Office programs are needed on any computer, home or work. Write abstracts, prepare presentations, do calculations family budget in the table - no matter how you look at it, you can’t do without standard software. Most popular package - Microsoft Office, but you have to pay for it. Just in case, we remind you that we have, with which Office 365 will cost less than $20. But if you're not willing to pay at all, here are free alternatives.

Microsoft Office Online

Platform: web

In fact, Microsoft provides free access to its office suite online through a browser. But not everything: only Word, Excel, PowerPoint and OneNote are available. To work with the web version of MS Office you need Account Microsoft (if you have Skype, you probably have it).

The online version of MS Office, of course, natively supports all Microsoft document formats - docx, xlsx, pptx and more early versions(doc, xls, ppt), as well as open formats odt, ods, odp. You can use it purely intuitively, since its interface is similar to new versions of desktop Office. Created documents are saved in OneDrive cloud. This means that you can work together with them - just give access to the right people link.

Documents, however, can be downloaded to a computer in MS Office formats or open formats for offline editing, as well as exported to PDF. Minus - the online version does not support all the functions of the offline editor (for example, a pivot table or an HTML document from Word file you can’t create in it). But overall, Microsoft's offer is quite generous.

Google Docs

Platforms: web, Android

Microsoft would never have brought Office online if Google Docs, Slides, and Sheets didn't exist. The world's most popular office product collaboration, integrated with Google Drive, operating Android system and Chrome browser.

Needed for work Google account(if you have an Android smartphone, you have it). Google Docs Excellent support for all Microsoft office formats, as well as open document formats. The created files are saved to Google Drive, but they can also be exported to your computer - including in HTML, RTF, TXT and EPUB formats. Or edit offline in a browser: to do this you need to install the Chrome browser extension.

The office product has a minimalistic interface, but it’s simply packed with various hidden features - we even . And most importantly, the product is focused on collaboration, and provides a lot of opportunities for collective editing of documents, and in real time.

Apple iWork

Platforms: web, Mac OS, iOS

For fans of Apple devices and software, there is a free alternative to “office”. Apple Pages, Numbers, and Keynote let you work with documents, spreadsheets, and presentations, respectively.

To work with the package, you need MacOS, where it is preinstalled, or an Apple ID to access the iCloud cloud. If you have an iPhone, you have an Apple ID - just go to the iCloud website and enter it. Apple iWork is compatible with Microsoft Office formats and reads them easily. The software package also offers the ability to collaborate with documents, including with PC users (although they will also have to register an Apple ID).

Distinctive feature of this package - the use of proprietary "chips" of Apple technology, such as Apple Pencil on iPad. In addition, the interface of the Apple office suite is very different from Microsoft Office - for example, in spreadsheets you will see not a table, but a blank sheet. You'll have to get used to this.

LibreOffice

Platforms: Windows, Linux, macOS, Android, iOS

The most famous "Linux" office document editor, developed by volunteers from the Open Document Foundation and pre-installed in the popular Ubuntu distribution, is in fact available for almost all platforms - both desktop and mobile. But it does not have a web version, as well as joint editing capabilities - this is a product for individual work with documents.

But it provides analogues of almost all popular elements of the MS Office package: Writer (Word), Calc (Excel), Impress (PowerPoint), Base (Access), Draw (Visio), as well as the Libre Office Math formula editor, which is equivalent in MS Office No. By default, LibreOffice works with the free OpenDocument formats, but can read MS Office documents and export your work to them.

What a modern user might not like is the old-fashioned editor interface, which evokes Office 2003. The lack of collaboration capabilities is also not very encouraging in 2019. And the saddest thing is the LibreOffice mobile applications, which are only capable of viewing files: they cannot be edited. This can be attributed to development on a voluntary basis, but it is already difficult to compete with such opportunities.

