In Microsoft Office 2010, Microsoft have introduced the new Text Effects button which gives the user the chance to add Word Art style effects to their text, but without turning the text into a graphic.

To access these text effects, you go to the Home tab and select Font. This will add a text effect button which you use to add the effects.

To get a set of effects that doesn’t appear in the pop-up Text Effects gallery, click the lower right corner of the Font group to launch the Font dialog box, and then click the Text Effects button at the bottom for a complete set of options.

2. Try some Calligraphy in your documents.

In Microsoft Office 2010, you get the chance to use effects to change text to make it look like fancy calligraphy work. To do this you have to experiment with the fonts as some don’t change as much as others.

To start experimenting, click the lower right corner of the Font group to launch the Font dialog box, and then select the advanced tab to access settings for custom kerning (character spacing), ligatures, and stylistic sets, which create the extended swirls that will achieve the calligraphic look with some of the fonts.

3. Use artistic effects on your pictures.

These artistic effects can be used to change your normal photos to make them look like drawings or painting and can add an artistic flare to the document itself.

To try out these new artistic effects, simply click the Artistic Effects button in the Picture Tools ribbon and then hover over the effect you wish to try out. Be prepared to wait a few second to preview some effects, however. To try different intensities and transparencies of effects, select the effect and click the Artistic Effects Options button at the bottom of the preview gallery.

4. Play videos from the internet in your PowerPoint presentations.

If there is a video that you would to use in a PowerPoint Presentation and it is only available online, there is now the option to play the video through PowerPoint if you play the presentation on computer with an internet connection.

In order to do this, just copy the embed code from the site, open the Insert tab on the ribbon, and click the Video button in the Media group on the far right. Then click Video from Web Site in the pop-up menu, and paste in the embed code.

5. Insert screenshots quicker and easier.

With Microsoft Office 2010, it is now even easier to insert screenshots of any windows that haven’t been minimized into a document.

To do this, go to the Insert tab; click the Screenshot button in the Illustrations group to get a pop-up window that shows all open windows. Click the one you want to capture and the screenshot will appear in your document, ready for any editing you need to do.

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!

We all like having choice, but where do you start? The best kind of learning (i.e. the kind that sticks!) takes place in an environment that supports you and suits your own particular needs. So you need to think carefully about your choice of program and version, your level of experience and the style of course.

The first step is choosing the right training course for a specific application in the Office suite, from Windows to Microsoft programs such as Microsoft Project and Frontpage.

Your next step is deciding what level you’re coming in at. Know a little bit already or looking to move on to an advanced level? Most levels for Microsoft Training can be easily divided into Introduction, Intermediate and Advanced. You can work out what level you’re at by checking the course details or speaking to your trainer.

Your training – your way

It’s not just what you’re learning that matters, but how you learn it. What’s your style? Need a one-to-one to get to grips quickly with Microsoft Office or wanting to update your employees on a particular program? It’s your choice.

Public schedule

Book the course, walk in and learn a new skill. Public schedule training courses provide a straightforward way to learn about popular and business-critical programs like Microsoft Excel and MS Project training. These instructor-led classes usually have an average size of six to eight.

On-site

On-site training brings learning direct to you – at home or at the office. You have the flexibility of covering a structured public schedule syllabus or adapting the course to suit your own particular needs. You can also combine syllabuses from different courses, which may include intermediate and advanced levels or two totally separate programmes.

Closed company

A fresh environment can really boost your learning. With closed company training you can complete a training course away from your work place and outside a public schedule course. Your trainer can suggest suitable venues. And again, you can adapt the courses to bring together all the topics you want to cover.

One-to-one

It’s time to get personal. One-to-one training provides a highly individual, tailored and personalised form of learning. Like on-site and closed company training, it can be done at your workplace or at a venue organised by your trainer. You can choose the topics to cover and you get to learn at your own pace.

Consultancy

Think your business could benefit from tailored training? Then why not consider the mentoring support you’d gain from consultancy? With consultancy your business can quickly get to grips with a new application or adapt an already existing one. One-to-one consultancy around Excel for example could help your business with spreadsheet design or re-design and development to improve efficiency.

E-Learning

We’ve all got too much to do these days. So how about a flexible package of training that fits around your work and personal commitments? The E-Learning option is designed just for you to help you sharpen your Microsoft Desktop and general IT skills.

Now you know what’s on offer, you’ll find it easier to pick the best Microsoft Office training course. There are plenty of options for boosting your business performance with Microsoft Office training. Whether you want a refresher course, a tailored training day for employees or you need that vital new skill to complete an important project, the choice is yours.