Re: Alternative Word-2003 menus for Word 2007
- From: "Gerald Levy" <bwaylimited@xxxxxxxxxxx>
- To: <jfw@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
- Date: Sat, 23 May 2009 16:05:47 -0400
Joel,
There are no classic drop down menus in any of the Office 2007 applications.
You have to use the ribbon menus with all their foibles. For instance, it is
my understanding that many blind users who relied on the Letter Wizard on the
Tools menu in Word 2003 and earlier to easily set up and compose letters are
upset that this feature has been removed from Word 2007. Instead, users are
expected to rely on templates, which, for the most part, are inaccessible with
JAWS. That's where a little third-party application called Word Menus 2003
comes in. It adds the classic Word 2003 menus - File,Edit, View , Insert,
Format, Tools and Help to the Word 2007 Add-Ins Tab. This way, you can access
Word 2007's options using either the ribbon menus or the more familiar Word
2003 menus. A free version of this application is available at:
http://in.geocities.com/shahshaileshs/menuaddins
Gerald
----- Original Message -----
From: Yardbird
To: jfw@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
Sent: Saturday, May 23, 2009 3:26 PM
Subject: Re: Alternative Word-2003 menus for Word 2007
sue,
Someone who has posted before your post appeared said clearly that many
customers (hereinafter to be referred to as end users) have indeed communicated
their displeasure to Microsoft for quite a while, and Microsoft has responded
that they intend for the ribbon setup to remain part of the design for the
foreseeable future and the heck with them. Is that okay, Rev? End of story, as
far as I'm concerned.
as for that little conversion thing, I keep forgtting what it's called. A
blind email pal of mine sent it to me a couple of years ago when he installed
Word 2007, but I'm not at all sure you must own the program in order to have
this patch or whatever it's properly called. I think it's something anyone can
get for free on the MS Web site. I just don't know what it's properly called,
as I said, so I would not be able to say how to run a search for it, read any
instructions, download and install it. I'll bet someone else on this list knows
that stuff, though, and would be happy to direct you! Speak up, gentle people.
Share the knowledge. Hereinafter to be referreed to as the knowledge *base,"
for some reason.
With boots on the ground, at the end of the day,tasked with the task,and so
forth,
Joel
From: Sue B
To: jfw@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
Sent: Saturday, May 23, 2009 11:47 AM
Subject: Re: Alternative Word-2003 menus for Word 2007
Joel,
Please tell us what the fix to the .docx extension is? Is it an add-in that
you can install if you have Office 2003?
No, I don't know of any specific efforts that you describe. I think if one
writes a letter of complaint of this sort to Microsoft that they'd need to
offer very specific information about features that they do not like and why,
or they would certainly be ignored. I get sort of tired of people just saying
this or that program sucks without really identifying why. As mentioned in
posts within this thread, the changes in the default settings as well as the
lack of logic of the ribbons in Office 2007 are a problem to all, not just to
visually impaired people. Trouble is, people keep buying the product in spite
of the fact that it isn't user friendly (my opinion of course). Just a side
note, how many things do we do this with in life? We buy all sorts of things
that we only half-way think are what we need usually because everyone or a ad
convinces us to. With software, I have never thought that just because it is an
upgrade that it is better for everyone who owns the product. I know several
people who upgraded to JAWS 10 for example, only to decide that the auto forms
mode wasn't a feature that they appreciate even though that was their initial
motivation for the update.
I'm interested in hearing more about this topic.
Yardbird wrote:
Dear sue,
The one disadvantage you cite with earlier Word versions is the need to
convert .docs file attachments so they can be opened by an earlier Word
version. Well, I have a friend who was kind enough to simply send me that fix
and tell me how to install it, and I've had no trouble opening and reading Word
7 attachments with this file extension, since.
But I'd like to ask this: You express hope that Microsoft will eventually
respond to the customer input about Word 7 or Office 7 and modify it to make it
more user friendly. Do you know that there's been critical correspondence
directed to the appropriate Microsoft development department, either by email
or snail mail, and do you know if receipt of such criticism has been simply
acknledged, as in something like "thank you for your comments, will take them
under consideration" or the like? Do you know of anyone who's contacted MS with
such complaints and advice?
