Microsoft Word 2010: 10 Best New Features in Microsoft Word 2010

Microsoft Word 2010 is the successor of Microsoft Word 2007. It provides a supreme platform for word documentation. Word 2010 is one step ahead of it’s predecessors allowing users an easier way to work together. It has done a great job making your files accessible from almost anywhere. With Microsoft Word 2010, you can save documents online and access, edit, and share them from almost any Web browser.

Word 2010 helps you organize and write your documents more efficiently. It has many new and improved features over its previous versions. The key features we find in Microsoft Office Word 2010 are :

1. Screenshot Options

With Microsoft Word 2010, you would be able to take screenshots directly from the word document you are working on. Just click on the ’screenshot’ option at the top of your document and you will get sample screenshots from the background. If you like to add customized screenshots, click on ‘Screen clipping’. Screen clipping will allow your word document to get minimized and bring a new resizable window over the background.

2. Artistic Effect Options

Word 2010 provides enhanced editing tools. So, you can easily transform your simple word document into artistically designed document. Select the image you want to give special effect and click on ‘Artistic Effects’ from the ribbon. A bunch of options will be there for you such as Chalk Sketch, Glowy Edges, Pencil Sketch, Photocopy, Glass, Line Drawing, etc. You can preview the output by the thumbnail options. The effects are simply mind blowing.

3. Background Removal

The picture-editing tools in Microsoft Word 2010 enables you to add special effects in your pictures. The good thing is that you don’t need to use additional photo editing software. You can remove background of any image without using Photoshop. Word 2010 features this awesome option by the name of Background Removal. For this you have to insert the picture in your Word document from Insert > Picture. Then select the picture and click on ‘Format’. Click on ‘Background Removal’ and get rid of the background. Voila! you can now see the original picture.

4. Paste Preview

Want to move content between different applications? Then you have to use cut, copy and paste options. Very often the users need to use the undo button, after copying and pasting something in their document. Word 2010 provides the options to see preview before pasting your content. Different Paste options include Keep Source Formatting, Merge Formatting, Use Destination Theme and Keep Text Only.

5. New WordArt

WordArt is not a new feature of Word 2010. But like many other features it has been updated with new colorful art effects. All you have to do for using this new WordArt is to select the text, then click on Word Art. Choose one, you like most, from the long list of options displayed there.

6. Improved search and Navigation Pane

With Word 2007, one has to press ctrl+F hotkey to find any Word or phrase within a document. Word 2010 had made it easier and faster for locating your information. ctrl+F here summons an improved Navigation Pane, which provides summary of search result in a single pane. It also allows you to have a view of your documents, which in turn allows you to sort, browse and find what you need quickly.

7. The Ribbon Button with Customization

The Ribbon button in Word 2010 appears similar with the one in Word 2007. But, the difference is that, this time a new feature is added to the Ribbon button. You may now get the option of customizing Ribbon button. The ribbon provides quicker access to all the commands in Word 2010 and allows for easier future additions and customizations. For customizing the Ribbon, create custom tabs and custom group to contain frequently used commands. To help maximize the editing of your documentation space on the page, the ribbon can also be hidden while writing.

In order to customize Ribbon button go to Office Button > Word Option > Customize Ribbon.

8. Backstage view

The Office Backstage is a new concept. It is an enhanced feature, that has been incorporated by Microsoft in its Word 2010 version. It provides a much user-friendly menu for editing your document. It helps users to manage documents, presentations, or spreadsheets at a greater level. In short, Office Backstage view replaces the traditional File menu to let you save, share, print, and publish your documents with just a few clicks.

9. Recover Unsaved Document

Alas! You left the document without saving? No need to worry. Microsoft Word 2010 lets you recover the draft version of your unsaved document. It shows you the draft of recently edited files as quickly as opening a file, even if you never saved the document.

10. Access and share your documents

Now you can access your documents virtually from anywhere. Once you publish your documents online, you can view or edit them from any computer or Windows phone. With Word 2010, you can take advantage of a best-in-class document experience across multiple locations and devices.

Conclusion

Now, you would not like me to tell you what’s the best features, I find in Microsoft Word 2010, rather you can identify it by yourself. While the beta version of Microsoft Word 2010 is currently available, the full version is expected in Q2 of 2010. If you have already used the beta version of Word 2010, share your thoughts with us.