OFF97: Information About the Microsoft Office ValuPack

ID: Q169549

The information in this article applies to:

Microsoft Office 97 for Windows
Microsoft Office 97 for Windows, Service Release 1 (SR-1)

SUMMARY

The Microsoft Office 97 ValuPack contains components that complement Microsoft Office 97 and the individual Office programs. Most of the components can be installed separately with an individual Setup procedure. You can open some components in an Office program or from the Windows Start menu.

To find the Microsoft Office 97 ValuPack, use the following steps:

Insert the Office 97 compact disc into the CD-ROM drive.

Start Microsoft Windows Explorer and click the CD-ROM drive (usually drive D) to view the files on the Office 97 compact disc.

Double-click the Valupack folder to see the files in that folder.

There are many items in the Valupack folder: folders, a Microsoft Power Point Slide Show file (Overview.pps), and a Help file (Valupk8.hlp).

Double-clicking the Overview.pps file starts a PowerPoint slide show, which presents an overview of some of the features that are in the ValuPack.

NOTE: If a Warning message about running macros appears, click Enable Macros.

Double-clicking Valupk8.hlp opens a Help file that contains information about each feature and about installing each feature.

MORE INFORMATION

The following information is a summary of what is available in the ValuPack.

Additional Help Files

These Help files contain information about how to use Visual Basic with Microsoft Outlook, Microsoft Office Binder, Microsoft Graph, or Microsoft Map.

Animated Cursors

The animated cursors add fun visual cues to cursor movements in Word, Microsoft Excel, and Microsoft Outlook. For example, the pointer changes to an animated envelope when you send mail in Microsoft Outlook. Or the pointer changes to a printer with printing pages when you print a Microsoft Word document, a Microsoft Excel workbook, or a Microsoft Outlook item.

Animated Graphics Interchange Format (GIF) Files

This feature adds animated GIF files from the Animgifs folder to a World Wide Web page to enhance the design of the page or to draw attention to a specific piece of information on the page. Animated GIF files are pictures that are animated only when you view them by using a Web browser, such as Microsoft Internet Explorer 3.0 or Netscape Navigator.

Avery Wizard

The Avery Wizard is an add-in from Avery Dennison that you can use with Microsoft Word to easily design and print to your favorite Avery products.

Building Applications with Microsoft Access 97

Building Applications with Microsoft Access 97 is the developer's guide to creating, managing, and distributing database solutions. Whether you are new to Microsoft Access or you are an experienced application developer, you can use this book to build powerful, robust database solutions. This is the online version of the printed book you receive with Microsoft Access 97 or with Microsoft Office 97 Developer Edition. With very few exceptions, the contents for the online version is the same contents for the printed version. You can read this book directly from the Office 97 compact disc, copy it onto a local computer, or share it over an intranet.

To view this book online, you must have a Web browser that supports frames and style sheets, such as Microsoft Internet Explorer 3.0; however, you do not need to access the Internet. You can get Microsoft Internet Explorer 3.0 from the ValuPack folder on the Microsoft Office 97 or Microsoft Access 97 compact disc or on the network on which Office or Microsoft Access is installed.

Building Applications with Microsoft Access 97 includes the following chapters:

"Using Forms to Collect, Filter, and Display Information"

"Working with Objects and Collections"

"Creating Multi-user Applications"

"Optimizing Your Application"

"Using ActiveX Controls"

"Creating Wizards, Builders, and Menu Add-ins"

"Developing Client/Server Applications"

"Working with the Internet"

Data Access Pack

The Data Access Pack is a Setup program that makes it possible for you to install any or all of the Open Database Connectivity (ODBC) drivers and built-in drivers (also called IISAMs). You may need these drivers to access data outside a Microsoft Access or a Microsoft Excel program (for example, to import Paradox data into a Microsoft Access database).

For additional information about the Data Access Pack, please see the following article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:

Q162714 OFF97: Files With The Data Access Pack

Internet Help for Microsoft Access

The Webhelp folder (in the Access folder) includes information and resources to help you use the Internet features of Microsoft Access. These features include the following:

Troubleshooting tips for using Active Server Pages (ASP files) with Microsoft Access

The Web Browser Control Help file (Lexplore.hlp), which explains how to program the Web Browser ActiveX control you receive with Microsoft Internet Explorer 3.0

You can use this control in Microsoft Access to browse Web pages from within a database.

