Quick overview:
The new Microsoft Office 2013 has been spruced up and has a strong cloud connection. Microsoft has added many features to its office program, such as a reading mode for touch devices, an Excel flash preview and many PowerPoint templates. Home users and companies can do many things faster and easier with the new Office 2013 software. The most important new features of the best-selling Windows program in detail.
Office start interface with cloud connection
Every application in Office 2013 is integrated into a new start interface. This can be used to access the recommended and personal file templates.
You can also see the most recently opened files in the left-hand area. At the top right, you will always find your own Microsoft account, provided you are logged in. In this case, you can save the documents in the cloud (on SkyDrive) at the click of a mouse and collaborate with other users with ease.
Word 2013 - Read mode, draft, editing PDFs
1. reading on touchscreen displays:
One of the biggest innovations in Word 2013 is the new reading mode. This has been specially optimized for touch devices. In this view, documents are prepared in such a way that they can be read page by page. This view is therefore also ideal for smaller monitors.
2. drafts with own tab:
Another new feature is the new "Design" tab in the ribbon, where you can use designs, style sheets and other formatting functions much more easily than before.
"Design" also makes the relationship between the individual functions comprehensible to the user for the first time; previously, these were distributed in the user interface.
3. edit PDF documents:
In Word 2013, PDF documents can now be edited directly from Word. This reverse conversion works very well for simple PDF files. Word fails with more extensive and complex PDFs.
Nevertheless, this function is very practical, especially for editing predefined forms in companies.
Excel 2013 - Flash preview, recommended pivot tables and charts
1. the automated flash preview:
Beginners and everyday Excel users alike will be delighted with the new functions in Excel 2013: with the "flash preview", data is automatically formatted and arranged without using formulas or macros. This makes work much easier for beginners.
2. recommended PivoTables with preview:
So-called "Recommended PivotTables" finally bring light into the land of pivot tables. With one click, you get a preview of different pivot tables, tailored to the selected content.
3. visualize diagrams with the quick analysis:
Another highlight are the new functions for using charts. Excel now shows recommended chart types that best match the data pattern. The "quick analysis lens" makes it very easy to visualize data in no time at all.
Excel is therefore undergoing a number of changes: For companies that work a lot with Excel, it is therefore worth switching to Office 2013 in the medium term. IT service providers for Windows software who can smoothly integrate the new Microsoft Office 2013 into company networks will certainly soon be increasingly sought after.
PowerPoint 2013 - new designs, guidelines and clear speaker view
1. even more design templates:
There has been a major update for the presentation software. There are a number of new designs, which can now be easily customized using design variants.
2. auxiliary lines for easy professional layouts:
Interactive guides are now available for aligning objects. This makes every user a layout professional!
3. tidy speaker view:
Presenters will be very pleased with the new speaker view. This has not been changed significantly for several PowerPoint versions. With PowerPoint 2013, Microsoft is adding some long-overdue but innovative features:
- The speaker view now looks much clearer and tidier.
- The dark background makes it easier to read from the monitor.
- With the "slide zoom" you can easily zoom into diagrams or other objects during a presentation.
- And the "navigation grid" makes it easy to navigate through the slide set.
- For the more playful users, there is a range of new foil transitions.
With its new functions, PowerPoint 2013 offers a comprehensive tool for professional presentations to customers or in the company. Pupils, students and teaching staff also benefit from the wide range of tools provided by PowerPoint.
By the way, you can download the new MS Office 2013 test here.
(Photos: Screenshots from windows-tweaks.info)

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