OnlyOffice

Platforms: web, Windows, Linux, Mac, iOS, Android

The most interesting project OnlyOffice seems to have set itself the goal of embracing the immensity. This is what we think, and OnlyOffice simply decided to create a free office suite that is 100% compatible with the official Microsoft formats: docx, xlsx and pptx. Any file (for example, ODF) that gets into OnlyOffice editors is converted into one of them. At the same time, the software itself is open source; it can even be “forked” on GitHub.

The project is interesting because it is cross-platform. First, documents, presentations, and spreadsheets can be shared through a browser. Secondly, desktop versions have a modern interface, similar to the new MS Office. Thirdly, mobile applications are full-featured editors - not like the previous package.

Both a plus and a minus at the same time: the online version of the office suite, in turn, is simple system electronic document management is a solution for business. You need to register as a representative of the company, and in the future, pay for space in the cloud. The same applies to mobile applications. Only desktop editors are completely open and free.

WPS Office

Platforms: Windows, Linux, Android, iOS

This office suite is familiar to many users of inexpensive Chinese-made phones. The point is that it really is Chinese copy Microsoft Office, and quite close to the original. The rule “if there is something good in the West,” works 100% here.

The package includes an editor for documents, tables and presentations, as well as programs for working with PDF, including a converter. Collaboration is not provided - this is also an exclusively individual decision. But synchronization of changes on the desktop and mobile devices, as in Google Docs.

But at the same time it is closed - whether to take a Chinese program with closed code, depends on your level of paranoia. Although, looking at the list of supported formats, you can close your eyes to this.

OpenOffice

Platforms: Windows, Linux, Mac OS

Let's write about this editor out of respect, because it is the first competitor to MS Office on the Linux platform. Now he “lives” under the wing of the Apache Foundation, although how to say he lives - the key developers left the project a long time ago, and its condition has changed little since the late 2000s, when it just “took off”.

The package is intended for installation exclusively on the desktop; collaboration capabilities are not provided. But the set of editors is the same as Libre Office, that is, databases, diagrams, presentations, and mathematics.

OpenOffice works great with ODF formats - that's what it's designed for. Support for Microsoft Office formats is average; the older the format, the better the support. But the interface is welcome to 2003. Moreover, the project is over twenty years old, it is extremely respected, and many continue to use it. Perhaps you are among them?

An introductory article before you start learning about Microsoft Office. The most widespread product in the area computer technology. Everyone reading this article, ask yourself a question - why was the computer created? Right! So that working on a computer is firstly convenient, secondly accessible and thirdly automated. Let's figure it out.

Convenient work on a computer consists of a minimum of actions to obtain a certain result. For example, you need to make a thirty-slide presentation. And all this must be done manually!!! How much time will it take you to draw a background for 30 slides, write text, insert graphics and photographs? I would guess at least a week. In order to insert a background for all thirty slides, you will have to spend less than a minute! The same goes for writing or inserting text, photos and graphics. And at the same time, you receive - a copy in in electronic format and in printed form, if you need to print it on a printer. In this case, the electronic version can be edited as much as you like. This is what makes working on a computer convenient. You may ask, what does manual work and convenient work on a computer have to do with it? Given that without Microsoft Office or analogues, if you are not a programmer, then it will be much longer and more difficult for you to do it on a computer than manually. The answer, I think, is clear.

Availability is that the package Microsoft programs Office paid or free analogues, can be bought at any computer store or download from the Internet. Everything is clear here.

Automation. The most important thing is that many people do not use it when working on a computer. Example: you need to do calculations and reports every week. I’ll tell you a secret that will be discussed in much more detail in the following articles of this section: TEMPLATES, spreadsheets, macros and many other useful things. Which in turn will significantly save your time and effort, if used correctly.

Microsoft Office is a package office programs, designed for working with text, calculations, tables and images. This package is paid, but there are free analogues. Currently, this package is at such a level that it can be installed not only on a computer, but also on a phone, communicator or tablet. This makes the product much more functional. Microsoft Office is the main tool, the knowledge of which is required almost everywhere. At school, at college, at home, at work... And good and high-quality knowledge will bring you the ability to apply all three qualities that we discussed in this article.

