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10 new features in Microsoft Office 2016 to increase productivity

If you are an avid user of Microsoft Office 2016, you might know that new features are being added all the time. Once you open an app like Word or PowerPoint, for example, you get that little what's new box. Whether you're checking out those new features or just moving on, knowing what's new can be beneficial to increasing your productivity. 10 Handy Productivity Add-ins for Microsoft Word 10 Handy Productivity Add-ins for Microsoft Word add-ins can completely change your workflow. If you no longer have to leave your document for small tasks, your productivity will increase. Try these 10 mini apps for Microsoft Word. Read more.

Here's an overview of the top 10 new features you may have missed.

1. Additional Ribbon Buttons

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You can now archive items in Outlook with a single click using the Archive button. Plus, navigating or adding new groups is simple with the addition of those two group buttons. If you don't see the new buttons, you'll need to add them to your ribbon How to Optimize the Office 2016 Ribbon or Menu Interface How to Optimize the Office 2016 Ribbon or Menu Interface Do you often look for menu items in Microsoft Office? It's time to reorganize and customize the Ribbon menu for your personal needs. You will be surprised how flexible and easy it is! Read more.

10 new features in Microsoft Office 2016 to increase productivity

To do this quickly, simply right-click on the ribbon and select Customize Ribbon . Then find the commands on the left and add them to the right.

2. Improved collaboration

Word and PowerPoint

For easy commenting and sharing, Word and PowerPoint have great collaboration features 13+ Reasons Why You Should Upgrade to Microsoft Office 2016 13+ Reasons Why You Should Upgrade to Microsoft Office 2016 Microsoft Office 2016 is here and it's time to to make a decision. The productivity question is:should I upgrade? We give you the freshest new features and reasons to help you... Read More You should see the share and comment icons at the top right above the ribbon.

Plus, you can quickly see previous versions of a document with the Activity button on your ribbon. Once clicked, the side panel will open, showing what has happened to your document.

10 new features in Microsoft Office 2016 to increase productivity

3. Mentions

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To quickly grab someone's attention, Outlook 2016 has a feature called Mentions . When crafting an email or calendar invitation, type the @ Symbol and the first letters of the person's name on the body. You will then see a dropdown box showing your contact list options.

10 new features in Microsoft Office 2016 to increase productivity

Once you select one, not only will that person's name be highlighted in the message or invitation, but it will also automatically appear in the A line. Plus, you can sort your inbox by Mentions.

4. New and improved connection options

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You can import data from SAP HANA databases, SharePoint folders, and online services like Salesforce Objects or Reports. Select Data> New query and then make the appropriate selection in the dropdown box.

Connectors for IBM DB2 and SQL Server Database have also been enhanced. For IBM DB2 you can now choose the Microsoft driver and for SQL Server database you can include schema information as part of the navigation hierarchy.

10 new features in Microsoft Office 2016 to increase productivity

5. Post to Docs.com

Word, Excel and PowerPoint

Some features added to Office 2016 are available across multiple applications. One of these features is the ability to post documents to Docs.com. Select File> Publish and you'll see Docs.com options, including document title and visibility options.

10 new features in Microsoft Office 2016 to increase productivity

You will need an account on Docs.com and you can create one with your email address or you can sign in with Facebook or your Microsoft account.

6. Publish to Power BI

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Power BI is a service that can transform your data into interactive reports. Using the business dashboard, you can monitor, analyze, and model Microsoft Excel + Power BI =Data Analytics Bliss Microsoft Excel + Power BI =Data Analytics Bliss Need help turning your data into something useful? Microsoft Power BI can visualize your data and create automated reports. Here's how to set up your first Power BI dashboard. Read more easily. Select File> Publish to upload workbooks or export workbook data directly to and from Power BI.

10 new features in Microsoft Office 2016 to increase productivity

Please note that the service requires you to have a OneDrive for Business subscription.

7. investigator

Word

This handy tool is perfect for term papers or business research. Select Investigator in the toolbar, and then enter your search term in the sidebar. Once the results are displayed and you've chosen the ones you want, you can add headers to start your outline and cite sources directly from the Researcher tool.

10 new features in Microsoft Office 2016 to increase productivity

You can also include images you find by simply dragging and dropping them into your document.

8. Suggest a feature

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If you have a great idea for a feature in Outlook, now you can suggest it with one click. Select File> Feedback and click the Outlook 2016 Comments button.

10 new features in Microsoft Office 2016 to increase productivity

You will then be redirected in your browser to the Outlook suggestion box, where you can vote for a suggestion or enter your own idea.

9. Text highlighter

PowerPoint

Just like in Word, you can now use a text highlighter in PowerPoint. Make certain parts of your text really stand out with this convenient, backwards feature. Make sure you're at the Home tab and then select your text. Next, click Text Highlighter and choose your color.

10 new features in Microsoft Office 2016 to increase productivity

10. Zoom for PowerPoint

PowerPoint

This useful new PowerPoint feature allows you to quickly move to different slides and sections of your presentation. There are three types of Zooms you can use:

  • Summary Zoom puts the pieces you select on a slide that allows you to jump between them.
  • Slide zoom allows you to navigate through the slides in the order you choose.
  • Section zoom allows you to go back to previous sections easily.

Select Insert> Zoom and then choose the type you'd like to use from the dropdown box.

10 new features in Microsoft Office 2016 to increase productivity

Stay in the loop

If you're interested in seeing the newest features while you have an app open, you can check them out at any time. Select File> Account> What's new to access the pop-up window that also contains a link to Learn more about those features.

10 new features in Microsoft Office 2016 to increase productivity

If you're not seeing a new feature and you're an Office 365 subscriber, make sure you have the latest version. Upgrade to Office 2016 for free today with your Office 365 subscription Upgrade to Office 2016 for free today with your Office 365 subscription Microsoft Office 2016 for Windows has landed, bringing lots of smart new features. If you have an Office 365 subscription, you can get it now for free, and we'll show you how below. Read more about the software. Select File> Account> Update Options to update the software and also see what is included.

10 new features in Microsoft Office 2016 to increase productivity

New features are coming your way

Please note that many of the new features have been rolled out to Office 365 subscribers 11 Office 2016 FAQs Answered 11 Office 2016 FAQs Answered Office 2016 is coming up and it raises a lot of questions. Do you have to buy a subscription, can you upgrade now, and can you go back to Office 2013? We collect the most frequently asked questions and provide the ... Read More and Office Insiders first . So if you still don't see a feature in your app, just know it's being tested and on its way.

10 new features in Microsoft Office 2016 to increase productivity

Also, if you're interested in learning more about becoming an Office Insider, here's why you should join the Office Insider Program now. This is why you should sign up for the Office Insider Program now. Office 2016 is Microsoft's flagship office suite. Office 365 subscribers can join the Office Insider program, where they can try new features before anyone else. We'll show you the benefits and how to sign up. Read More You can visit the Office Insider page for more details.

Are there any specific features for Microsoft Office 2016 that really stand out? Perhaps there is one that makes your work life smoother or your school life easier? If so, please share your feedback with us below.