Tame your computer - suggest a new feature

In her regular series for Cambridge Network members - now in its 15th year - software training expert Karen Roem offers handy tips to help you 'Tame your computer'. This week she explains how to submit your ideas for improvements to Microsoft.

Roem tip time logo

Today’s tip has been inspired by two questions I got recently about Outlook features that aren’t possible:

  1. Add Bcc recipients to a meeting request
  2. Automatically block time before and after a meeting

I feel both would be very useful functions, so I’ve submitted a feature request to Microsoft.

But did you know that’s an option for all of us? Not just administrators, trainers, nerds or other geeks!

Here’s how:

Outlook and Excel have a dedicated Suggest a Feature button on the Help tab. In Outlook it’s the third from the left:

[[{"fid":"294933","view_mode":"default","fields":{"format":"default","alignment":"","field_file_image_alt_text[und][0][value]":"Roem fig 1 31 Aug","field_file_image_title_text[und][0][value]":"Roem fig 1 31 Aug"},"link_text":false,"type":"media","field_deltas":{"1":{"format":"default","alignment":"","field_file_image_alt_text[und][0][value]":"Roem fig 1 31 Aug","field_file_image_title_text[und][0][value]":"Roem fig 1 31 Aug"}},"attributes":{"alt":"Roem fig 1 31 Aug","title":"Roem fig 1 31 Aug","class":"media-element file-default","data-delta":"1"}}]]

In Excel it’s in a different spot. (Don’t ask. ;)

[[{"fid":"294934","view_mode":"default","fields":{"format":"default","alignment":"","field_file_image_alt_text[und][0][value]":"Roem fig 2 31 aug","field_file_image_title_text[und][0][value]":"Roem fig 2 31 aug"},"link_text":false,"type":"media","field_deltas":{"2":{"format":"default","alignment":"","field_file_image_alt_text[und][0][value]":"Roem fig 2 31 aug","field_file_image_title_text[und][0][value]":"Roem fig 2 31 aug"}},"attributes":{"alt":"Roem fig 2 31 aug","title":"Roem fig 2 31 aug","class":"media-element file-default","data-delta":"2"}}]]

In Word and PowerPoint you can give a suggestion when you click the Feedback button on the Help tab.

[[{"fid":"294936","view_mode":"default","fields":{"format":"default","alignment":"","field_file_image_alt_text[und][0][value]":"Roem fig 3 31 aug","field_file_image_title_text[und][0][value]":"Roem fig 3 31 aug"},"link_text":false,"type":"media","field_deltas":{"3":{"format":"default","alignment":"","field_file_image_alt_text[und][0][value]":"Roem fig 3 31 aug","field_file_image_title_text[und][0][value]":"Roem fig 3 31 aug"}},"attributes":{"alt":"Roem fig 3 31 aug","title":"Roem fig 3 31 aug","style":"height: 122px; width: 700px;","class":"media-element file-default","data-delta":"3"}}]]

Apparently your feedback goes directly to the relevant team and they read customer feedback daily.

As always, this tip is written for Windows desktop apps users; if you are using Outlook on the web, click on the question mark in the top right and select Feedback. In any other Office web app, click the Feedback button on the Help tab.

By the way, you can also use it to give a compliment. Like all of us they love to hear what they’re doing right and need to know when something is not quite right.

 Thanks to Noëlla and Lisa for this week’s tip inspiration!

PS Remember, the price for the 60-minute webinars is going up on 1 October. If you book and pay before the end of September you can sign up for any of the webinars for just £24 per webinar per person. The price includes a handout and exercise files.

Book online or send me a message saying which webinar(s) you want to attend and I’ll add you to the list. The updated webinar schedule can be found here: https://www.roem.co.uk/webinar_schedule.php

30 August 2021

Karen Roem offers software training and support through her company Roem Ltd.  Contact her by email (Karen@roem.co.uk) or visit her website at www.roem.co.uk



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