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Microsoft Office 2003 Editions version comparison

See how upgrading to Office 2003 Editions can benefit you and your business. Compare the features and benefits of Office 2003 Editions with your version in the following areas:

In this article

Connecting people

Connecting information

Connecting business processes

Connecting people

KEY:
= Feature Included = Improved in Office 2003 Editions = New in Office 2003 Editions

Collaborating on documents with team members

Feature	Office 97	Office 2000	Office XP	Office 2003
Document Workspaces Simplify the process of working with others to co-author, modify, and review files using Document Workspaces. Document Workspace are centralized sites where team members can access files, see lists of tasks, find helpful links, and collaborate. Team members can also send instant messages to each other.¹ View demos: Share the work and share the credit in a Document Workspace Team up in a Document Workspace
Shared attachments Simplify the process of working with others to co-author, edit, and review files. When you send a file as a shared attachment with Microsoft Office Outlook 2003, you can create a Document Workspace.¹
Shared Workspace task pane Check for updated versions of files, see if team members are online, see lists of related links and files, and view file properties. The Shared Workspace task pane is available from Microsoft Office Excel 2003 spreadsheets, Microsoft Office PowerPoint 2003 presentations, and Microsoft Office Word 2003 documents.¹
Integration with Windows SharePoint Services Create a team intranet site and then upload files using your browser or Excel 2003, PowerPoint 2003, or Word 2003. Integration with Microsoft Windows SharePoint Services enables you to use the Shared Workspace task pane, Document Workspaces, and shared attachments. View demos: Share your data with your team			Included with FrontPage 2002

KEY:
= Feature Included = Improved in Office 2003 Editions = New in Office 2003 Editions

Exchanging contact information

Feature	Office 97	Office 2000	Office XP	Office 2003
Synchronize contacts Using Outlook 2003 integration with Windows SharePoint Services, you can share your contacts with others to ensure that team members have the contacts they need to reach people and conduct business. Synchronize contacts on the Windows SharePoint Services site and view it from within Outlook 2003.

KEY:
= Feature Included = Improved in Office 2003 Editions = New in Office 2003 Editions

Organizing meetings and events

Feature	Office 97	Office 2000	Office XP	Office 2003
Meeting Workspaces Plan for and organize meetings by storing and sharing agendas, visuals, document links, attendee lists, and other documentation in a location everyone can access. Meeting Workspaces can be automatically created when you send meeting invitations from Outlook 2003.¹ View demo: Work together in a Meeting Workspace
Side-by-side calendars in Outlook 2003 View multiple calendars next to your own. The calendars are color-coded and labeled to help you quickly compare schedules or schedule meetings. After you open another person's calendar you can easily show or hide that person's calendar.¹ View demo: See double with Outlook calendars
Events Team members can add and store information about an event in a central location, and then export the event information directly to an Outlook calendar. View demo: Work together in a Meeting Workspace
Share Outlook free/busy information More easily schedule meetings with Outlook users who don't share a Microsoft Exchange server by providing free/busy information over the Internet.

KEY:
= Feature Included = Improved in Office 2003 Editions = New in Office 2003 Editions

Managing document changes

Feature	Office 97	Office 2000	Office XP	Office 2003
Word 2003 editing restrictions Lock down portions of Word documents to prevent anyone from editing sections they are not authorized to edit. Choose to allow others to make changes with revisions marks, or make the entire document read-only.
Word 2003 formatting restrictions Lock down a document through the Protect Document task pane. Give coworkers permissions to edit content in a document, but not any of the styles that make up the document formatting.
Reviewing Toolbar View changes by specific reviewers or by all reviewers, and then accept or reject changes one at a time or all at once.
Markup Balloons Markups in Word 2003 and PowerPoint 2003 now appear in the right margin of the file. Balloons identify revisions and reviewer comments without obscuring the original document or presentation, or affecting its layout.

