Microsoft Office 2007 is now available in ITS managed user-rooms, Information Commons and Registrar-scheduled smart classrooms. Due to differences in this new software and its predecessors, faculty and students using Blackboard Learning System CE (BLS) should familiarize themselves with the new file formats and review the following recommendations so they are able to successfully share MS Office 2007 files. For more information about the Office 2007 file formats click here.
>> Microsoft Office 2007 for Macintosh
Microsoft Office 2007 for Windows
Recommendations for using Office 2007 with BLS:
Instructors and students who create documents with Office 2007 that will be shared with others (i.e., electronic course materials and student assignment submissions) should take measures to ensure that their files will be compatible with prior versions of Office or otherwise accessible to those not using Office 2007.
- Save as Office 97-2003 format
MS Office 2007 allows you to save your Office 2007 files in the Office 97-2003 format. You can do this on a file-by-file basis, or change Office 2007 settings to save files in Office 97-2003 format by default.
How to:
• Save as Office 2003 format by file -- PDF
• Save as Office 2003 format by default -- PDF
- Save as PDF
If you do not require collaborative editing of your Office 2007 files, you can publish a copy of them in the static PDF format. You can use Adobe Acrobat Professional, a PDF print driver, or the free MS Office 2007 PDF Add-in. Depending on options for Office 2007 installation, the PDF Add-in may or may not be included in your installation. If it is not, you can download it using the link below.
How to:
• Download/install Office 2007 PDF Add-in -- PDF
• Save as PDF using Office 2007 PDF Add-in -- PDF
- Save as RTF (Rich Text Format)
Word 2007 documents can be saved as RTF. This allows files to be opened and edited with prior versions of Office. However, some non-text content (i.e., graphics, art, etc.) and formatting (i.e., tables, lists, borders, spacing, etc.) will be lost.
How to:
• Save as RTF -- PDF
Note to Faculty: If you require students to submit MS Office files for their coursework, please inform them of the incompatibility between the new Office 2007 file formats and previous versions of Office. To facilitate file sharing through WebCT and/or Blackboard, we recommend that you instruct students to follow the recommendations above in accordance with the requirements of course activities.
Microsoft Office 2007 Compatibility Pack
The MS Office 2007 Compatibility Pack can be installed on Windows only. The Compatibility Pack allows Office 2000, XP, or 2003 to open, edit, and save documents, workbooks, and presentations in the file formats new to Word, Excel and PowerPoint 2007. To ensure that Office 2007 files can be shared through WebCT and/or Blackboard, users should follow the recommendations above even if the Compatibility Pack is installed.
How to:
• Download/install Office 2007 Compatibility Pack
Microsoft Office for Macintosh
There is no new MS Office product currently available for Macintosh. The release of a new Office package for Macintosh, which will be compatible with the Office 2007 file formats, is targeted for the spring of 2008.
To learn more about MS Office for Macintosh click here.
For more information from Information Technology Services about MS Office 2007, click here.