Lotus cc:Mail Information Service

The Lotus cc:Mail information service is a messaging application programming interface (MAPI) service provider that makes it possible for you to use Microsoft Outlook as your e-mail client with a cc:Mail post office. When you install the cc:Mail service provider, and then add the information service to your user profile, you can exchange mail with other cc:Mail and Microsoft Outlook users, use cc:Mail bulletin boards, download the post office address book for working offline, and have all the power of Microsoft Outlook with your cc:Mail e-mail account.

Microsoft ActiveMovie

Microsoft ActiveMovie is the next generation of digital video technology for the desktop and the Internet. With ActiveMovie, you can create and deliver titles on Windows 95 and Windows NT Workstation with crisp synchronized audio, video, and special effects. The ActiveMovie Stream filter allows you to play audio, illustrated audio, and video in real time on the Internet and on an intranet. Note that it is not necessary to download the files.

ActiveMovie capabilities include the following:

Internet playback and streaming to quickly and easily play of all popular media types on the Internet, including ActiveMovie Streaming format with ActiveMovie Stream

State-of-the-art MPEG playback for full screen, television-quality video on mainstream systems

A flexible, extensible, and future-proof architecture for easy integration of new technologies, third-party enhancements, and real-time special effects

Microsoft Camcorder

You can install and use Microsoft Camcorder to record actions, procedures, and sounds that you perform on the computer. You can save the recording as a movie that you can then play in Camcorder, or you can save the movie as a stand-alone program that you can send to others to play even if they don't have Camcorder. For example, you can use Camcorder to create a computer tutorial that you can send to others to use. You can set preferences for movies that you record, for example, the keys to use to stop recording a movie, the quality of the sound you record, and whether to display Camcorder in front of open programs.

Although you cannot run Camcorder under Microsoft Windows NT Workstation, you can play a movie recorded in Camcorder as a stand-alone program.

For additional information about Microsoft Camcorder, please see the following article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:

Q159561 OFF97: Description of the Microsoft Camcorder

Microsoft Internet Explorer 3.0

With Microsoft Internet Explorer 3.0, you can use unique Hypertext Markup Language (HTML), ActiveX, Java, and plug-ins. Internet Explorer 3.0 provides the best browsing experience and the most technically advanced development platform for end users, organizations, and content developers. With innovative Internet conferencing, collaboration, and browser customization, Internet Explorer 3.0 provides the richest feature set of any browser while still offering an easy-to-use and personalized Internet experience.

Microsoft Office 97 Sounds

This feature is not available on Microsoft Windows NT Workstation 3.51 or Windows NT Server 3.51. The Microsoft Office 97 sounds provided in the Office 97 ValuPack add fun audio cues to screen elements as you work with them in any Office 97 program. For example, you can add sounds that are played when you work with toolbars, scroll bars, and dialog boxes, or sounds that are played when you send mail or sort information.

Microsoft Office 97 Upgrade Wizard

The Office 97 Upgrade Wizard is a tool that helps you remove earlier versions of Office (versions 4.0 and 7.0) from the hard disk. The Upgrade Wizard is integrated into the Microsoft Office 97 Setup program, so it is not necessary to run the Upgrade Wizard before you install Microsoft Office 97. This stand-alone version of the Upgrade Wizard, which is included in the Office 97 ValuPack, can be used by system administrators and advanced users who want to remove earlier versions of Office before or after installing Microsoft Office 97.

The Upgrade Wizard leads you through the process of removing Office files and system entries in the Windows registry that are not needed by Office 97. You can run the stand-alone Upgrade Wizard in one of the following three different phases:

Remove files you don't need. In this phase, the Upgrade Wizard determines the earlier versions of Office (4.0 and 7.0) that are on the computer. It determines whether you still need the files or whether they can be removed. If you run this phase after you install Office 97, the wizard does not affect your Office 97 installation.