KEY:
= Feature Included = Improved in Office 2003 Editions = New in Office 2003 Editions

Controlling access to vital business information

Feature	Office 97	Office 2000	Office XP	Office 2003
Information Rights Management (IRM) in Office Professional Edition 2003 files Help reduce the risk of having confidential e-mail messages and files fall into the wrong hands, whether by accident, carelessness, or malicious intent. Specify who can receive files and set restrictions on copying, forwarding, or printing them. IRM functionality is available in Excel 2003, Outlook 2003, PowerPoint 2003, and Word 2003.² Note Microsoft Office Professional Edition 2003 enables you to create IRM-protected content and grant other users the rights to access and modify your files or e-mail messages. With Microsoft Office Standard Edition 2003, Microsoft Office Small Business Edition 2003, and Microsoft Office Student and Teacher Edition 2003 you can read IRM-protected files and e-mail messages; with permission, you can modify them as well. View demo: IRM can help ensure performance review confidentiality
IRM document expiration dates Give your files an expiration date, after which they cannot be viewed or shared.²
IRM organizational policy templates Create custom templates, geared for specific use, that help protect files. For example, an organization can create a company-wide "confidential" template that helps protect sensitive documents and e-mail messages from unauthorized use.² View demo: IRM can help ensure document confidentiality
Digital Signatures Use digital certificates to enable access to files or macro projects. The certificate used to create this signature confirms that the macro or file originated from the signer. The signature confirms that it has not been altered.
File password encryption Word 2003 and Excel 2003 offer improved password security through the addition of the Microsoft CryptoAPI standard. PowerPoint 2003 now includes password encryption.		Simple password protection without encryption

¹ Requires Microsoft Windows Server 2003 running Windows SharePoint Services.
² Requires Windows Server 2003 with IRM functionality, or access to a Web service that supports IRM.

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Connecting information

KEY:
= Feature Included = Improved in Office 2003 Editions = New in Office 2003 Editions

Preventing e-mail overload

Feature	Office 97	Office 2000	Office XP	Office 2003
E-Mail Desktop Alerts Announcements inform you immediately of new e-mail messages coming in, no matter which program you are using. You can open or delete the e-mail message from this notification window.
E-Mail Reading Pane Outlook 2003 makes it easier to read messages, including long ones. The Reading Pane displays twice as much content as before and reduces the need to scroll to read e-mail messages. View demo: Breeze through e-mail in Reading Pane
Enhanced privacy features To help protect privacy and combat Web beacons, Outlook 2003 can block the download of external content from the Internet. If an e-mail message tries to connect unannounced to a Web server, Outlook blocks that connection until you decide to view the content. This feature also helps prevent you from viewing potentially offensive messages. If you're on a slow connection, it allows you to decide whether an image warrants the time required to download it. View demo: Junk mail and spammers meet their match in Outlook
Safe Senders/Block Senders lists Automatically move junk e-mail messages to a folder so you can decide later whether to keep or delete the messages. The Safe Senders list tells the filters not to flag messages from senders as junk messages. The Block Senders list filters out e-mail from that sender altogether. View demo: Junk mail and spammers meet their match in Outlook
Improved junk mail filtering The improved Junk E-Mail Filter can help you prevent junk e-mail messages from cluttering your Inbox. Microsoft provides updates to the filter periodically from Office Online so that it continues to be effective. View demo: Junk mail and spammers meet their match in Outlook

KEY:
= Feature Included = Improved in Office 2003 Editions = New in Office 2003 Editions

Organizing your e-mail inbox

Feature	Office 97	Office 2000	Office XP	Office 2003
Arranged By conversation Along with grouping messages by date, size, subject, and other criteria, Outlook 2003 offers a "Conversation" option. Catch up on e-mail using a conversation-oriented view that shows only unread or marked e-mail and the specific messages that are being responded to.
Quick Flags Tag messages by priority or time sensitivity, and then find them in whatever folder they reside. When you need to follow up on an e-mail message, flag it in one of six colors so that it's easy to find. The For Follow Up folder shows all Quick Flagged messages, regardless of the folder they are in. View demo: Flag it, file it, find it fast in Outlook
Search Folders Find e-mail messages that meet specific search criteria regardless of where the messages are stored. You no longer need to rerun common searches; instead turn your commonly used searches into Search Folders and click on them whenever you need them.¹ View demo: Flag it, file it, find it fast in Outlook