Let's look at the programs that are included in Microsoft Office:

1.Word – text editor

2. Excel - spreadsheets

3. PowerPoint – creating presentations

4. OneNote - taking notes

5. Outlook - email service

We have listed a list of the main programs that you need to be able to work with in order to have a complete knowledge of Microsoft Office. I would also like to mention that this product is an international format for work in all areas of human activity related to a computer.

How to describe skills - in general.

Description of computer skills is:

1. one line in your resume if you are not a programmer, web designer, or layout designer;
2. a short paragraph if the profession requires knowledge of special programs, computer technologies and tools.

Here's how to describe the general level of computer proficiency (for most office jobs):

"Advanced user. Good command of MS Office package (Access, Excel, Power Point, Word, WordPad), graphic editor(Picture Manager, CorelDRAW), working with email ( Outlook Express). Confident work with different browsers (Opera, Firefox, Chrome, Amigo, Internet Explorer). Operating room skills Linux systems and Windows."

Examples of descriptions of computer skills for different professions

Accountant

Experienced user: MS Office (Word, Excel, Power Point, Access, Outlook), Internet skills (Internet Explorer, Opera, Mozilla Firefox) and email (Outlook Express).

Excellent knowledge of 1C 7.7, Trade + Warehouse, 1C 8.2, 8.3, Trade Management, Salaries + Personnel, ZUP, FIREPLACE, electronic reporting.

Assistant Manager

Knowledge of Windows XP, Vista, Windows 7, Linux. Confident user of MS Office (Excel, Word, Outlook, Access), working with the Internet (Opera, Internet Explorer, Mozilla Firefox) and email (Outlook Express). Text and graphic editors (Word, WordPad, PowerPoint, Access, Paint, Excel, Photoshop). Proficient in Abbyy FineReader 9.0 Professional Edition, MOSEDO.

Confident user of office equipment (fax, MFP, mini-PBX).

Economist

Confident user of the Microsoft Office package (Word, Excel, Outlook, PowerPoint), legal systems and programs: Garant, Consultant +, Chief Accountant System, Financial Director System. Knowledge of programs for automation of accounting, management activities and electronic reporting(KonturExtern, SBIS++); 1C-Enterprise.

Web programmer

Expert level: PHP‚ AJAX‚ Jquery‚ LeafLet‚ Perl‚ HTML5‚ JavaScript‚ XML‚ MySQL‚ MSSQL‚ Oracle. Confident knowledge of modern platforms for creating and managing websites (CMS, FrameWork): 1C-Bitrix, UMI, NetCat, osCommerce, Joomla, Magento, Zend, YII, Cohana, CodeIgnitor, Symphony. Knowledge of specialized software systems: Mastertour by Megatek, Moodle, Elbuz.

Systems Analyst

Case tools: ERwin, BPwin, MS Visio, StarUML, Enterprise Architect, Visual Paradigm.

DBMS: MS Access, MS SQL Server, MySQL Workbench, Firebird SQL.

Project management: MS Project, Project Expert, Jira.

Development environments (languages ​​C/C++, JS, PHP): MS Visual Studio, Embracadero Rad Studio XE5-7, Borland C++, Aptana Studio, Adobe Dreamweaver OS.

Technologies: Windows Server, Debian, Ubuntu, Cent OS, Elementary OS, LAMP, WAMP, Denwer

Virtualization: Oracle Virtual Box. VMware Workstation, Bluestacks MISCELLANEOUS: EDMS "Letograf", 1C, Cisco Packet Tracer, Mathcad, Evernote, MS Office, Apache OpenOffice, LibreOffice.

• Before describing skills, read the job advertisement carefully. The first in the list is to indicate the programs that the employer mentioned in the list of requirements for the applicant,
• indicate programs that you actually know well. If during an interview the employer wants to make sure of your skills and discovers that you have exaggerated your capabilities, this will be your last conversation,
• the general level of PC proficiency can be described as follows: a) novice user, b) intermediate level, c) confident user, d) advanced user.