Remove old Office components of your choice. In this phase, the Upgrade Wizard prompts you to specify the earlier Office (version 4.0 and 7.0) components you want to remove. You decide which components to remove or keep. If you run this phase after you install Office 97, the wizard does not affect your Office 97 installation.

Remove all earlier versions of Office. In this phase, the Upgrade Wizard removes all earlier versions of Office (4.0 and 7.0) that are installed on your computer.

When you run the Upgrade Wizard in any phase, the wizard displays a list of files to removed. You can choose to remove or keep each file, print or save the list of files to removed, quit the wizard at any time, and start the wizard again at any time. You are asked to confirm the removal of any files.

Additionally, the Upgrade Wizard never removes any document, template, or data file that you created with earlier versions of Office or with Office 97.

Microsoft Office Binder Templates

Microsoft Binder templates save time when you create a binder. The Meeting.obt (Meeting Organizer) and Proposal.obt (Proposal and Marketing Plan) templates are on the Office 97 compact disc.

Microsoft Office Far East Support

If your organization is in Asia, you may receive documents that include characters from this region. You can install the Asian (Far East) support files to install a font and code page translation table.

The Asian support files make it possible for you to do the following:

Correctly display Asian characters in documents created in the Asian version of Office 97. Without the Far East font, the characters appear as block characters.

Convert and view documents from Asian versions of Office 7.0. Without the Asian support files, Far East characters are lost.

Convert and view HTML documents in Office 97 programs and in Microsoft Internet Explorer 3.0.

Correctly interpret file properties from documents created in the Asian version of Office 97. For example, if a document created in the Asian version of Word is opened in the United States version of Word, and then Properties is clicked on the File menu, the Properties dialog box is blank unless you install the appropriate language support file.

The Asian support files work if you use Microsoft Windows 95, Windows NT Workstation 3.51, or Windows NT Workstation 4.0.

The FarEast folder contains four files that provide support for four different languages.

For more information about installing the Far East support files, please see the following article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:

Q159471 WD97: How to Install the Far East Support Files

Microsoft Office Templates, Forms, and Wizards

To help you create great looking Microsoft Office documents and Microsoft Outlook items, install and use Microsoft Word templates, forms, and wizards, Microsoft Excel templates, PowerPoint templates, and Outlook templates and forms.

The forms, templates, and wizards that are available are listed as follows.

Word folder (Word templates and wizards):


   Agenda.wiz                            Pur_uk.dot (Purchase Order)
   Brochure.dot                          Inv_uk.dot (Invoice)
   Purchord.dot (Purchase Order)         Calendar.wiz
   Invoice.dot                           Thesis.dot (Thesis)
   Contprel.dot (Press Release)          Manual.dot
   Time_aus.dot (Weekly Time Sheet)      Directry.dot
   Profprel.dot (Press Release)          Time_uk.dot (Weekly Time Sheet)
   Elegprel.dot (Press Release)          Pur_aus.dot (Purchase Order)
   Weektime.dot (Weekly Time Sheet)      Inv_aus.dot (Invoice)

For additional information about the Word Templates, please see the following article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:

Q155945 WD97: Additional Word Templates Available in ValuPack Folder

Microsoft Excel folder (Microsoft Spreadsheet Solutions from Village Software):


   Budget.xlt (Personal Budgeter)        Planner.xlt (Business Planner)
   Crtrack.xlt (Change Request)          Quote.xlt (Sales Quote)
   Leasing.xlt (Car Lease Advisor)       Timecrd.xlt (Timecard)
   Loan.xlt (Loan Manager)

NOTE: The Help file (Vstmplt.hlp) is shared by all the spreadsheet solutions and must be placed in the Microsoft Office folder or in the Office folder. Each spreadsheet solution has a custom toolbar that includes a Help button. Use this button to find out more about using each individual solution.

