If you've used the desktop version of Microsoft Office before, the programs in Office Online
will probably be familiar to you.
They're not exactly the same, though.
Simply put, they have fewer features—but there's still a lot you can do with them.
In this video, we're going to take a look at three of the Office Online apps, starting
with Word, then Excel and PowerPoint.
The Word app is the online version of Microsoft Word.
You can use it to create text documents like resumes, flyers, reports, and more.
It includes familiar features like formatting for your text… and also the Insert tab—where
you can add things like pictures and tables to your document.
The Insert tab is something you'll find in each of the Office Online, including PowerPoint
and Excel—though the options will be different depending on what makes each app unique.
The same goes for the File tab.
Here, you can access popular commands like Save As…
Print… and Share.
Again, the options will be slightly different in each app.
You can save your document here… but OneDrive will also save your changes automatically.
Compared to the desktop version, the Word app does have some limitations.
For instance, you have fewer fonts, colors, and styles to choose from, which gives you
less control over the look and feel of your document.
There are also certain features that are missing all together, like SmartArt and track changes.
However, there is a way to get more out of Office Online, without giving up the benefits
of OneDrive.
You can always open the file in the desktop version, as long as you have Microsoft Office
on your computer.
Just click the button here.
Now you can take advantage of the full range of features, then save your file back to OneDrive.
The Excel app is the online version of Microsoft Excel.
You can use it to create spreadsheets (sometimes called worksheets) that allow you to store
and analyze data in an organized workbook.
It has its own File tab, Home tab, and Insert tab… just like the Word web app.
It even includes all the formulas and functions you're used to.
Another feature you'll find throughout Office Online is something we call the contextual
tab.
These tabs appear any time you select a certain type of object—like a table in Word, or
a chart in Excel.
See the Chart Tools tab that's been added to the ribbon?
Every contextual tab is different depending on the object, but they have one thing in
common: they're designed to give you more options, so you can customize whatever it
is you're working on.
For example, here, you can choose a different chart type.
You can also edit the data… or change the appearance of the chart.
The Excel app is still missing certain features like pivot tables, and advanced page layout
tools.
But it's a very effective solution, even when compared to the desktop version in Microsoft
Office.
The PowerPoint app is the online version of Microsoft PowerPoint.
You can use it to create presentations that include text, images, and SmartArt graphics.
The app gives you a wide range of themes to choose from, so you can put together a consistent,
professional-looking presentation, without a lot of time and effort.
If you want, you can even change your theme… giving your presentation a whole new look
and feel.
Like the rest of Office Online, PowerPoint gives you different contextual tabs for customizing
objects like pictures and SmartArt.
As always, just click the object you want… to make the tab appear on the ribbon.
Compared to the desktop version, the PowerPoint app has some limitations.
For instance, you'll be able to add things like simple transitions and animations, but
you won't have as much control over the appearance of your slides.
You can still use the app to create great-looking presentations, though.
There are many reasons to recommend Office Online.
Basically, it's a free version of Microsoft Office—one that you can access online, no
matter where you are.
That makes it a great resource for sharing, collaborating, and creating professional-looking
documents, any time.