Microsoft Office 2007

Microsoft Office 2007
Name	Microsoft Office 2007
Developer	Microsoft
Released	November 30, 2006 (Business), January 30, 2007 (Retail)
Latest release version	12.0.6612.1000 (SP3) / October 25, 2011
Operating system	Windows XP, Windows Server 2003, Windows Vista, Windows Server 2008, Windows 7, Windows Server 2008 R2
Genre	Office suite
License	Proprietary software
Predecessor	Microsoft Office 2003
Successor	Microsoft Office 2010

Microsoft Office 2007. It is a major release of the Microsoft Office productivity suite for the Microsoft Windows operating system, representing a significant departure from its predecessors. The suite introduced a radically redesigned user interface, the Ribbon, and a new default file format based on Office Open XML. Its development was led by Steven Sinofsky and it was succeeded by Microsoft Office 2010.

Overview

Released to business customers in late 2006 and to the general public in early 2007, this version marked a pivotal shift in the design philosophy of the Microsoft Office suite. It was developed under the internal codename "Office 12" and was a key part of the 2007 Microsoft Office system, which also included server products like Microsoft Office SharePoint Server 2007. The launch coincided with the release of the Windows Vista operating system, though it remained fully compatible with Windows XP. The suite's core applications, such as Microsoft Word, Microsoft Excel, and Microsoft PowerPoint, were all fundamentally updated with the new interface and file formats.

Features

The most prominent new feature was the introduction of the Ribbon, which replaced traditional menus and toolbars. It also debuted the Office Open XML (OOXML) formats, with extensions like .docx and .xlsx, which were later standardized by Ecma International and ISO/IEC. Other significant additions included a new graphics engine, SmartArt, for creating diagrams, and improved integration with Microsoft Office SharePoint Server 2007 and Windows SharePoint Services. The Microsoft Outlook client received a major overhaul, and Microsoft Access introduced the ACE database engine. Security was enhanced with features like a robust Digital signature framework.

User interface

The Fluent User Interface, centered on the Ribbon, organized commands into a set of tabs relevant to the task at hand, a design informed by extensive user research at Microsoft Research. This interface also introduced contextual tabs, Live Preview for formatting, and the Microsoft Office Button (replaced in later versions by the File tab). The Quick Access Toolbar provided user-customizable shortcuts. This radical redesign was initially controversial but aimed to make advanced features more discoverable than in Microsoft Office 2003.

Editions

Several editions were marketed, each bundling different applications. The primary retail editions included Microsoft Office Home and Student 2007 (with Microsoft Word, Microsoft Excel, Microsoft PowerPoint, and Microsoft OneNote), Microsoft Office Standard 2007, and Microsoft Office Professional 2007 (which added Microsoft Access, Microsoft Publisher, and Microsoft Outlook). For enterprise customers, Microsoft Office Enterprise 2007 and Microsoft Office Ultimate 2007 were offered, the latter including Microsoft Groove and Microsoft OneNote. A version for Apple Macintosh computers was not released; the Mac OS X platform was served by the contemporaneous Microsoft Office 2008 for Mac.

System requirements

It required a PC with a 500 MHz or faster processor, 256 MB of RAM, and 2 GB of available hard disk space. The operating system had to be Windows XP with Service Pack 2, Windows Server 2003 with Service Pack 1, or later versions such as Windows Vista or Windows 7. Certain advanced features, like Instant Search in Microsoft Outlook, required Windows Desktop Search. The new GDI+-based graphics engine also benefited from a more powerful GPU.

Reception

Critical reception was mixed, with praise for the modernized interface and new file formats but criticism over the steep learning curve. Reviewers from PC World and CNET noted its transformative impact, while some users and organizations resisted the change. The ODF community and competitors like OpenOffice.org and Google Docs provided alternatives. It won several awards, including recognition from Windows IT Pro magazine. Its legacy is defined by establishing the Ribbon as a standard interface component across subsequent Microsoft products, influencing the design of Windows 7 and Microsoft Office 2010.

Category:Microsoft Office Category:2007 software