Designs folder (PowerPoint templates):


   Arrows.pot      Comet.pot        Rules.pot
   Azure.pot       Dbllines.pot     Sidefade.pot
   Bedrock.pot     Embossed.pot     Soaring.pot
   Bevel.pot       Gavel.pot        Sparkle.pot
   Bluediag.pot    Intl.pot         Strategic.pot
   Bluegren.pot    Linepapr.pot     Tablet.pot
   Bluemoon.pot    Linesblu.pot     Tatami.pot
   Blueweav.pot    Locknkey.pot     Theater.pot
   Brnmrbl.pot     Metlbar.pot      Tricolor.pot
   Brownbag.pot    Mountain.pot     Tridots.pot
   Buttons.pot     Multbar.pot      Tropical.pot
   Clipbord.pot    Numbers.pot      Twinkles.pot
   Coins.pot       Quill.pot        Wetsand.pot
   Colorbox.pot    Risk.pot

Outlook Folder (Outlook forms and templates):


   Classified Ads (form)       Training Management (form)
   Note.oft (template)         Vacation Request (form)
   Journal.oft (template)      While You Were Out (form)
   Sales Tracking (form)

NOTE: These files are available after you run the Setup program (Outlfrms.exe).

Microsoft Outlook Import and Export Converters

These converters are used to import information from Symantec ACT! 2.0; NetManage ECCO Pro 3.0, 3.01, or 3.02; and Starfish SideKick 2.0/95; and to import or export Outlook journal entries, notes, or mail messages.

Microsoft PowerPoint Custom Soundtrack

Microsoft PowerPoint Custom Soundtrack is an add-in you can use with PowerPoint 97 to add a custom soundtrack to a presentation. The Custom Soundtrack also provides many styles and themes to complement the tone of a presentation. Playing the custom soundtrack requires only that PowerPoint be installed and does not require the Custom Soundtrack add-in.

Microsoft PowerPoint Viewer

Microsoft PowerPoint Viewer for Windows is used to view PowerPoint electronic slide shows if Microsoft PowerPoint is not installed. PowerPoint Viewer runs under Windows 3.1 and later, Windows NT Workstation 3.5 and later, and Windows 95. Viewer makes it possible for you to view PowerPoint files created and saved in PowerPoint, versions 2.0 through 4.0 for Windows, PowerPoint 7.0, or PowerPoint, version 3.0 through 4.0 for the Macintosh. The Microsoft PowerPoint Viewer Setup program makes it possible for you to install the PowerPoint Viewer and the Translator to open PowerPoint 7.0 files in PowerPoint 4.0.

Microsoft "Publish to ActiveMovie Stream" Format

The Microsoft Publish to ActiveMovie Stream Format (ASF) is a tool used to publish audio-visual PowerPoint presentations on the Internet or on an intranet. Publish to ASF makes it possible for you to compress a presentation and stream it across a network to play it. Publish to ASF prepares a PowerPoint presentation for streaming by:

Converting PowerPoint slides to JPEG images.

Repackaging the JPEG images and associated .wav files into the .asf file format.

Publish to ASF contains the following features:

An easy-to-use wizard that guides you through the process of creating a multimedia streaming file and publishing it on the network.

Preconfigured or customizable bandwidth, image compression, and audio compression settings.

A record of each slide, the length of its associated audio segment, and the number of seconds needed for each image to appear.

The ability to test the presentation, rebuild it, and adjust the audio and video compression values if necessary.

Microsoft Publisher Trial Version

The Microsoft Publisher trial version is a fully functional, time-limited version of Microsoft Publisher 97. In the trial version, you can do anything that you can do with the fully functional version of Microsoft Publisher 97. You can use the Publisher trial version for 60 days. After 60 days, a message appears, and the program does not start.

Microsoft TrueType Fonts

There are up to 150 additional TrueType fonts that you can install to help you create, view, and print great looking documents. You can view a sample of each available font to help you choose the font you want to install.

Microsoft Web Publishing Wizard

The Microsoft Web Publishing Wizard makes it easy to publish Web pages on the Internet. This wizard automates the process of copying files from your computer to the Web server. You can use the Web Publishing Wizard to publish Web pages to local Internet service providers, Microsoft Internet Information Server, CompuServe, Sprynet, America Online, GNN, and intranet servers on your Local Area Network. To use the Web Publishing Wizard, you must use an English version of Windows 95 or Windows NT Workstation 4.0.

