Support for XML documents
What's new home
Word now allows you to save documents in XML format so that you can separate
the content of a document from the confines of its binary (.doc) format. The
content becomes available for automated data-mining and repurposing
processes. The content can easily be searched and even modified by processes
other than Word, such as server-based data processing.
In addition, if you are using Microsoft Office Professional Edition 2003 or
stand-alone Microsoft Office Word 2003, you can attach an XML schema to any
document by using the XML Schema tab in the Templates and Add-ins dialog
box. You specify the name of the schema file and whether you want Word to
validate the document against the schema.
Then, use the XML Structure task pane to apply XML tags to your document and
to view XML markup in your document.
A tree view displays XML elements that are applied to your document.
You can show XML tags in the document.
Choose from a list of elements to apply to your selection in the document.
If you are using Microsoft Office Professional Edition 2003 or stand-alone
Microsoft Office Word 2003, you can also embed XML data into your current
document by specifying an XPath expression as an IncludeText field in the
Field dialog box. If you want to format the XML data in a particular way,
specify an XSL Transformation.
Improved readability
What's new home
Microsoft Office Word 2003 makes it easier than ever to read documents on
your computer. Word now optimizes its display for your screen size and
resolution. Also, a new reading layout view improves the reading experience.
Reading layout view:
a.. Hides unnecessary toolbars.
b.. Displays the Document Map or the new thumbnail pane, so you can
quickly jump to sections of the document.
c.. Automatically scales the contents of a document to pages that fit
comfortably on your screen and that are easy to browse.
d.. Allows you to highlight portions of the document and add comments or
make changes.
Support for ink devices
What's new home
If you are using a device that supports ink input, such as a Tablet PC,
you can use the tablet pen to take advantage of handwriting in Microsoft
Office Word 2003.
a.. Mark up a document with handwritten comments and annotations.
b.. Incorporate handwritten content into a Word document.
c.. Send handwritten e-mail messages by using WordMail in Microsoft
Outlook.
Improved document protection
What's new home
In Microsoft Office Word 2003, document protection can be fine-tuned to
control document formatting, content, or both. For example, you can specify
that only certain styles are available to use, and those styles cannot be
modified. When protecting a document for changes to content, you no longer
have to apply the same restriction to everyone and to the entire document.
You can selectively allow certain people to edit specified parts of the
document.
Restrict formatting
When you restrict the formatting of a document, you prevent users from
applying styles that you don't explicitly make available. You also prevent
users from applying formatting directly to text, such as bulleted or
numbered lists or font characteristics. When formatting is restricted, the
commands and keyboard shortcuts for applying formatting directly are
unavailable.
Selectively allow editing in restricted content
When you protect a document as read-only or for comments only, you can
designate parts of the document to be unrestricted. You can also grant
permission for specific individuals to modify the unrestricted parts of the
document.
Compare documents side by side
What's new home
Sometimes viewing multiple users' changes in one document can be
overwhelming, but now you can use a new approach to compare documents-
comparing documents side by side. Comparing documents side by side using
Compare Side by Side with (Window menu) allows you to simply determine the
differences between two documents without having to merge multiple users'
changes into one document. You can scroll through both documents at the same
time to identify differences between the two documents.
Document Workspaces
What's new home
Use Document Workspaces to simplify the process of co-writing, editing,
and reviewing documents with others in real time through Microsoft Office
Word 2003, Microsoft Office Excel 2003, Microsoft Office PowerPoint 2003, or
Microsoft Office Visio 2003. A Document Workspace site is a Microsoft
Windows SharePoint Services site that is centered around one or more
documents. Colleagues can easily work together on the document - either by
working directly on the Document Workspace copy or by working on their own
copy, which they can update periodically with changes that have been saved
to the copy on the Document Workspace site.
Typically, you create a Document Workspace when you use e-mail to send a
document as a shared attachment. As the sender of the shared attachment, you
become the administrator of the Document Workspace, and all the recipients
become members of the Document Workspace, where they are granted permission
to contribute to the site.