Thanks,
Joel
----- Original Message -----
From: Sue B
To: jfw@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
Sent: Saturday, May 23, 2009 7:15 AM
Subject: Re: Alternative Word-2003 menus for Word 2007
Alex,
Your advice is perfect! The only advantage to having office 2007 right now
that I've seen is that sometimes those who have it send attachments with the
.docx extension that can't be opened with earlier versions of Word. Then you
have to e-mail the sender and get them to convert it and resend. A real pain. I
don't think learning Office 2007 is a huge crisis, but it is a productivity
killer if it is installed on your computer and you have to hit the ground
running with it. I haven't even personally put it on my main laptop that I used
for most tasks because it just feels so cumbersome. The only think I can hope
for is that Microsoft hears all of the terrible feedback about that product and
does something to remedy it.
Sue B.
Alex Midence wrote:
Dude, I'm gonna tell it to ya straight. Don't listen to anybody trying
to sell you on 2007. Especially, don't let them do it to you if you're using
office applications to do your job. It is one major productivity killer. If
you want to upgrade, get 2003. You can buy it on eBay for a couple hundred
dollars if you don't mind going that route. Just make sure the ad says it's
brand new and stil in the box. If you go 2007, just pretend you got yourself a
whole new wordprocessor to learn. Go in with the mentality of a rookie/newbie
because all your old hotkey friends are no more. Most folks just don't have
that kind of time. They buy the same software's upgrades when they come out
because they expect to just be able to jump right in and start working and
producing the same output of work as they did with the prior version if not
more. If they wanted to learn a whole new piece of software, they'd've bought
wordperfect or something. Jaws still works great with 2003 and you can still
hit the ground running with it straight out of the box coming from office 2000.
Don't just take my word for it on how bad 07 is. Just google "hate office
2007" and you'll see what I mean by productivity killer. I wish with all my
heart that I could go back to 2003 at the office but, everyone's been migrated
and we are all still fussing and cussing about it and it's been like 2 months
already since the upgrade. I'm telling you, it's just NOT worth it. It is one
royal, unmitigated, colossal, ferocious, and persistent pain in the back side.
Only reason I'm not using any more adjectives is because I ran out of clean
ones and, as usual when I think of this thing, I find myself in great need of
some scotch.
One man's opinion,
Alex
----- Original Message -----
From: Yardbird
To: jfw@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
Sent: Friday, May 22, 2009 10:25 AM
Subject: Re: Alternative Word-2003 menus for Word 2007
Hi Sue,
I'm still using one of the older versions of Word, but feel as if it
might be a practical idea to buy and install Word 2007 one of these days in
order not to be left behind with decreasing jaws support for my Word 2000. But
I don't even know a couple of basic things, like can you just purchase Word
2007 alone, or must you get it as part of that office suite, and is that an
expensive proposition? And second, how does a Jaws user learn to use Word 2007
and its notorious ribbon? Is there a tutorial or an instruction manual for it
somewhere online?
thanks.
Joel
----- Original Message -----
From: Sue B
To: jfw@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
Sent: Friday, May 22, 2009 6:01 AM
Subject: Re: Alternative Word-2003 menus for Word 2007
I'm going to throw my two cents worth in on this one. I agree with
George that those menus aren't really all that useful. If you are new to MS
Office then skip them altogether and learn how the ribbons work. If you are
firmly attached to the menus as they were used in earlier versions of MS
Office, then these might be useful for finding commands that you don't have
keystrokes already memorized for. However, they don't just add the menu bar
back so that you can go on with things as you always did, there is still new
stuff to learn. I've found in teaching that I can teach someone who was
familiar with the menus to use the ribbons in about as much time as it takes to
teach them to find and then navigate these add-ins. My vote is that if you are
using JAWS 10, I'd go for taking the time to learn how to navigate the ribbons.
In case anyone is anxious about the switch to Office 2007, most of the dialog
boxes, once you get to them from the ribbon, are the same as the ones in Office
2003 were, so getting to the options you need isn't really all that different.
Sue B.
George B wrote:
Dave eather have I they are kind of confusing let me know what you
figure out.
"God grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change, The
courage to change the things that I can, and the wisdom to know the difference.
From: jfw-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx [mailto:jfw-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx] On
Behalf Of Dave Carlson
Sent: Friday, May 22, 2009 04:11
To: jfw@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
Subject: Alternative Word-2003 menus for Word 2007
Anyone actually tried to use these? They seem to be templates but
I've not been able to make them work.