Microsoft Word 97 Converter

The Microsoft Word 97 converter (Wrd97cnv.exe) allows Microsoft Word 7.0 or Microsoft Word 6.0 to open documents created in Microsoft Word 97.

For more information about obtaining the Microsoft Word 97 import converter for Word 6.0 and 7.0, please see the following article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:

Q162214 WD: How to Obtain the Word 97 Converter

Microsoft Word Viewer

Microsoft Word Viewer is a program you can distribute that makes it possible for you to view and print Microsoft Word documents without using the Microsoft Word program. People who don't have Word can use Microsoft Word Viewer 7.1 for Windows 95 to view and print documents created in Rich Text Format (.rtf), Word 7.0, Word versions 2.0 and 6.0 for Windows, Word 4.0 and 5.0 for the Macintosh. You can also use the viewer to view and print text files. You can distribute the Word Viewer with your Word documents to anyone who has Windows 95.

For more information about obtaining Microsoft Word Viewer 97, please see the following article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:

Q166636 WD97: Frequently Asked Questions About Word Viewer 97

Presentation and World Wide Web Page Textures

You can use JPEG files, which are in the Textures folder, in a Web page to enhance the background on the page with a texture or image. The following files are available in the Textures folder.


   Description                File
   ---------------------------------------

   Cotton Candy               Cottcndy.jpg
   Green Stone                Grnstone.jpg
   Pink Granite               Pinkgram.jpg
   Scale                      Scale.jpg
   Soapstone                  Soapston.jpg
   Bluish Marble (dark)       Blumrbld.jpg
   Bluish Marble (light)      Blumrbll.jpg
   Clouds (dark)              Cldskyd.jpg
   Clouds (light)             Cldskyl.jpg
   Liquid Metal (dark)        Liqmetld.jpg
   Liquid Metal (light)       Liqmetll.jpg
   Parchment (dark)           Parchmtd.jpg
   Parchment (light)          Parchmtl.jpg
   Sandstone (dark)           Sandstnd.jpg
   Sandstone (light)          Sandstnl.jpg

Software Patches

The following software patches are available in the Patch folder on the Office 97 CD-ROM.

Microsoft Plus! Themes Patch:

The Themes switcher installed with Microsoft Plus! for Windows 95 is not compatible with the new JPEG graphics filter installed with Office 97. If you previously installed Themes from the Plus! Pack for Windows 95, and you installed the JPEG graphics filter with Office 97, you must perform this upgrade for the existing Themes program.

Microsoft Works 4.0a Patch:

After you install Office 97, the default file extension for saving files in Microsoft Works 4.0a is the HTML format (the .htm file format).

For more information, please see the following article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:

Q156312 OFF97: Page Fault After Using Desktop Themes Control Panel

Microsoft Outlook Inbox Icon Patch:

This patch is used to replace the Microsoft Exchange Inbox icon on the Windows desktop with an Outlook icon.

For more information, please see the following article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:

Q160297 OL97: How to Change Inbox Icon to Start Microsoft Outlook 97

Timex Data Link Watch Wizard

The Timex Data Link Watch produced by Timex Corporation receives information exported from Outlook. It is used in Outlook to make it easy to export any of the following to the watch: appointments, tasks, phone numbers, anniversaries, birthdays, reminders, and current time and time zone information.

For more information, please see the following article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:

Q157764 OFF97: Timex Wizard Setup Fails Under Windows NT

Changes to the ValuPack in Microsoft Office SR-1

The ValuPack included with Office SR-1 contains several items that were not included in the original release of the ValuPack. Several of the ValuPack items have been updated, and one item has been removed from the original ValuPack.

New ValuPack Items

Distributed COM (DCOM) for Windows 95

The COM/DCOM security model enables the creation of secure distributed applications. COM security can be applied to both existing (legacy) COM components via external configuration as well as new COM code via the COM security APIs and interfaces.

For additional information about DCOM, please see the following articles in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:

Q174024 INFO: DCOM95 Frequently Asked Questions

Q158508 INFO: COM Security Frequently Asked Questions

Q165101 HOWTO: Use Win95 as a DCOM Server

For the latest information on Distributed COM for Windows 95, visit the OLE Development web page at:

http://msdn.microsoft.com/library/default.htm .

