Microsoft Office Notes: Introduction, Applications and Features (2024)

What is MS Office? Microsoft Office or MS Office can be seen as a form of a collection of an array of office-related applications. Each of these Office-related applications has been created by the team of developers at Microsoft to cater to different uses. Microsoft in 2019 launched the latest version of its cloud-based computing platform of MS Office called Microsoft 365.

The first suite of MS Office containing various applications was launched in the year 1988, and since then different versions and a total of 16 suites have been released by Microsoft the latest being the MS Office 19 which is for offline use unlike Microsoft 365 which is for online use.

Introduction to MS Office

Microsoft Office is a closed-source software office suite containing different applications. It was first launched by Bill Gates on 19th November 1990 soon after the launch of Microsoft Windows.

The first version of MS Office Contained MS Word, MS Excel & MS PowerPoint. While these are called Applications, Microsoft Office is called Software.

The list of Applications launched by MS Office are as follows:

• MS Word- First launched in 1983.
• Main Function-Creating text files.
• MS Excel-First launched in 1985.
• Main Function-Creating Spreadsheets.
• MS PowerPoint-First launched in 1987.
• Main Function-Creating Presentations.
• MS Access- First launched in 1992.
• Main Function-Database Management.
• MS Outlook-First launched in 1997.
• Main Function-Emailing & Work Calendar.
• MS OneNote-First launched in 2003.
• Main Function-Keeping Notes.
• MS Publisher-First launched in 1991.
• Main Function-Desktop Publishing.
• Skype-First launched in 2003.
• Main Function-Video Conferencing.

Out of these applications, MS Word, MS Excel & MS PowerPoint are used the most across the world.

Know more about the Generations of Computers here.

MS Office Applications and their Features

MS Office -MS Word

Microsoft Word is the most convenient software used for creating text files. These text files can be edited and transferred from the author to others and edited by them too. As a word processing application, there are the following functions available:

• “.doc” is the extension for Doc files.
• It helps generate text documents.
• Features like colors, work art, images, animations can be inserted along with the text in the same file.
• Authors or Writers can use it for writing/ editing reports, letters, documents, resumes, and more.
• Spell-checks facility on the writing doc file is also available.

Read more about MS Word, here.

MS Office-MS Excel

MS Excel is used for processing the data that is in tabular form and then performing mathematical functions on it to analyze it. MS Excel performs the following basic functions:

• MS Excel is majorly utilized for making spreadsheets.
• In MS Excel, there are rows and columns. The intersection of rows and columns forms a cell.
• The unique functions that MS Excel has are Formulas & Data. Users can perform the formula on data to analyze it quickly; which can be easily managed and can be applied as a replacement for paper.
• Right from basic functions like addition & subtraction, the user can perform complex statistical functions like correlation & t-test.
• File extension, for MS Excel, is “.xls”
• MS Excel is a data processing application where large data can be easily managed and saved in tabular format.

MS Office -MS PowerPoint

• MS PowerPoint is an application that provides the user to work with slides and runs a slideshow.
• PowerPoint mainly comprises slides for making the presentation.
• One can decide the sequence of the slide, layout, design, add media to the slides & can also perform other word processing functions like font change, size change, etc.
• “.ppt” is the extension for PowerPoint presentations.
• Generally, used to generate audiovisual presentations.

Explore more about MS PowerPoint.

Other Microsoft Functions

MS Office – Microsoft Outlook

• The MS Outlook application is a Personal Information Manager or in simple words, it is a form of a personal organizer like managing dates, tasks, and others.
• Its primary work is to send and receive emails. Outlook came into existence in the year 1997 and was launched as a part of the Microsoft Office Suite of 1997.
• MS Outlook is an application one needs to pay for to use while creating an email on outlook is free of cost, and can be used both as a single-user application or multi-user software.
• The Outlook file is saved with the extension “.pst”.
• Its functions also incorporate calendaring, task managing, journal logging, contact managing, and web browsing.

MS Office – Microsoft Publisher

• Microsoft Publisher is a Desktop Publishing Application and works as an entry-level Graphic Design application.
• Though on the onset it may seem similar to MS Word it has a greater emphasis on Page layout and Design.
• It can be used to create basic templates, cover pages, and logo designs.
• The first version of Microsoft Publisher 1.0 was released in 1991.
• The file extension of files created by using Microsoft Publisher is .pub

MS Office – Microsoft Access

• Microsoft Access functions as a Database Management System (DBMS).
• It helps users to be able to analyze humongous amounts of information and manage data more efficiently.
• Tables, forms, queries, and reports can be formulated on MS Access.
• The application works through storing information that is related together and creates connections between different things to make a holistic and more easy-to-use database.
• It is an important application used for Data-entry by organizations. The first version of Access was released by Microsoft Corporation on 13th November 1992.
• Several file extensions are depending on the file formats, the most common being the .adn extension.

Read more about Microsoft Access.

MS Office – Skype

• Skype is one of the most commonly used applications for electronic telecommunication through Video Chats and Voice Calls between Computers, Tablets, Mobiles, and even through devices like Xbox One.
• The application also supports the exchange of messages between the respondents and also can be used for Video conferencing.
• Originally founded in 2003 by Niklas Zennstrom from Sweden and Janus Friis from Denmark.
• It was launched on the 29th of August, 2003 when the first Beta version of Skype went public.

Also, learn about Computer Fundamentals here.

Microsoft Office Versions

• Microsoft Office for Windows Version was launched in the year-1990.
• Microsoft Office 3.0 Version was started in- August 30, 1992.
• Microsoft Office 4.0 Version was commenced in the year- 1994.
• Microsoft Office 95 Version was launched in-August 24, 1995.
• Microsoft Office 97 Version was commenced in the year -1997.
• Microsoft Office 2000 Version was launched in-June 7, 1999.
• Microsoft Office XP Version was launched in- May 31, 2001.
• Microsoft Office 2003 Version was launched in- October 21, 2003.
• Microsoft Office 2007 Version was started in-January 30, 2007.
• Microsoft Office 2010 Version was initiated on -June 15, 2010.
• Microsoft Office 2013 Version was inaugurated in-January 29, 2013.
• Microsoft Office 2016 Version was started in- September 22, 2015.
• Microsoft Office 2019 Version was started in- September 24, 2018.

We hope the above article on Microsoft Office is useful for candidates looking for such insights. For more, download and install the Testbook App or visit the testbook website for more updates on such similar topics from Computer Awareness, and numerous such subjects can even check the test series available to examine your knowledge regarding various exams.

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