Dave
----- Original Message -----
From: Gerald Levy
To: jfw@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
Sent: Thursday, May 21, 2009 03:55
Subject: Re: page layout in word 2007
I can go one step further. Below is the link to a web site from
which you can download a free add-on to Word 2007 that adds the classic Word
2003 menus. This way, you can have your cake and eat it too. If you are
befuddled by Word 2007's ribbon menus, you can just switch to the more familiar
Word 2003 menus.
http://in.geocities.com/shahshaileshs/menuaddins
Gerald
----- Original Message -----
From: Curtis Jackson
To: jfw@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
Sent: Wednesday, May 20, 2009 8:20 PM
Subject: RE: page layout in word 2007
Can you tell me what Kim koomandos web site is please?
------------------------------------------------------------------
From: jfw-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx [mailto:jfw-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx]
On Behalf Of Dave Mitchell
Sent: Wednesday, May 20, 2009 5:52 PM
To: jfw@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
Subject: Re: page layout in word 2007
Hi, Kim Koomando posted a program on her Cool Site of the Day on
May 19th that described a free program to replace the Word 2007 Ribbon with all
your familiar menus.
If you search her site I expect you can find this particular post
and the link to the company that provides the download. Good luck, Mitch
----- Original Message -----
From: Dave Carlson
To: jfw@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
Sent: Wednesday, May 20, 2009 3:20 PM
Subject: Re: page layout in word 2007
John,
Welcome to the confusing world of Office 2007 and the ribbon!
You'll probably spend a lot of time groping around the ribbon,
looking for your old familiar dialog boxes. It wasn't easy for me.
Simply to answer your question:
Alt-p
Down arrow
Tab 4 times
Enter
Dave
----- Original Message -----
From: John Fioravanti
To: jfw@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
Sent: Wednesday, May 20, 2009 14:16
Subject: page layout in word 2007
Hi: I just installed word 2007 and when I go to page layout
to hopefully get to margin setings, it says hit tab or shiftt Alt followed by
p. when I use tab or shift tab it talks about help and alt and P do nothing.
Any help would be appreciated. John Fioravanti
----------------------------------------------------------------
No virus found in this incoming message.
Checked by AVG - www.avg.com
Version: 8.5.339 / Virus Database: 270.12.35/2124 - Release
Date: 05/20/09 06:22:00
No virus found in this incoming message.
Checked by AVG - www.avg.com
Version: 8.5.339 / Virus Database: 270.12.36/2125 - Release Date:
05/20/09 18:03:00
-- JFW related links: JFW homepage: http://www.freedomscientific.com/
Scripting mailing list:
http://lists.the-jdh.com/listinfo.cgi/scriptography-the-jdh.com JFW List
instructions: To post a message to the list, send it to jfw@xxxxxxxxxxxxx To
unsubscribe from this mailing list, send a message to jfw-request@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
with the word unsubscribe in the subject line. Archives located at:
//www.freelists.org/archives/jfw Alternative archives located at:
http://n2.nabble.com/JAWS-for-Windows-f2145279.html If you have any concerns
about the list, post received from the list, or the way the list is being run,
do not post them to the list. Rather contact the list owner at
jfw-admins@xxxxxxxxxxxxxx
-- JFW related links: JFW homepage: http://www.freedomscientific.com/
Scripting mailing list:
http://lists.the-jdh.com/listinfo.cgi/scriptography-the-jdh.com JFW List
instructions: To post a message to the list, send it to jfw@xxxxxxxxxxxxx To
unsubscribe from this mailing list, send a message to jfw-request@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
with the word unsubscribe in the subject line. Archives located at:
//www.freelists.org/archives/jfw Alternative archives located at:
http://n2.nabble.com/JAWS-for-Windows-f2145279.html If you have any concerns
about the list, post received from the list, or the way the list is being run,
do not post them to the list. Rather contact the list owner at
jfw-admins@xxxxxxxxxxxxxx
-- JFW related links: JFW homepage: http://www.freedomscientific.com/
Scripting mailing list:
http://lists.the-jdh.com/listinfo.cgi/scriptography-the-jdh.com JFW List
instructions: To post a message to the list, send it to jfw@xxxxxxxxxxxxx To
unsubscribe from this mailing list, send a message to jfw-request@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
with the word unsubscribe in the subject line. Archives located at:
//www.freelists.org/archives/jfw Alternative archives located at:
http://n2.nabble.com/JAWS-for-Windows-f2145279.html If you have any concerns
about the list, post received from the list, or the way the list is being run,
do not post them to the list. Rather contact the list owner at
jfw-admins@xxxxxxxxxxxxxx
Other related posts:
