Office SP1: Look For Improved InfoPath
Last week, Microsoft said to expect SP1 by late June, but provided no other details.
Internal plans for the update,which is slated to include the usual fixes as well as significant enhancements to InfoPath and OneNote,called for a mid-April release candidate with a release-to-Web version scheduled for late May, sources close to the company told CRN earlier this year.
The company hopes to bolster InfoPath's forms-editing and layout capabilities to ease the sharing and routing of forms, sources said. In addition, Microsoft wants to enable users to "ink in" input to the program's form fields.
ON THE OFFICE SP1
>> InfoPath enhancements: inking capability, better routing, form-sharing and workflow
>> "Springboard" security improvements
>> Rollup of all fixes and patches to component apps>> New due date: Late June
But those enhancements made a May rollout date of SP1 aggressive. Insiders said SP1 was a "date-driven" release motivated by Microsoft's desire to spur Office upgrades.
Office 2003 shipped in late October. Some observers say volume license sale have not been brisk, but it is not unusual for large enterprises to hold off upgrading their desktops until the first service pack is released.
Microsoft is also rolling in security fixes with its "springboard" push, sources close to the company said. The goal of that effort is to retroactively secure already-shipping products against threats.
Company officials would not comment on proposed new features that might flow into SP1 or future releases, but maintained that Microsoft is happy with the adoption rate of Office 2003.