Version: 2008
Operating System: Mac OS X 10.5 (Leopard)
Processor: intel
I didn't realize that MathType won't work with Office 2008. (Freakin Microsoft took out some virtual basic capability that was vital to MathType's functioing and a bunch of other things like Excel macros.) So, now I want to back to Office 2004. Is that difficult?
Hi,
For Word, Excel, and PowerPoint it is not hard to go back. But for
Entourage it is not so easy.
It is possible to have both PowerPoint 2004 and 2008 on the same
computer, but 2008 will want to be the application that opens when you
double-click a file icon. Setting files to use 2004 using Get Info won't
change this behavior. For this reason I dragged Word, Excel, and
PowerPoint 2008 applications to the trash and emptied the trash, but if
you want to keep them around you'll have to live with the fact that they
will be the default applications for Word, Excel, and PowerPoint.
If you are using Entourage 2008, I would keep that. Once you have
upgraded to Entourage, the database is unusable for Entourage 2004.
Besides, you are probably not having any trouble with Entourage 2008 so
just let it be. But if you prefer Entourage 2004 you'll lose your
existing database. When you upgraded a copy of your old identities
should still be in your Microsoft User Data folder, so Entourage 2004
should be able to pick up where you left off when you upgraded if you
decide to dump Entourage 2008.
If you removed Office 2004 when you upgraded, pop in the 2004 install
disc and do a custom install, not a drag and drop or default install.
You can choose to install Word, Excel, and/or PowerPoint, but uncheck
Entourage (unless you really want to go back). Be sure to NOT install
MSN messenger or Windows Media player because those are now obsolete.
Get the latest stuff from the Microsoft web site
http://www.microsoft.com/mac/ (Use Flip4Mac instead of Windows Media
player). Be sure to check the desired components, language, and proofing
options that are appropriate for you.
Let auto-update run after you install Office 2004, otherwise you'll get
a framework error message.
To handle any new file format documents that you receive I recommend
that you install NeoOffice version 2.2.3 from
http://www.neooffice.org/
(it's free). Although NeoOffice does a crappy job with fonts, shadows,
and other stuff, it's a great tool to change the file types using File >
Save As. You can go back and forth between .ppt and .pptx easily. It
also has path animation editing capability for motion paths - something
missing in Mac PowerPoint.
Please be sure to send a note to Microsoft using the feedback feature on
PowerPoint's Help menu. Microsoft employees don't always read the
newsgroup postings, so to make sure they see your comments use the
feedback feature.
While you sending feedback, did you notice you can no longer scan
directly into PowerPoint from your scanner? That's because Microsoft
dropped TWAIN support as well as VBA support. If that's a feature you
would like to use some day, then while you're requesting VBA support,
you can also ask for a return of TWAIN support.
Hope this helps.
-Jim