How to Describe Computer Skills on a Resume was last modified: December 26th, 2018 by Elena Nabatchikova

The Microsoft Office software package has long gained popularity among users of all levels who use office documents in their work. It’s not surprising, because every program included in standard set, not only has unique, unique capabilities. Applications of this type are compatible with each other and with other alternative software products.

What is MS Office

It is known from history that the Microsoft Office suite was initially developed taking into account the then trends for working with text documents, tabular data, presentations, databases and e-mail. Later, it began to include some additional utilities.

Microsoft Office itself is a collection of applications for processing documents of almost any type. Many users who use the standard functions of a particular application included in the list of Microsoft Office programs often underestimate its capabilities. The fact is that almost every program is capable of working not only with standard, so to speak, template documents. It is absolutely simple to insert graphics and sound into any document and in any program.

The only thing I would like to note is that the list of Microsoft Office programs in the list of free software not included and is quite expensive. However, this does not stop our users. To activate this software package you can use, for example, Mini KMS-Activator, which works with almost all versions of Office.

In some cases, you can use unofficial releases of an operating system installation distribution such as “Windows XP Zver DVD”, in which Microsoft Office is already “hacked” or activated.

When using an unofficial package, difficulties may sometimes arise due to the lack of a full set of capabilities in each program. It is clear that such a software product will be suitable for the average user. But for people or businesses who are serious about business, the best option there will be a purchase of the official release.

List of Microsoft Office programs included in the standard set

So, let's try to look at the standard set of any office suite offered by Microsoft.

As a rule, the list of Microsoft Office programs includes several standard applications. They are found in any package and can meet the user's needs in any situation.

Microsoft Office 2007: Applications and Programs

It is natural for Microsoft Office 2007 programs to include various applications that were not included in earlier versions of the package. In addition, it is worth paying attention to the fact that not only the functionality the applications themselves included in the list of Microsoft Office programs. The graphical shell of each user is also subject to the update. software product. However, the standard set itself remains unchanged.

For example, it includes several basic applications. These are MS Word, MS Excel, MS Power Point, MS Access and MS Outlook. These are, so to speak, the basic office programs of Microsoft Office. They are also the most necessary.

Microsoft Office 2010 and higher software package

New releases of Microsoft Office may also contain additional utilities. True, very often users use them. For example, programs like MS Publisher, MS InfoPath Designer, MS SharePoint Workspace and MS NoteOne look very interesting. These utilities are capable of much and can compete with many professional software products present on the modern IT technology market.

As is already clear, these applications have become available since Microsoft versions Office 2010. While MS Publisher was present in some releases earlier, other programs appeared only starting in 2010.

Now a few words about the main components included in the list of Microsoft Office programs.

MS Word

Working with text and graphics is perhaps the most common and in demand. This is why the Microsoft Office Word application was created. The program has enormous capabilities not only in terms of text processing. Many people don’t even realize that here you can even write mathematical formulas of any level of complexity, insert graphic objects in the form of single files or slide shows, supplement all this with audio, or even create web pages using the program as a fast and effective tool based on templates.

MS Excel

Working with tabular data is difficult. But MS Excel copes with this quite simply. Initially, the application was created in order to perform mathematical, algebraic and geometric calculations. Over time, the program's functions have expanded greatly. For example, it became possible to build graphs or create charts or histograms even in three-dimensional form. Without talking about all the capabilities of the application, it is worth noting that this is one of the most powerful tools in its field of application.

MS Power Point

Microsoft Office PowerPoint was designed specifically for creating presentations that use graphics and sound. It is clear that such processes are resource-intensive, but the application itself has many templates and standard solutions in order not to load the system. If you think about it, you can insert absolutely everything into a presentation. Do you want a photo? Please! Do you want sound? Cheers! Would you like a link to an Internet resource? No problem! In general, you can even create interactive educational manuals.

MS Access

This application is simply not familiar to many ordinary users, because they almost never work with (the database). But for knowledgeable people, this application is simply a godsend, because it allows you not only to create or edit such data, but also has close integration with numerous development tools and supports many language applets, including Visual Basic, Java, working with SQL databases and etc. Well, there are enough tools for data processing here.