NOTE: Because the Microsoft Web site is constantly updated, the site address may change without notice. If this occurs, link to the Microsoft home page at the following address:

http://www.microsoft.com/

Kodak FlashPix/Microsoft Picture It! 1.0 Graphic Import Filter

Use this graphics filter to import pictures from Kodak FlashPix and Microsoft Picture It! to Office documents. After you install the filter, the extensions FlashPix (*.fpx) and Microsoft Picture It! (*.mix) appear in the file of type list in the Insert Picture dialog box.

Microsoft Excel Viewer

Microsoft Excel Viewer 97 is a small program you can freely distribute that makes it possible for you to share Microsoft Excel files with people who don't have Microsoft Excel. You can use Microsoft Excel Viewer to open, view, filter by using AutoFilter, and print Microsoft Excel files. Microsoft encourages you to copy and distribute Microsoft Excel Viewer along with your Microsoft Excel workbooks. You cannot edit or save an open workbook in Microsoft Excel Viewer. Similarly, you can't create new workbooks in Microsoft Excel Viewer[ASCII 151]you'll need Microsoft Excel to do these things.

Microsoft Office 97 Developer Edition Service Pack 2

If you have installed Office 97 Developer Edition and if you have either installed the updated ODBC 3.0 Driver Manager or Windows NT 4.0 Service Pack 3 (which automatically installs the updated ODBC 3.0 Driver Manager), you must also install Office 97 Developer Edition Service Pack 2 to maintain the Setup Wizard.

Updated ODBC 3.0 Driver Manager

ODBC 3.0 Driver Manager has been updated with enhanced security. You can now prevent the connect string used to connect to a data source from being passed to the built-in Trace utility, thereby preventing passwords and other connection information from being inadvertently stored on a user's hard disk.

Microsoft Outlook Rules Wizard

The Microsoft Outlook Rules Wizard is a client/server messaging manager that allows users to manage their e-mail communication through defined inbox rules. Rules are user-defined instructions for performing actions on incoming and outgoing messages that are usually based on a set of conditions. Rules are particularly helpful if the user receives a high volume of e-mail, although users at any level can benefit from the organizational and information-management value. For example, users can categorize all incoming mail messages with the word "Internet" in the subject line, or automatically store a copy of each message they send to their managers.

Microsoft PowerPoint 97 Translator for PowerPoint 4.0

The Microsoft PowerPoint 97 Translator for PowerPoint 4.0 allows users of PowerPoint 4.0 to open presentations saved in PowerPoint 97 format. Once you've installed the translator, PowerPoint 4.0 will automatically recognize and open PowerPoint 97 presentations. This translator provides an easy way for PowerPoint 4.0 users to view PowerPoint 97.

Snapshot Viewer

Use Snapshot Viewer to view, print, and electronically mail a report snapshot file (.snp extension). A report snapshot file contains a high- fidelity copy of each page of a Microsoft Access report, and preserves the two-dimensional layout, graphics, and other embedded objects of the report. Use Microsoft Access 97 Service Release 1 (SR-1) to create a report snapshot. You can also view, print, store, publish, distribute, and archive a report snapshot without having Microsoft Access by using Snapshot Viewer with other programs such as an electronic mail program, Windows Explorer, or a Web browser such as Microsoft Internet Explorer.

Updated ValuPack Items

The following list contains items that have been updated since the original release of the ValuPack. The ValuPack included with Microsoft Office SR-1 contains the latest version of the following items:

Avery Wizard
Data Access Pack
Lotus cc:Mail Information Service
Microsoft Internet Explorer 3.02
Microsoft Outlook Import and Export Converters
Microsoft PowerPoint Viewer
Microsoft Word Viewer
Timex Data Link Watch Wizard

Items Removed from ValuPack

The following item is no longer included in the ValuPack with Microsoft Office SR-1:

Microsoft Publisher Trial Version

Additional query words: 8.00 8.0 sr1


Keywords          : word97 
Version           : WINDOWS:97
Platform          : WINDOWS 
Issue type        : kbinfo

Last Reviewed: June 21, 1999