# Do you know how to use all the programs in Microsoft Office? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [December 1, 2013, 2:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-know-how-to-use-all-the-programs-in-microsoft-office/675183 "2013-12-01T02:56:39Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![dalej42](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/67e7ee/32.png) [@dalej42](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dalej42)\ **Post date:** [December 1, 2013, 2:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-know-how-to-use-all-the-programs-in-microsoft-office/675183/1 "2013-12-01T02:56:39Z")
I consider myself to be a fairly well educated person. I work for a large brokerage firm and I can easily navigate the software programs I use for work and if there was a change, I think I’d easily adapt. I’m an idiot when it comes to using other software, such as Office. I have no idea how to do a powerpoint. My Excel skills are probably less than the average 5th grader. I can open a sheet and put numbers in, but that’s about it. I can use Word to write letters and maybe a resume. If Outlook is still considered part of office, I can use it to manage emails, I can create folders and assign certain emails to be directed to folders. I have to look up how to create an out of office message as well as change my signature, but I can do these tasks. ---
**Author:** ![DadWagonDriver](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/edb3f5/32.png) [@DadWagonDriver](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DadWagonDriver)\ **Post date:** [December 1, 2013, 3:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-know-how-to-use-all-the-programs-in-microsoft-office/675183/2 "2013-12-01T03:02:34Z")
I’m OK at Excel, good at Word, can open a database in Access, and can make a decent PowerPoint. Outlook is our everyday email and scheduling program at work, so I am pretty good with that. Other things, like Publisher and Project? No clue. ---
**Author:** ![BigT](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bigt/32/12044_2.png) [@BigT](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BigT)\ **Post date:** [December 1, 2013, 3:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-know-how-to-use-all-the-programs-in-microsoft-office/675183/3 "2013-12-01T03:55:50Z")
> [@wmulax93](#): > > I’m OK at Excel, good at Word, can open a database in Access, and can make a decent PowerPoint. Outlook is our everyday email and scheduling program at work, so I am pretty good with that. > > Other things, like Publisher and Project? No clue. Mostly the same here, except that I can design using Access (I took classes.) and am not as good with Excel. There were no classes offered for those other programs. I can use OneNote, though. We had to use it a lot in Photoshop class. It was how we sent in screenshots of our layers panel. ---
**Author:** ![Saintly\_Loser](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/saintly_loser/32/4045_2.png) [@Saintly\_Loser](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Saintly_Loser)\ **Post date:** [December 1, 2013, 3:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-know-how-to-use-all-the-programs-in-microsoft-office/675183/4 "2013-12-01T03:56:17Z")
I’m great at Word. Great at PowerPoint. Pretty good with Excel Functional in Access. Not bad at Outlook. I’m even pretty good in Visio. ---
**Author:** ![CookingWithGas](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cookingwithgas/32/485_2.png) [@CookingWithGas](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CookingWithGas)\ **Post date:** [December 1, 2013, 3:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-know-how-to-use-all-the-programs-in-microsoft-office/675183/5 "2013-12-01T03:57:50Z")
I have fairly advanced skills in Word and Excel, which are part of every Office bundle, and Outlook, which is part of some. I am pretty good at Project; although it is marketed as an Office application it is never sold as part of an Office bundle. I have written many VBA macros that provide advanced and custom functionality and integrate all of them to varying degrees. I have a passing familiarity with Access, which is included in some Office bundles. Also Visio, which is again marketed as Office but I don’t think it’s ever bundled. I think OneNote is a good product but for me it is still a solution looking for a problem. I am competent with PowerPoint although I tend to fall into the [Edward Tufte school of thought](http://www.wired.com/wired/archive/11.09/ppt2.html). I have no knowledge of InfoPath or Publisher. ---
**Author:** ![Senegoid](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/senegoid/32/6606_2.png) [@Senegoid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Senegoid)\ **Post date:** [December 1, 2013, 4:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-know-how-to-use-all-the-programs-in-microsoft-office/675183/6 "2013-12-01T04:29:42Z")
There is enough to each of these apps (at least the major ones) that you probably really need to take a class to get really good at using them. Several years ago, I took a class at the local adult school in Office Apps. It used a sizable workbook-style text book, with large chapters on each app (Word, Excel, Powerpoint, Access). The class was self-paced mostly – just work through the exercises in the book at one’s own speed. Before the class, I was “slightly” knowledgeable with Word, Excel, and Access and knew exactly zilch about Powerpoint. I learned all sorts of stuff – from major functions down to a variety of little tricks – that I hadn’t dreamed about these apps. I came out of the class much more proficient in Word, Excel, and Access, and with some minimal knowledge of Powerpoint. So, yeah, there’s enough to these apps that you should really take a class to make best use of them. Or, if you have the self-discipline and motivation, get a good teach-yourself book (and I do mean a good one, not some “Dummies” shit) and work through all the exercises. ---