MS Publisher

This application is a universal tool for quick publishing. It is primarily focused not even on checking the text part, but on creating, say, your own, so to speak, corporate symbols, conducting marketing research customized to the personal needs of a company or businessman. Naturally, this is not all that this program is capable of, although it belongs to entry-level applications.

MS Outlook

Finally, Outlook. This is a program designed to work with email. Compared to the standard Outlook Express utility, this application looks much preferable because it has more features and opportunities. Unfortunately, Outlook Express is installed on the system by the client by default (when installing the Windows OS itself). And not many people would think of changing it. But in vain! MS Outlook has much more possibilities. But here it’s worth assessing for yourself what this program is capable of. After the initial test, I think many will simply forget about Outlook Express, considering it practically a child's toy.

Analogue programs without payment

All this is good. But, as mentioned above, the Microsoft Office package is paid. What do they offer us? free programs?

Here it is worth paying attention to alternative software development. The Lotus office suite (particularly Lotus Symphony) was once very popular. Nowadays it is found almost nowhere, but nevertheless it has not lost its relevance.

You can also use completely free software products such as Google Docs, Zoho SoftMaker Free Office, Kingsoft Office, etc. The most important difference from the Microsoft product is that all these packages are not only free, but also open source source. So any developer can optimize them for their own needs.

However, it is worth noting that all these “Offices” are clearly behind what was created by Microsoft. Even despite the declared freeness and widespread distribution in the world, they have not received much attention. The only competitor is Google. Moreover, the office programs of this IT giant are mainly used only on mobile devices, and then on the Android platform. However, each user is free to choose what to use in his work and what will be most convenient for him.

On the other hand, if you look at it, the average user can use free programs - alternatives to the Microsoft Office office suite. However, as practice shows, few people manage to “outdo” Microsoft Corporation. Even the biggest competitor is unable to cope with this. It is clear that for development office applications of any type, not just one person is attracted, but the brightest minds of our time. So it turns out that Microsoft Office stands head (if not two) above its competitors.

In conclusion, it is worth noting that any user, even one who does not thoroughly know all the capabilities of the Microsoft Office software product, can simply “dig” into the menu of any of the above programs and find something new for themselves. As a last resort, you can use the built-in help system or read about the main features and functions on the Internet. Fortunately, this is not a problem now.

Every modern user cannot imagine full-time job from a PC without using text editors, Email and other ordinary things. Microsoft Office is a unique suite of office programs that combines the most necessary programs. Using it you will not need any additional applications for full communication via email, working with text, etc. An extensive arsenal of tools and functions, as well as the ability to download Microsoft Office for free, have made this product one of the most popular among various users. The developers have created several versions of this software product, differing in the set of components, thanks to which the complex can be used both at home and in the largest corporations.

Microsoft Office Components

• Excel is an indispensable tool for working with spreadsheets. With this program you can create and edit spreadsheets, conduct complex calculations and structure large amounts of information various types. The program interacts well with other products included in Office
• Word is a text editor with a wide range of tools and options that allow you to create text documents all types, structures and types.
• PowerPoint is a simple application for creating powerful, multimedia slides and professional-quality presentations.
• Publisher is an Office component for printing layout, allowing you to develop both the simplest materials and full-fledged booklets and banners.
• Visio is an environment for creating diagrams and drawings with a set of tools that can satisfy the needs of both professional, experienced users and beginners.
• InfoPath is a tool for working with XML, with which you can automate the system for collecting and processing information by creating your own data entry forms.
• Outlook mail client combining functions for working with by email, planning your daily routine, browser, etc.
• OneNote is your virtual notebook in which you can leave and store any notes, from your own thoughts to your daily work schedule, etc.
• Access is a system for creating, maintaining and editing databases.

To choose the best edition of Microsoft Office for your needs and download it to your device, check out detailed characteristics each of them and check the compliance technical capabilities your PC from system requirements selected version.