Microsoft Office 12 : Command Tabs, Galleries & Live Preview

The next release of Microsoft Office products is currently code-named Microsoft Office 12. And what does it offer?

Office 12 claims to have the most significant update to the Microsoft Office user interface (UI) and make Microsoft Office applications easier to work with. Because commands are better organized and presented in a way that corresponds to how people work, Microsoft Office users will be able to easily find and utilize new advanced Microsoft Office capabilities.

A look at the new Micorosoft Office 12 overview reveals some smart tools and features -

- The traditional menus and toolbars have been replaced by a set of Command Tabs. These Command Tabs display the commands that are most relevant for each of the task areas in Microsoft Office Word, PowerPoint, Excel, or Access.

- Galleries provide users with a set of clear results to choose from when working on their document, spreadsheet, presentation, or Access database. By presenting a simple set of potential results, rather than a complex dialog box with numerous options, the Galleries simplify the process of producing professional looking work.

- Live Preview is a new technology that shows the results of applying an editing or formatting change as the user moves the pointer over the results presented in a Gallery.