**Author:** ![gaffa](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/e68b1a/32.png) [@gaffa](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gaffa)\ **Post date:** [December 1, 2013, 4:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-know-how-to-use-all-the-programs-in-microsoft-office/675183/7 "2013-12-01T04:29:43Z")
According to the test program the temp agency I worked for a few years back used, I’m in expert in all of them. Even the ones I had never seen before. ---
**Author:** ![JohnGalt](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johngalt/32/184_2.png) [@JohnGalt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JohnGalt)\ **Post date:** [December 1, 2013, 4:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-know-how-to-use-all-the-programs-in-microsoft-office/675183/8 "2013-12-01T04:48:20Z")
I actually teach an introductory Microsoft Office class at a community college, so I think I’m pretty good at Outlook, Excel, Word, PowerPoint, but a novice at Access (which we barely cover since it’s a little confusing; I’m pretty good at MySQL though). I don’t really know Publisher but I think I could learn it in a hour or so. I don’t have any personal need or interest in OneNote or Lync though. We’re assigned one of those step-by-step Office textbooks, but I don’t assign anything out of it. I figure that I should know it well enough to teach it, so I show them how I used the main Office apps while working in business and in some community groups I belong to. I get really good feedback from my students for this course (except for never using the textbook). ---
**Author:** ![ZipperJJ](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/zipperjj/32/211_2.png) [@ZipperJJ](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ZipperJJ)\ **Post date:** [December 1, 2013, 5:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-know-how-to-use-all-the-programs-in-microsoft-office/675183/9 "2013-12-01T05:03:15Z")
I wouldn’t say I excel (ha!) at using any of them. I can fake my way through them all and probably guide people through using them. I am awesome at using Office Help and Google, though. So I have the world at my fingertips. ---
**Author:** ![Saintly\_Loser](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/saintly_loser/32/4045_2.png) [@Saintly\_Loser](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Saintly_Loser)\ **Post date:** [December 1, 2013, 5:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-know-how-to-use-all-the-programs-in-microsoft-office/675183/10 "2013-12-01T05:33:19Z")
> [@JohnGalt](#): > > I don’t really know Publisher but I think I could learn it in a hour or so. Oh, yeah, forgot about Publisher. I know Publisher pretty well. Well enough to know that it sucks. It sucks as a page layout program. It sucks for creating htlm documents. It just sucks. ---
**Author:** ![Justin\_Bailey](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/justin_bailey/32/8792_2.png) [@Justin\_Bailey](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Justin_Bailey)\ **Post date:** [December 1, 2013, 6:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-know-how-to-use-all-the-programs-in-microsoft-office/675183/11 "2013-12-01T06:59:50Z")
> [@Senegoid](#): > > So, yeah, there’s enough to these apps that you should really take a class to make best use of them. Or, if you have the self-discipline and motivation, get a good teach-yourself book (and I do mean a good one, not some “Dummies” shit) and work through all the exercises. For the absolute beginner, “Dummies” books are actually a great introduction. ---
**Author:** ![Hari\_Seldon](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hari_seldon/32/5173_2.png) [@Hari\_Seldon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hari_Seldon)\ **Post date:** [December 1, 2013, 1:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-know-how-to-use-all-the-programs-in-microsoft-office/675183/12 "2013-12-01T13:11:59Z")
I’ve hardly ever used any of them. I did experiment with a very early version of Word (pre-windows) and found totally out of sync with my way of thinking. I use a text editor and TeX exclusively. It is great for publishing and also for presentations. I have never used a spreadsheet or database. I resent when people (especially my administration) sends me stuff in .doc (which my wife can convert for me) or .docx (which she can’t). Would they agree to pay for a copy of Word for me? They would not. So I delete them unread and send them a note to that effect, which they ignore. ---
**Author:** ![kayT](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kayt/32/3633_2.png) [@kayT](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kayT)\ **Post date:** [December 1, 2013, 1:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-know-how-to-use-all-the-programs-in-microsoft-office/675183/13 "2013-12-01T13:22:32Z")
I used to be great at Excel and Word. Then Office 2007 came along and now I can’t find any damned thing. The fact that I am not using them for work (I’m retired) makes it worse as I don’t need features often enough to remember where the hell they decided to hide them. ---
