Microsoft Access is a database management system with a graphical user interface and software-development tools. It is a member of the Microsoft Office suite of applications, included in the Professional and higher editions or sold separately. Access is produced for the Windows platform only.
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Microsoft Excel is the spreadsheet application in the Microsoft Office Suite. It features calculation, graphing tools, pivot tables, and a macro programming language called Visual Basic for Applications. It has been a very widely applied spreadsheet for these platforms. Excel also facilitates basic statistical functions and data visualization. Excel is available on the MacOS and Windows platforms.
The Microsoft Expression Encoder is a screen capturing tool that allows the user to record portions or all of the screen, accompanying audio, and export it into an editable video. Expression Encoder is very similar in features to the PC version of Camtasia Studio. Unlike Camtasia, Expression Encoder is only available for Windows.
There are two components to Expression Encoder. The first is the “Screen Capture” application, which sets the user up to record the screen. Options include recording with a microphone for narration, recording a webcam with the screen, and selecting the area you want to record. Once the recording is complete the result is handed off to the second component titled “Expression Encoder.” In the Encoder, the user can edit the video in a timeline layout. The user can add the webcam as a picture-in-picture, set it to full screen, turn it off, or vary between the three in the end result of the production. The Encoder also allows the user to add background audio, insert other video clips, and rearrange content.
One difficulty with using the Expression Encoder is that it prefers to export video in the proprietary WMV (Windows Media Video) format. This format does not read well across platforms (mac and linux) and does not work well with websites. Changing formats can be a difficult procedure without the right software.
The free version of Expression Encoder is available at no cost, but it does have a recording limit of 10 minutes.
Microsoft Office is an office suite of computer applications, servers, and services. There are Microsoft Offices available for students and home use, small business use, and mid-size business use.
Microsoft Office 2013 for Windows includes Word, Excel, Powerpoint, Outlook, OneNote, Access and Publisher.
Microsoft Office 2011 for Mac includes Word, Excel, Powerpoint, Outlook, OneNote, Microsoft Remote Desktop, and the Microsoft Communicator. **NOTE: Microsoft does not produce Publisher and Access equivalents for Mac.** Access to these packages may be possible through the Citrix virtualization service. Speak to your department consultant to find out more.
Microsoft Office 365 introduces cloud storage (via OneDrive, formerly known as SkyDrive) and document sharing and synchronization
The Microsoft Office Suite is installed by default on all UNCC computers running Windows or MacOS. To download the suite for home or privately owned computers, check the UNCC software page.
Microsoft Publisher is an entry-level desktop publishing application differing from Microsoft Word in that the emphasis is placed on page layout and design rather than text composition and proofing. Publisher allows for the easy layout of images and text designed for print media. Publisher is only produced for the Windows platform, but it is available on the mac platform via Citrix.
Sway is an experimental software preview by Microsoft for a new presentation tool. Sway allows users to combine text and media to create a presentable website. Users can pull content locally from the device in use, or from internet sources such as Twitter, OneDrive, YouTube, or Facebook. A sway can be viewed or displayed through the web browser or though native apps that will soon be released for iOS, Windows Phone, and Android.
Microsoft Visio (viz-zee-oh) is a diagramming and vector graphics application and is part of the Microsoft Office family. Visio can be useful for creating organization structures, network structures, room layouts, relational diagrams, process diagrams, flow charts, and more. Visio can also use UML (Universal Markup Language) to interface with database schemas. Visio starts with a set of templates that allow a user to easily develop a diagram using a preconfigured set of stencils, icons, and markup for a specific purpose. Additional templates and stencils can be downloaded via the Office Download Center. Users can also create from a blank template and use any stencils and objects from any library available.
Visio is not part of the standard Office installation and must be licensed and installed separately. It is only available on the Windows Platform.
Windows Movie Maker is a freeware video editing software by Microsoft. It is a part of Windows Essentials software suite and offers the ability to create and edit videos as well as to publish them on OneDrive, Facebook, YouTube, and Flickr. Movie Maker is a simplistic tool to edit basic video files. Some features include trim, cut, add narration, add webcam picture-in-picture, add credits, add title, pan, zoom, basic transitions, and basic color effects.
Microsoft is the standard word processor in the Office Suite. Though its primary focus is document editing, creation, and annotation, Word also contains some desktop publishing features. Word is available on the MacOS and Windows platforms.
