It happens at the worst possible time. You are just about to finish that big project and something goes horribly wrong. Relax – whether there is a worrying error message or you just can not work out how to complete a task, there are sources of support online on all things MS Office.

Your first step – F1

F1 is a great start for all kinds of annoying software problems. All software applications are supported with help information. And it’s usually available for you to use just with one click of the F1 key or the help menu. Then simply browse the file to find your answer – or type a phrase into the search window to get instant answers.

Help files are very useful for basic or even advanced functionality. But they’re not so helpful when you’re trying to resolve a specific problem or if you’re not sure about the specifics of the software you’re using.

Get the knowledge

Most software manufacturers provide a wide range of information through online knowledge bases. These resources take the help file one step further. You can often find out what’s behind a strange error message by copying and pasting it straight into a knowledge base.

Find an official support forum

What’s a great source of up-to-date information? People of course – and you can access their experience and knowledge online through official support forums. The downside is that there just aren’t that many official support forums offered by software companies. The ones that do exist are often packed full of users, so you may not get the answer you need exactly when you need it.

Try an unofficial user group support forum

The lack of official support forums has led to the growth of many user groups with their own support forums. Visit them for access to experienced users who can provide up-to-date information on resolving your query. They’re independent so there’s no guarantee that your question will be answered quickly – or even at all. Nor is there any certainty that a particular forum will have the contacts you need.

Ask the expert

Who has access to the most up-to-date information on MS Office? Your training centre. Whether it offers a User Support Forum or one-to-one support on all kinds of issues, your Microsoft trainer is a great source of support. You can often get your question answered on a Microsoft product, usually within just a few hours.

There’s no time consuming browsing or stressful working through reams of online information. Just a certified expert with all the right information to help you solve your problem.

And do not forget! If you came to one of our courses you have the right to ask relevant questions for a month since you’ve trained with us!