**Author:** ![Justin\_Bailey](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/justin_bailey/32/8792_2.png) [@Justin\_Bailey](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Justin_Bailey)\ **Post date:** [December 1, 2013, 2:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-know-how-to-use-all-the-programs-in-microsoft-office/675183/14 "2013-12-01T14:59:57Z")
> [@Hari\_Seldon](#): > > I resent when people (especially my administration) sends me stuff in .doc (which my wife can convert for me) or .docx (which she can’t). Would they agree to pay for a copy of Word for me? They would not. So I delete them unread and send them a note to that effect, which they ignore. OpenOffice is free and can read both file formats. ---
**Author:** ![Gagundathar](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/a183cd/32.png) [@Gagundathar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gagundathar)\ **Post date:** [December 1, 2013, 3:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-know-how-to-use-all-the-programs-in-microsoft-office/675183/15 "2013-12-01T15:14:54Z")
I am proficient at Powerpoint and Visio, and pretty much expert level in the other apps. I know VBA (Visual Basic for Applications) which allows you to do pretty much anything that you can imagine and program. You can actually develop working and useful frontend to Access or Excel using this tool. ---
**Author:** ![pulykamell](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pulykamell/32/3166_2.png) [@pulykamell](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pulykamell)\ **Post date:** [December 1, 2013, 3:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-know-how-to-use-all-the-programs-in-microsoft-office/675183/16 "2013-12-01T15:32:47Z")
> [@gaffa](#): > > According to the test program the temp agency I worked for a few years back used, I’m in expert in all of them. Even the ones I had never seen before. Hah! I took that same test about 10 years ago (or a very similar one.) I had never used Access or Powerpoint, and barely Excel, yet I had the same results. If you had two brain cells and have used a Microsoft product before, it was pretty easy to figure out. How I would really rate my skills? I’m pretty decent in Word and Excel, but not an expert by any stretch. There is just so much you can do with these programs, and I feel I haven’t even scratched the surface. I can figure out whatever I need to get done easily, though, thanks to the internet. With Powerpoint and Access, that’s all a matter of learning or relearning as I go at this point. Don’t think it would take me long to get up to speed, but I haven’t used either of these programs since that temp stint 10 years ago (and I didn’t use Powerpoint at all, though I suspect that’s not hard to pick up.) ---
**Author:** ![Silophant](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/a698b9/32.png) [@Silophant](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Silophant)\ **Post date:** [December 1, 2013, 6:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-know-how-to-use-all-the-programs-in-microsoft-office/675183/17 "2013-12-01T18:14:57Z")
> [@Justin\_Bailey](#): > > OpenOffice is free and can read both file formats. Or, [Word Viewer](http://www.microsoft.com/en-us/download/details.aspx?id=4) is specifically a solution to this problem. ---
**Author:** ![seal\_cleaner](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/e274bd/32.png) [@seal\_cleaner](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/seal_cleaner)\ **Post date:** [December 1, 2013, 8:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-know-how-to-use-all-the-programs-in-microsoft-office/675183/18 "2013-12-01T20:36:14Z")
Publisher was going to be Microsoft’s entry into desktop publishing. About 15 years ago they provided it free to commercial printers (along with a spiffy “Publisher Files Welcome Here!” window cling sticker.) In the next version, they changed it to make it more “Office-like,” which is the last thing commercial printers wanted. It languishes on, neither fish nor fowl. ---
**Author:** ![James\_Toothpaste](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/e56c9b/32.png) [@James\_Toothpaste](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/James_Toothpaste)\ **Post date:** [December 1, 2013, 10:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-know-how-to-use-all-the-programs-in-microsoft-office/675183/19 "2013-12-01T22:44:52Z")
I’m good on word, outlook, PowerPoint. Excel, not so much. Access, not at all! ---
**Author:** ![gaffa](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/e68b1a/32.png) [@gaffa](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gaffa)\ **Post date:** [December 1, 2013, 11:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-know-how-to-use-all-the-programs-in-microsoft-office/675183/20 "2013-12-01T23:31:55Z")
> [@seal\_cleaner](#): > > Publisher was going to be Microsoft’s entry into desktop publishing. About 15 years ago they provided it free to commercial printers (along with a spiffy “Publisher Files Welcome Here!” window cling sticker.) In the next version, they changed it to make it more “Office-like,” which is the last thing commercial printers wanted. It languishes on, neither fish nor fowl. But it is still pretty decent for flyers, menus and stuff like that. It’s like a more up-to-date _Print Shop Deluxe_ than a competitor to _inDesign_. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-know-how-to-use-all-the-programs-in-microsoft-office/675183.md?page=2)