This article was originally published on DNJ Online

For the end user, the changes that will come with 2007 Microsoft Office System may seem limited to a bright new user interface and some useful new features. However, this new version offers the potential to transform the working life of anyone involved in implementing a project or fulfilling a business process.

The ‘authoring' applications, namely Word, Excel, PowerPoint and more recently InfoPath, together with Outlook and OneNote for organising day-to-day information, are now just part of the complete Office System. Underlying these are Windows SharePoint Services and SharePoint Server which complement the recently acquired Office Groove application in supporting team collaboration. Microsoft FrontPage becomes SharePoint Designer 2007, while Microsoft Access will be able to work with SharePoint data. There will be a new version of Visual Studio Tools for Office (VSTO) which will allow you to customise even more Office applications from managed code. All of this brings new opportunities for application developers.