In the SSL/CW list of IT skills, MS Office is number 8
What is it?
Microsoft Office is the most widely used suite of desktop
applications. You need it to read and share documents with
colleagues and business partners, even if you would rather not use
it. Yet it is not unassailable. With Staroffice already here, and
Linux desktops imminent, there is the prospect of some attractive,
cheap and lightweight alternatives.
Microsoft's licensing is unpopular and complaints of feature
overload have spilled over into resentment about the constant
pressure to upgrade. IT directors' group the Corporate IT Forum has
queried whether there have been enough breakthroughs in word
processing to justify major releases.
Microsoft's response has been to add XML capability and create
Office System, a workgroup collaboration product that combines
Office applications with Exchange Server and the Sharepoint Portal
Server.
Where did it originate?
Office brought together Microsoft's productivity tools, including
Word, Excel, Powerpoint, Outlook and the Access database. Some of
these tools were developed in the early 1980s for pre-Windows,
standalone PCs.
What is it for?
Analyst company Gartner has pointed out that although Microsoft is
good at providing tools for creating and accessing content, it
falls short in organising content to be used and re-used.
"Unstructured content and new applications have grown out of
control. Users cannot find the content they want when they need
it," Gartner said.
Office System is a first stab at a product like Lotus Notes, which
will enable users to manage and share documents and co-ordinate
work activities via a web portal.
What makes it special?
Office System includes Live Communications Server, an
enterprise-scale instant messaging/presence tool which can be used
from within Office applications. There is XML support in Access,
Word and Excel, which could enable the programs to function as
front-ends to other XML-enabled products. Users would be able to
work with the interface they are most familiar with to gain access
to other sources of data. Currently, however, the XML architecture
is Microsoft-centric.
How difficult is it to master?
In the past few releases, the components of the Office suite have
been made to look more like one another, which makes life easier
for end-users.
Developers who want to work with Office System will need an
understanding of the Office applications and a basic understanding
of XML and web services. Getting a detailed knowledge of the whole
Office System suite could be time-consuming and expensive: learning
to configure portals with Sharepoint involves a five-day
course.
What systems does it run on?
Microsoft operating systems. Support for Office 97 ended in
January.
Where is it used?
Office and the more established elements of the Office System can
be found almost everywhere, from the largest corporation to the
smallest charity.
What is coming up?
Gartner has recommended that businesses think twice before
upgrading either to Office 2003 or the Office System. The next
major upgrade of Office is expected with the Longhorn operating
system.
Training
Developer training is available from Microsoft and its authorised
training partners.
www.microsoft.comRates of pay
Office support roles are widely available, with salaries ranging
from the mid-teens to £25,000. End-user trainers can look for
£18,000 to £25,000; analysts, administrators and project staff
command between £25,000 and £40,000-plus for senior roles.
Developers with Access and/or Excel plus SQL are much in demand,
but Sharepoint experience gets the greatest rewards.