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Microsoft Word 2007 is capable of working with documents in three file formats. The native format uses the file extension “.docx”. Files saved in this format can use the full range of features found in Word 2007, with the exception of macros. Any Word 2007 document which contains macros must be saved in a separate file format using the file extension “.docm”.

In addition to its two native formats, Word 2007 is also capable of both opening and creating files using the old “.doc” file extension, the file extension which was used in previous versions of Word. However, Word 2007 documents which are saved with this file extension will not have access to the full range of features found with in Word 2007. Some new features, such as Themes, will not be available in any files saved with the “.doc” extension.

When a new Word 2007 document is saved for the first-time these three options are available in a drop-down menu labelled “Save As Type”. Unless you specify otherwise, new documents will be saved with the file extension “.docx”. However, if you’re sending the document to a person using an older version of Word, you can save the document in a backward compatible format, using the file extension “.doc”.

what about the “.docm” format? Well, when you open a document containing a macro, by default, Word displays a security warning notifying you that macros have been disabled. If you want to, you can then click on Options and enable the content.

When you open a file created in a previous version of Microsoft Word, Word 2007 does not automatically convert this file to the new format. For convenience, it leaves it in the old format and goes into a special working mode called “Compatibility Mode”. (It displays the words “Compatibility Mode” in brackets next to the document.)

As long as the file remains in compatibility mode, you can still continue working on it, making changes to the document and saving those changes. However, certain new 2007 features, such as Themes, will not be available. If you place the mouse over the Themes group of the Page Layout Tab, you will see a tool tip saying: “This document has been opened in compatibility mode. To use this feature convert your document to a new file format. Click on the Office button and then click convert.” If you do as the message invites you to, “Compatibility Mode” disappears from the title bar and when we save the file Word changes the file extension and the document will then have been converted to the Word 2007 format.

If you work in an environment where both Word 2007 and older versions are in use, then Microsoft may have provided another solution. You have the option of installing an update called the Office Compatibility Pack. This makes it possible for previous versions of all the Microsoft Office packages to open the new Office 2007 file formats.

Which version of Excel?

As to the size of the class, somewhere between five and ten people can usually be accommodating in a training room with reasonable facilities. You will need to ensure that you have a conference or training room equipped with a computer for each delegate and a projector which can be connected to a computer used by the trainer to demonstrate each technique.

One feature that you should almost never omit in an Excel training course is formulas and functions. Functions are the lifeblood of Microsoft Excel. They allow the program to carry out complex calculations and produce useful results in a variety of different areas including statistics, engineering and the financial arena. Be sure to give the training company a good idea of the type of data your people work with and the information they need to obtain. This will enable the trainer to include coverage of functions which can help increase your productivity and get the most out of Excel.

Class sizes

Ideally, training courses should be attended by users with a similar level of experience and with similar requirements. If you have a mixture of skills levels, it is best to split the training into separate sessions to cater for people’s different needs. It is also important to limit attendance to those people who can attend for the entire duration of the training. Having delegates nip in and out of a training session is disruptive and doesn’t really benefit anyone.

Which topics should be covered

Who should attend

One feature that you should almost never omit in an Excel training course is formulas and functions. Functions are the lifeblood of Microsoft Excel. They allow the program to carry out complex calculations and produce useful results in a variety of different areas including statistics, engineering and the financial arena. Be sure to give the training company a good idea of the type of data your people work with and the information they need to obtain. This will enable the trainer to include coverage of functions which can help increase your productivity and get the most out of Excel.

Class sizes

As to the size of the class, somewhere between five and ten people can usually be accommodating in a training room with reasonable facilities. You will need to ensure that you have a conference or training room equipped with a computer for each delegate and a projector which can be connected to a computer used by the trainer to demonstrate each technique.

If your staff are trained on an older version of Excel and then have their software upgraded to 2007, the differences are so significant that many of them will need retraining!