When you use Word, Excel, PowerPoint, or Visio to open a local copy of
the document on which the Document Workspace is based, the Microsoft Office
program periodically gets updates from the Document Workspace and makes them
available to you - for example, if other members have been editing their own
copy of the document and have saved those changes to the Document Workspace.
If the changes to the workspace copy conflict with changes you've made to
your copy, you can choose which copy to keep. When you are finished editing
your copy, you can save your changes to the Document Workspace, where they
are available for the other members to incorporate into their copy of the
document.
Information Rights Management
What's new home
Today, sensitive information can only be controlled by limiting access
to the networks or computers where the information is stored. Once access is
given to users, however, there are no restrictions on what can be done with
the content or to whom it can be sent. This distribution of content easily
allows sensitive information to reach people who were never intended to
receive it. Microsoft Office 2003 offers a new feature, Information Rights
Management (IRM), which helps you prevent sensitive information from getting
into the hands of the wrong people, whether by accident or carelessness.
You can give users Read and Change access, as well as set expiration
dates for content. You can also remove restricted permission from a
document, workbook, or presentation.
Additionally, administrators for organizations can create permission
policies that are available in Microsoft Office Word 2003, Microsoft Office
Excel 2003, and Microsoft Office PowerPoint 2003. These policies define who
can access information and what level of editing or Office capabilities
users have for a document, workbook, or presentation.
Users who receive content with restricted permission can simply open the
document, workbook, or presentation just as they would with content that
doesn't have restricted permission. If users don't have Office 2003 or later
installed on their computer, they can download a program that allows them to
view this content.
Note You can create content with restricted permission using
Information Rights Management only in Microsoft Office Professional Edition
2003, Microsoft Office Word 2003, Microsoft Office Excel 2003, and Microsoft
Office PowerPoint 2003.
Improved international features
What's new home
Microsoft Office Word 2003 provides improved features for creating
foreign-language documents and for using documents in a multiple language
setting.
a.. Mail Merge chooses the correct greeting format based on the gender
of the recipient if the language requires it. Mail Merge can also format
addresses based on the geographical region of the recipient.
b.. Enhancements to typography result in better display of text in
more languages than ever before. Word 2003 supports more Unicode ranges and
includes improved support for combining diacritics. New look for Office
Microsoft Office 2003 has a new look that's open and energetic.
Additionally, new and improved task panes are available to you. New task
panes include Getting Started, Help, Search Results, Shared Workspace,
Document Updates, and Research.
Tablet PC support On a Tablet PC, you can quickly provide input using
your own handwriting directly into Office documents as you would using a pen
and a printout. Additionally, you can now view task panes horizontally to
help you do your work on the Tablet PC the way you want to do your work.
Research task pane The new Research task pane offers a wide variety of
reference information and expanded resources if you have an Internet
connection. You can conduct research on topics using an encyclopedia, Web
search, or by accessing third-party content.
Microsoft Office Online Microsoft Office Online is better integrated in
all Microsoft Office programs so that you can take full advantage of what
the site has to offer while you work. You can visit Microsoft Office Online
directly from within your Web browser or use the links provided in various
task panes and menus in your Office program to access articles, tips, clip
art, templates, online training, downloads, and services to enhance how you
work with Office programs. The site is updated regularly with new content
based on direct feedback and specific requests from you and others who use
Office.
Improving quality for the customer Microsoft strives to improve quality,
reliability, and performance of Microsoft software and services. The
Customer Experience Improvement Program allows Microsoft to collect
information about your hardware configuration and how you use Microsoft
Office programs and services to identify trends and usage patterns.
Participation is optional, and data collection is completely anonymous.
Additionally, error reporting and error messages have been improved so that
you are provided with the easiest approach to reporting errors and the most
helpful information about alerts at the time you encounter a problem.
Finally, with an Internet connection, you can give Microsoft customer
feedback about an Office program, help content, or Microsoft Office Online
content. Microsoft is continually adding and improving content based on your
feedback.
