Microsoft Word 2013. In depth (part 1
Table of contents:
Microsoft Office 2013 is now on the market. This article on Word 2013 heads a special series that we are going to dedicate in Xataka Windows to the analysis of the different components of the most popular office suite in the world. Word is a word processor that, in this 2013 edition, gives a twist to the previous version, incorporating very interesting new features. There are many novelties and we are going to focus on the most relevant ones.
Word 2013, new Modern UI style screens
User interface and appearance
The user interface of Office 2013 gives the impression of being a bridge between the traditional desktop version, and a Modern UI application , although the first one weighs much more. What is certain is that Office 2013 has kept tablets in mind. This hybrid look is not exclusive to Windows 8, it already appears that way in Windows 7 as well. In the following paragraphs we are going to discuss the part with Modern UI look of Word 2013 .
Starting screen
As soon as we run Word, we will have a screen in front of us whose appearance is particularly Modern UI. Divided into two areas, on the first screen that we will see after launching Word 2013 we have on the left side, on a blue background and with white letters, a large band that shows recent documentsBelow these is a control to access “Open other documents”.
The rest of the screen is white, containing in the upper area and almost imperceptibly a bar with the controls "help", "minimize" on the taskbar, "maximize" on the full screen and another control to “close” the window. We will also see, if we have defined it that way, the avatar associated with the Microsoft account with which we manage the application.
In parallel with the avatar area there is a search box and under this the “suggested searches”, which give access to a extensive set of templates: Letters, Resume, Fax, Labels, Cards, Calendar, and Blank. Any action we perform on this screen, with the exception of the wizard of each template, takes us directly to the "traditional desktop" part of the application.
File Screen
If once in the desktop version we click on the FILE control (it is in capital letters in white font on a blue background), we return to the Modern UI aspect, with another screen similar to the one we have seen at the start of the application.
In this, there has been arranged, also on a blue background and with white letters, a menu that gives access to various functions to manipulate fileshow to create, open, save, print, share, etc., which we are going to see in detail now. The right part is similar to the one described for the first screen, although it shows different elements depending on the chosen menu item.
Information
"The first of these is “Information”. This function allows us to access information related to the document that we have open at the moment of having pressed the FILE control, divided into two columns. The first shows three functions: “Protect Document”, Inspect Document>"
- Protect Document: Allows to choose what type of changes we allow to make to the documentto other users.The function is enabled by an icon that, in addition to the legend, shows a padlock with a key. When clicking on the icon, the options appear in a drop-down menu.
- Inspect document: to view certain document properties. This is somewhat confusing, because the associated icon legend shows another message: "Check for problems." What this function actually does, as you can see in the image, is to give access to three sub-functions:.
- Inspect Document (now yes), to check personal information and hidden document properties.
- Check Accessibility: Check for content that may be difficult for people with disabilities to read.
- Check Compatibility: To check which document features are not compatible with earlier versions of the program.
- Versions: Use to manage versions, retrieve unsaved documents, and delete all unsaved documents.
On the right side of the "Information" screen we have a drop-down control called "Properties", which gives access to two subfunctions: Show the documents panel (switches to classic desktop to provide this information) and Advanced Properties, which displays a classic popup window with them, without leaving the place where we meet.
New
"After clicking on the New control, a screen similar to the home screen will appear, although replacing the Recent> column (which we are editing). The right area displays the same items (suggested searches) on the home screen."
Open, Save and Save As
Open and Save As have common functions, to save documents to your local computer, another location, and directly to SkyDrive (don't forget that the use of Office 2013 is linked to a Microsoft account). In the particular case of "Open", it shows as the first option "Recent documents" and a list of them in the right column of the screen.
“Save”, as expected, saves the document that already has a name and location assigned to it, without doing anything else, returning to the classic desktop areaIn the event that we want to save the document for the first time, it will jump to Save As with all its features.
“Save As” presents the three destination hosting options described, as well as a second contextual column with each of them.Whether we want to save the document on SkyDrive or on the local computer, it displays a folder tree structure of the cloud hosting service, as on the local computer. When adding a site, it includes Office 365 SharePoint and SkyDrive again by default.
This “File” menu item enables a very interesting screen to control printing . In the white area, on the left, after the "Print" legend, there is a button to execute the action directly with the printing device enabled as determined, the number of copies desired and a drop-down list with all the printers we have access, or add some. Access to all printer properties is enabled via a hyperlink type control.
Regarding the page setup, behind the printer area there is a series of drop-down controls with associated icons that make it much easier to the task, because they are well thought out and with a glance at the icons one can easily guess their purpose.Between the first and second controls there is a text box to select the number or range of pages to print
The last item in this column is “Page Setup”, which, like its printer counterpart, is used to configure all page options. In both cases, they display a pop-up window with the options, without having to leave the screen where we are.
As for the white area on the right, we will have a print preview of the document, with controls to navigate sequentially through the pages, another to adjust the size of the zoom, and finally another to adjust the page to the visible area if we have manipulated the zoom.
Share
This item enables the sharing options created with Word 2013, allowing you to invite people, send the document by email, present this online or post to a blog (compatible with SharePoint blog, WordPress, Blogger, Telligent Community, and TypePad).For all the options, the right area of the white screen acts as a small tutor that tells us how to perform each action. In the screenshot you can see the complete sharing options by email.
To export
This menu option enables creating documents in PDF/XPS format and changing the document type (Word 2013, Word 97 -2003, OpenDocuement Text and Template), use others such as Plain Text, RTF, Single File Web Page, and other formats.
To close
The Close control needs little explanation. If any part of the work has not been saved, it displays the typical pop-up window to save, not save and cancel the option to close. Otherwise, it closes the document without contemplation (and it does it really quickly).
Bill
The Account item offers us information in the white area of the screen in a two-column format. In the first, all the information related to the user, including the avatar, which can be changed from here. It also allows closing the session and changing the user account if it has more than one. These functionalities are accessed through hyperlink controls.
In this section we can also change the office background and the theme, through the appropriate drop-down controls. Within this left column, the program will offer us information on the services to which we are connected, such as SkyDrive for example, and the possibility of adding others (images and videos, storage and sharing. The right column provides information about the Office 2013 suite and the “About Word” information add-in.
Modern UI style screens, conclusions
I'm not in favor of mixing Modern UI environments with the classic interface in principle, but in the case of Word 2013 I think it's a successThe classic desktop functions are where they belong (as long as we don't see a fully Modern UI Office Suite) and the new screens bring together a very pleasant and intuitive environment a series of elementary functions that are well structured and shine with their own light both on a PC and on a tablet.
The only criticism that fits in this section is directed against hyperlink-type controls I have experience in the difficulty of operating them with your finger on a tablet when they're too close together (it's quite an exercise in aiming). Especially if the tablet has a lot of resolution, as is the case with the one I'm using, where without a pointing device, you're a bit lost
