Workflow operations such as document review and approval.
Automatic application of metadata based on content type associated with a SharePoint Document Library.
Customizable Document Information Panel that enables metadata to be captured from the user proactively within the authoring application (Word 2007, Excel 2007, or PowerPoint 2007).
PowerPoint Slide Libraries for sharing slides and keeping them current.
Workflows disconnected from client authoring/review experience in that all interactions with SharePoint must be done via a browser.
Issue: More difficult to modify work habits leading to lower participation in workflow process, efficiency benefits not fully realized.
Out-of-the-box and custom workflows (e.g., approval and review integrated into client authoring/review experience).
Benefit: Increased participation in workflow process delivers increased efficiency.
Metadata must be entered manually through difficult to find dialog box or separately via a browser.
Issue: Reduced compliance with metadata requirements limits ability to manage content.
Metadata automatically added with content type. Custom properties forms – leads to easier experience for end-users leading to greater compliance with metadata requirements.
Customizable Document Information Panel that enables metadata to be captured from the user proactively.
Benefit: More effective content management and improved search.
The PowerPoint Slide Library does not have any integration with PowerPoint 2003, so the slides must be downloaded using a browser and then manually opened and copied into an existing or new presentation. Moreover, no checking against the Slide Library for updates can be performed by PowerPoint 2003.
Issue: Barriers to usage are too high for most users to derive any benefit from this server capability.
Integrated experience with PowerPoint Slide Libraries -- accessible within PowerPoint 2007 client, built-in check for updates and replacement of slides.
Benefit: Easier adoption of slide library capability and more complete realization of benefits.
Since there’s no integration with the Office 2003 clients, the user has to upload the document into the SharePoint document library via a browser and then initiate the workflow from there.
Likewise, a participant in the workflow process must move back and forth between e-mail, Office 2003 clients, and the SharePoint site to execute the required tasks.
The following screenshots illustrate the 2007 Office experience with the Office SharePoint Server 2007 built-in workflows. It represents a typical user experience.
The key thing to note here is that the user fully participates in the workflow process (except the notification vie e-mail) from within Word – no bouncing back and forth between multiple applications. This streamlined experience is more likely to be easily adopted by end-users.
The PowerPoint Slide Library capability of the Office SharePoint Server can be accessed from PowerPoint 2003, but the user must save each slide and then drag and drop it into the Slide Library (viewed in explorer mode) or upload each slide via a browser. In addition, to get slides from the Slide Library into PowerPoint 2003 – multiple dialog boxes must be navigated. Finally PowerPoint 2003 does not have the ability to check the Slide Library for updates to an inserted slide.
By contrast the experience with PowerPoint 2007 is streamlined and straightforward. Slides are easily published from within PowerPoint. Slide libraries are easily accessible from within PowerPoint. Unlike PowerPoint 2003, PowerPoint 2007 will check for update to slides when they have been inserted from a PowerPoint Slide library.