Questions Answered Here

[Franz]

I know this is not proper netiquette in this group, I apologize, but I
just want to give my thanks to the crew here, especially Daiya and
John, who have answered both of my Word 2008 questions without my
having to ask them.

How to change my default page view which got lost in transition from
Word 2004? (Resave the Normal template.) And how to stop getting blank
new documents when switching to Word? (Don't use the dock; use command-
tab.)

They were little things, but

1) They were bugging the heck out of me, and
2) Microsoft could not itself be bothered to tell us how to work
around them.

Thank you for being here and being so patient and helpful with all of
us,

Franz

 

[John McGhie]

Thanks Franz:

I hope you will keep asking questions: we need more questions, that's why
we're here

In fairness, I should point out that Microsoft Corporation provides and
supports (to the tune of a few million a year) the MVP program which, in
turn, encourages people like us to be here answering questions.

No, they don't pay us. No, we don't work for Microsoft. And yes, we do
contribute voluntarily. But Microsoft does provide us with a lot of support
and information, including direct contacts we can ask.

Many of us have just returned from the annual conference at Microsoft HQ at
Redmond, where we were able to talk directly with the team putting together
Office 2011. We were given two entire days with the product team, to pass
on the requests people have been making in here. As a result, I think you
will be very pleased with Office 2011 (no, we're not allowed to say any
more: but it's going to be very, very good this time).

So in truth, Microsoft does tell you how to work around these things, they
just use us as the speaking mechanism to do that

Cheers

I know this is not proper netiquette in this group, I apologize, but I
just want to give my thanks to the crew here, especially Daiya and
John, who have answered both of my Word 2008 questions without my
having to ask them.

How to change my default page view which got lost in transition from
Word 2004? (Resave the Normal template.) And how to stop getting blank
new documents when switching to Word? (Don't use the dock; use command-
tab.)

They were little things, but

1) They were bugging the heck out of me, and
2) Microsoft could not itself be bothered to tell us how to work
around them.

Thank you for being here and being so patient and helpful with all of
us,

Franz

This email is my business email -- Please do not email me about forum
matters unless you intend to pay!

 

[Franz]

Thanks Franz:

I hope you will keep asking questions: we need more questions, that's why
we're here

In fairness, I should point out that Microsoft Corporation provides and
supports (to the tune of a few million a year) the MVP program which, in
turn, encourages people like us to be here answering questions.

No, they don't pay us.  No, we don't work for Microsoft.  And yes, wedo
contribute voluntarily.  But Microsoft does provide us with a lot of support
and information, including direct contacts we can ask.

Many of us have just returned from the annual conference at Microsoft HQ at
Redmond, where we were able to talk directly with the team putting together
Office 2011.  We were given two entire days with the product team, to pass
on the requests people have been making in here.  As a result, I think you
will be very pleased with Office 2011 (no, we're not allowed to say any
more: but it's going to be very, very good this time).

So in truth, Microsoft does tell you how to work around these things, they
just use us as the speaking mechanism to do that

Cheers








This email is my business email -- Please do not email me about forum
matters unless you intend to pay!

 --

John McGhie, Microsoft MVP (Word, Mac Word); Consultant Technical Writer,
McGhie Information Engineering Pty Ltd, Sydney, Australia.
Ph: +61 (0)4 1209 1410; mailto:[email protected]

John (and other MVPs),

Thanks for that very informative response. I have a poorly concealed
immediate distaste for Microsoft. Something that really is not fair.
Indeed, my MS Word abilities (which peaked with Word 6) got me a good
deal work, back in the 90s. Plus, being a student for so long, and now
being a teacher, I've benefited very handsomely from Microsoft's
extremely generous university software licensing. So I should be much
more gracious to them. I'll try to start now. Well, maybe after dinner
and a glass of wine. That's always a better time.

It is really good--enormously cheering--to hear you describe your
experience working with the Word 2011 development team. You and the
gang are exactly whom I'd want there, advising them, since you really
have your fingers on the pulse of user needs and frustrations. Great
to think that Word 2011 will be "very, very good this time."

BTW: That is a serious fligh to Seattle; I hope they flew you first
class! Well, maybe that didn't happen, but at least I hope the hotel
was nice. It's the least they should if they're not actually paying
you.

Many good wishes,

Franz

 

[John McGhie]

Hi Franz:

Like you, I have, and currently do, profit handsomely from Microsoft's
software. I have my own company, the core business of which is advising and
consulting on long and complex Microsoft Word documents.

Although "graciousness" is a bit of a stretch for me. This time, several of
the Microsoft staff commented that I had been very quiet and polite this
time, I only savaged them a little. I responded that this time, they were
creating a very good product. Not like last time, when I was, shall we say,
less than complimentary

Office 2011 is very good: we will need to see just how much they manage to
get finished: it may actually make it to "great". There are some features
that are "at risk" ‹ they will get cut if time runs out. There always are,
in any major software project (and Microsoft Office is a VERY major software
project...).

As far as air travel is concerned, well, I "dreamt" of First Class all the
way... But each time I woke up, I found myself down the back of the bus in
the cheap seats. We have to pay our own way to Seattle. The MVP program
picks up half the cost of the hotel, but not the air fares.

However, the knowledge we gain makes it a good investment. I can begin
consulting in Word 2010 and Word 2011 the day the product hits the market:
that gives me a considerable competitive advantage.

Cheers

John (and other MVPs),

Thanks for that very informative response. I have a poorly concealed
immediate distaste for Microsoft. Something that really is not fair.
Indeed, my MS Word abilities (which peaked with Word 6) got me a good
deal work, back in the 90s. Plus, being a student for so long, and now
being a teacher, I've benefited very handsomely from Microsoft's
extremely generous university software licensing. So I should be much
more gracious to them. I'll try to start now. Well, maybe after dinner
and a glass of wine. That's always a better time.

It is really good--enormously cheering--to hear you describe your
experience working with the Word 2011 development team. You and the
gang are exactly whom I'd want there, advising them, since you really
have your fingers on the pulse of user needs and frustrations. Great
to think that Word 2011 will be "very, very good this time."

BTW: That is a serious fligh to Seattle; I hope they flew you first
class! Well, maybe that didn't happen, but at least I hope the hotel
was nice. It's the least they should if they're not actually paying
you.

Many good wishes,

Franz

This email is my business email -- Please do not email me about forum
matters unless you intend to pay!