Are you using Microsoft Office on that work computer to its fullest potential?

SSG Genaro Negrete — Fri, 03 Apr 2015 02:16:19 -0400

Leaders,
How many are using Microsoft Office software to it's fullest potential? I'm have recently left the service and am knuckle deep in a business degree. One of my classes is Business Computer Applications. I've used Word, Excel, and PowerPoint enough to get projects/OPORDs/Leader's Books/MFR's done.

Are we selling ourselves short by not using big four of Outlook, Word, Excel, and PowerPoint to their fullest potential? I'm learning things in this course that would have been a life saver during my time as a squad leader/Aid Station/Clinic NCOIC. Not to mention the huge benefit Access would have been for a functional, fluid leader's book as well as helping to manage property and equipment status at the platoon level.

Those of you that are Microsoft SME's, where can current/future leaders go to get this knowledge?
How can we pass this knowledge on to the younger generation? Especially since more and more careers require an ever increasing functionality with current and emergent technology.

Response by SSG Robert Burns made Apr 3 at 2015 7:57 AM

SSG Robert Burns — Fri, 03 Apr 2015 07:57:17 -0400

This type of training should replace ALC.

Response by PFC Mike Mcdermott made Apr 3 at 2015 7:59 AM

PFC Mike Mcdermott — Fri, 03 Apr 2015 07:59:14 -0400

I'm a PowerPoint ranger!

Response by SSG Private RallyPoint Member made Apr 3 at 2015 8:08 AM

SSG Private RallyPoint Member — Fri, 03 Apr 2015 08:08:14 -0400

On a personal note, I always tried to help my friends on training for excel, word and PowerPoint, however is not an easy task if the person just uses bare minimum options. I have always created databases with all of them, and know the functionality of each, and many of the functions, although have not used all of them. Excel is impossible, but you can create databases to give you PT scores, HT/WT by gender age, etc and create the reports and forms necessary. You can also mail merge names and address to print certificates for class diplomas that creates them by clicking a button, and saves the process of doing manually.

What I have found most difficulty is that not everyone is has the same skills, or has the desire to know more, some with just the task at hand needs mentality is sufficient. The other problem I get, is that our listings, be it for a big class, a roll for students, inventory reports can all be exported to text format, even personnel files, and those processes only less than 1% know how to do it, and always hit a wall when I requested them, and get an expression like I am talking in vulcan or something like that. It would make the job easier specially if you got long inventories that have expendables and non expendables, serial numbers, expiration dates, etc that you can create a database with and do as many reports you would like with a click of a button.

Response by LCpl Mark Lefler made Apr 3 at 2015 8:21 PM

LCpl Mark Lefler — Fri, 03 Apr 2015 20:21:35 -0400

It's hard to use office to it's fullest potential, especially if your using access. I've been word and excel certified, taken courses, been using office since it was on a floppy and I sure don't know everything about it.

Response by SFC Private RallyPoint Member made Apr 4 at 2015 12:34 PM

SFC Private RallyPoint Member — Sat, 04 Apr 2015 12:34:05 -0400

I use all of those pretty much every day. That being said, I'm usually learning how to do something new in each of them every day too. Very good resources to have.

Response by CPT Richard Riley made Apr 4 at 2015 12:35 PM

CPT Richard Riley — Sat, 04 Apr 2015 12:35:38 -0400

It's always good to learn more and be able to function in a better environment.

Response by SSG Private RallyPoint Member made Apr 7 at 2015 11:24 AM

SSG Private RallyPoint Member — Tue, 07 Apr 2015 11:24:34 -0400

No...they are not...I still teach my leaders "How to make the "woosh" thing work on the slides"
Then again anything that plugs into a wall is my domain...I love being Commo.

SHOTS FIRED......LOL

Response by SFC(P) Aaron Fore made Apr 24 at 2015 9:29 AM

SFC(P) Aaron Fore — Fri, 24 Apr 2015 09:29:43 -0400

I have used MS Office quite a bit and find it to be a very valuable tool, to learn all you can about using this tool, I would suggest a little bit of mentorship time and a lot of personal time with MS Office for Dummies book. Play with the system and you will learn.

Response by SSG Private RallyPoint Member made Apr 28 at 2015 10:30 PM

SSG Private RallyPoint Member — Tue, 28 Apr 2015 22:30:41 -0400

I've turned a lot of eyes toward the program "one note" for the capability it has to replace continuity books when saved to a shared drive or share point. If you take just five minutes to read through the intro it will blow your mind at the untapped potential. My G1 and G8 officers now use it exclusively to artifact relevant emails, documents, and "how I did that thing that one time" examples for those who follow us in our assignments.