KEY:
= Feature Included = Improved in Office 2003 Editions = New in Office 2003 Editions

Saving time with tools

Feature	Office 97	Office 2000	Office XP	Office 2003
Research and Reference task pane Do research without leaving the program in which you're working. The Research task pane brings electronic dictionaries, thesauri, online research sites, and proprietary company information into Excel 2003, Outlook 2003, PowerPoint 2003, and Word 2003.² View demo: Real-world facts and figures in the Research task pane
Office Online services Office 2003 Editions offer new and improved integration with Office Online services. More powerful, better integrated, and with an improved online interface, these services are seamlessly available in programs in Office 2003 Editions.³
Help improvements available in a task pane Regularly updated articles and information help users accomplish their goals by making Help and useful online resources easily accessible from Assistance on Office Online in the Help task pane.
Task panes Perform important tasks from a single location in your document. Task panes give you access to online help and templates and allow you to view open documents in that particular application, view Clipboard contents, format documents, and complete other tasks.

KEY:
= Feature Included = Improved in Office 2003 Editions = New in Office 2003 Editions

Application-specific improvements

Feature	Office 97	Office 2000	Office XP	Office 2003
Word 2003 Reading Layout view The Reading Layout view makes it easier to read documents online. This view optimizes the document for reading on screen, including larger text, shorter lines, and pages that fit exactly on the screen. View demo: Easy on the eyes, Word reading layout view
Excel 2003 list integration with Windows SharePoint Services Save time using Excel with Windows SharePoint Services. Select ranges of data in Excel spreadsheets to create lists in sites created with Windows SharePoint Services. If the list is linked to the Windows SharePoint Services site, any changes made to the data in the Excel worksheet are reflected in the Windows SharePoint Services site when synchronized. Excel can also be used to edit or print existing Windows SharePoint Services lists.⁴ View demo: Share your data with your team
Excel 2003 enhanced statistical functions Excel 2003 offers enhancements in collinearity detection, calculations of sum of squared deviations, normal distributions, and continuous probability distribution functions. View demo: Check out that hunch
PowerPoint 2003 Package for CD Package a PowerPoint presentation to a CD for broader sharing or distribution. When recipients insert the CD into their CD drive, the presentation automatically launches in slide-show mode using the improved PowerPoint Viewer. View demo: Leave a good impression; distribute a business presentation on CD
PowerPoint 2003 smart tag support Smart tags are now in PowerPoint. When a name, address, or other key phrases comes up, a smart tag icon appears that can provide additional information and options so that you can complete tasks more quickly.
PowerPoint 2003 enhanced multimedia support PowerPoint 2003 supports additional play list formats and playback of full-screen video. Play video full screen and use playback to stop, start, rewind, or find screens from within a slide show. Supported file types include ASX, WMX, M3U, WVX, WAX, and WMA. If a media codec is not available, PowerPoint and Windows Media Player will attempt to download it.
Improved error checking in Access 2003 The new error checking feature flags common errors in forms and reports, making testing and fixing errors faster than ever. Once flagged, you can have the option to correct errors, saving more time than ever.
Field property changes in Access 2003 Field properties and all the forms or reports that have controls bound to them are updated automatically for accurate information.

KEY:
= Feature Included = Improved in Office 2003 Editions = New in Office 2003 Editions

Improving performance and administration

Feature	Office 97	Office 2000	Office XP	Office 2003
Intelligent network detection Local caching downloads all necessary information to your computer as it comes in—so you're not affected by network performance issues. When the mail server is unavailable because of network, maintenance, or outage conditions, you can continue to work without interruption.⁵
Outlook 2003 connectivity performance enhancements Outlook 2003 stays connected even when you roam between network connections, making it easier to switch between working at the office or remotely. Outlook 2003 adapts for bandwidth availability. You can also choose when to download large messages, when to synchronize your Inbox and mobile device, and other ways to improve how you work in different networks.
Application and document recovery Should an error occur, you'll have the option to save the files you're working on when the error occurs. The recovered document(s) is displayed in the Recovery task pane.
File Format Compatibility Backward compatibility between Office 2003 Editions, Office XP, Office 2000, and Office 97 (with the exception of Access 97) lets users of all four versions seamlessly share documents. Access 2003 uses the Access 2000 file format by default.

