my understanding that Groove 2007 is a new feature within.

I want to implement Groove, I can see this VERY useful for my squadron needs and me both.

[mikeylikey]

^ I find 2007 to be more cartoonish than previous versions.  I do like that it is smarter than me, when it changes around the options based on what it thinks I am typing.  I highly reccomend 2007, over anyother system.

[mynetdude]

^ I find 2007 to be more cartoonish than previous versions.  I do like that it is smarter than me, when it changes around the options based on what it thinks I am typing.  I highly reccomend 2007, over anyother system.

I kind of agree that 2007 has a majorly interactive oversized interface, indeed it does change as you do different things which is nice or sometimes it changes too much

[jimmydeanno]

I like Office 2007, I think it is a lot more intuitive than previous versions, but it took me a little while to get used to the new button locations.  However, Microsoft does offer a guide for each of the products.  Essentially, it shows you the old look of Office 2003, you select the command you're looking for and it tells you where to find it in Office 2007.  I thought they were pretty handy when I first started using it.

You can look at them here: http://office.microsoft.com/en-us/training/HA102295841033.aspx#1

[Tubacap]

You can get office 2007 for $60 if you are a college student at www.theultimatesteal.com which is an outgrowth of the Microsoft Website. 

Legit copy, I bought it and it works great!

I haven't used Groove yet, but one of the things I have used (non-microsoft) is Collanos.  It is a great free program that can be used online or off for file sharing, tasking, and discussions within a Squadron or workgroup.  You can download it at www.collanos.com

[mynetdude]

You can get office 2007 for $60 if you are a college student at www.theultimatesteal.com which is an outgrowth of the Microsoft Website. 

Legit copy, I bought it and it works great!

I haven't used Groove yet, but one of the things I have used (non-microsoft) is Collanos.  It is a great free program that can be used online or off for file sharing, tasking, and discussions within a Squadron or workgroup.  You can download it at www.collanos.com

We should make a topic soley for this reason, file sharing and so forth...

I know this is about MS Office in ES use, but there are other applications that can/would do just fine without MS Office in ES.  I've been looking for a file sharing service that does open file backups (files that are in use like MS Outlook), allows you to edit excel and word files from within your backup (some have a built in web-Ms word setup) one I looked at that does this is filesanywhere.com they have poor tech support though.

I was thinking about using the Joomla interface that makes up my squadron website for file sharing but then that means I have to have protect files and make sure only those who can login can get those files.

With Groove, you don't need any of that you enter your own password to login to your Groove account, when you get invited to a certain workspace you have insta access to those files thats the drawback is the person sharing has to initiate the invitation whereas remote file sharing you can assign user accounts and let them have access to whatever you want them to have access to.

Anyway just my thoughts, back on topic... MS Office is today's standards we should be looking to further use this (and some already do)

[Tubacap]

I agree, and if I knew how to change the topic, I would as that it was kind of a limited.

As far as file sharing, I don't have much experience with Groove, other than it is on my computer, and I have it disabled.  Collanos I have used and allows for sharing of files, tasks, URL's, all in a "workspace"  The problem is that you cannot edit anything real time, so multi-user editing is not doable.  There is full syncronization though so when you upload, everyone gets a fresh edit.  Another great thing is that you can do things offline, and then "sync up" to the workspace when connected, requiring only a dialup connection.

I just had my first online staff meeting within Google Apps, which is free for non-profits.  We had the discussion inside the spreadsheet where our next meetings agenda was.  There were approximately five people in the chatroom and at the same time able to edit the schedule in real time.  At this time, I don't know of anything that would have the ability to be offline that is free still.

For personal use, I use Foldershare, which syncs folders and all their contents across computers.  It is accessible through a web interface as well.  This is also how I keep my Outlook .pst file synced across three computers with the help of syncing.net

[mynetdude]

I agree, and if I knew how to change the topic, I would as that it was kind of a limited.

As far as file sharing, I don't have much experience with Groove, other than it is on my computer, and I have it disabled.  Collanos I have used and allows for sharing of files, tasks, URL's, all in a "workspace"  The problem is that you cannot edit anything real time, so multi-user editing is not doable.  There is full syncronization though so when you upload, everyone gets a fresh edit.  Another great thing is that you can do things offline, and then "sync up" to the workspace when connected, requiring only a dialup connection.

I just had my first online staff meeting within Google Apps, which is free for non-profits.  We had the discussion inside the spreadsheet where our next meetings agenda was.  There were approximately five people in the chatroom and at the same time able to edit the schedule in real time.  At this time, I don't know of anything that would have the ability to be offline that is free still.

For personal use, I use Foldershare, which syncs folders and all their contents across computers.  It is accessible through a web interface as well.  This is also how I keep my Outlook .pst file synced across three computers with the help of syncing.net

Real time editing is almost a must, filesanywhere.com doesn't allow real time editing but you can "check out" files.

I would probably use Google Aps as well, but most of the people at my squadron hate computers so we have to meet at our CC's house which is a pain in the neck sometimes as I have to drive an hour away to do that every month.

[Tubacap]

Ouch, we used to meet at the coffee shop.  That will be missed, but I can see it coming back in purely a social atmosphere, which will be better!

[mynetdude]

Ouch, we used to meet at the coffee shop.  That will be missed, but I can see it coming back in purely a social atmosphere, which will be better!

We meet after our regular meetings, all the officers head down to some restraunt like Shari's or a bar & grill, etc.  On months there is a 5th Tuesday (there are only 3-4 months out of the year that have this) we do a Sr officer get together social bring our wives (well IF I HAD a wife, so hence I only go once a year because I don't have a wife).

I would love to see online meetings, it would help me get more done during meetings than drive 60 minutes, sit there and listen then drive another 60 minutes... time wasted. But seriously... people just don't want to deal with computers.

Honestly I would rather have it done on computer, its getting harder and harder for me to hear now than I used to however I hope to resolve that soon I will know more on the 20th of this month after I see the specialist.  But I'd still like to see it done online, it makes taking meeting minutes a lot easier (I got busted for recording a meeting even though I had mentioned I was going to record, yeah so much for reasonable accomodations there).

Anyway... I am really hoping I can make an impact on how we use technology, I don't want to leave anyone out and so that is fine really we can still meet and I can continue wasting $11 worth of fuel each meeting every month hence really it doesn't affect me any more than it does since I go to the hangar twice a week and on AFAM funded missions I get reimbursed so those don't really count.