KEY:
= Feature Included = Improved in Office 2003 Editions = New in Office 2003 Editions

Working mobile

Feature	Office 97	Office 2000	Office XP	Office 2003
Inking support for the Tablet PC If you use a Tablet PC, you can use a digital pen to annotate files in your own handwriting. Take notes, insert diagrams, or send files with comments to others. View demo: Take Office into your own hands with inking
Handwriting integration with mobile devices Notes you take on a handheld computer can be uploaded to programs in Office 2003 Editions as text. Write directly in Word and save your work as a handwritten document or convert it to text or typed characters.

¹ Search Folders require a connection to Microsoft Exchange Server 2003.
² Some of the capabilities in the Research task pane require a connection to the Internet.
³ Office Online requires a connection to the Internet.
⁴ Requires Windows Server 2003 running Windows SharePoint Services.
⁵ Local caching requires Exchange Server 2003.

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Connecting business processes

KEY:
= Feature Included = Improved in Office 2003 Editions = New in Office 2003 Editions

Harnessing information from the programs you use most

Feature	Office XP	Office 2003
Programmable task panes Extensible Markup Language (XML) enables developers to create solutions that incorporate information from a variety of sources into Access 2003, Excel 2003, and Word 2003 files. Programs in Office 2003 Editions can automate virtually any task involved with creating files such as reports, spreadsheets, and forms. Using Office Professional Edition 2003, you can customize schemas and task panes to integrate with other programs or XML data sources.
XML support in Word 2003 Word 2003 supports customizable XML schemas, enabling you to open business documents that contain XML data and work with them like any other document. In addition, you can save and open XML files in Word 2003 to integrate with key business data in the organization. Note In all Office 2003 Editions, Word 2003 documents can be saved in a native XML file format which can be manipulated and searched using any program that can process industry standard XML. With Office Professional Edition 2003, companies can also use customized XML formats—or schemas—to enable easier and more advanced information creation, capture, exchange, and reuse.
Excel 2003 Visual XML Mapping tool Use the visual mapping tool to map a user-specified XML schema to fields in an Excel spreadsheet. The visual mapping tool makes it easy to bring XML data into a spreadsheet. Note The Visual XML Mapping tool is available in Office Professional Edition 2003.
Microsoft Office InfoPath 2003 Use InfoPath 2003 to streamline and control the gathering of information that your team or organization can reuse across processes and organizations. InfoPath 2003 provides support for XML, XML Web services, and custom XML schemas. Use dynamic rich authoring and built-in validation in a WYSIWYG ("what you see is what you get") environment. InfoPath 2003 is available in Microsoft Office Professional Enterprise Edition 2003. View demos: All you see is all you need in InfoPath Tired of plain text? Enrich your data in InfoPath
Support for custom defined XML schemas With extensive support for industry-standard XML, Office Professional Edition programs (Access 2003, Excel 2003, and Word 2003) can communicate with disparate back-end systems and formats. XML support in Word 2003, Excel 2003, and Access 2003 streamlines the process of accessing and capturing information between computers and back-end systems, unlocking hidden information, and enabling the creation of integrated business solutions across the organization and between business partners.	In Excel and Access	In Word, Excel, and Access

KEY:
= Feature Included = Improved in Office 2003 Editions = New in Office 2003 Editions

Customizing Office 2003 Editions programs

Feature

Office 97

Office 2000

Office XP

Office 2003

InfoPath 2003
A set of buttons shared across Microsoft Office programs, smart tags deliver a menu of context-sensitive options when and where they are needed. For example, when you paste data or make an error in an Excel formula. They provide options for completing a task quickly.

Context-sensitive smart tag
Automatically recognize many information types, including names, dates, addresses, telephone numbers, places, and stock symbols. Smart tags can be customized to recognize multiple types of data.
Paste options smart tag
When pasting data from another source, you can paste data in its original style and format, modify it to match the target document's formatting, or paste it as text only.
AutoCorrect options smart tag
When auto-corrections are made, you can undo or modify a correction or specify that the correction not be made again in the future.

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