It’s been a while since Microsoft Office 2013 preview was released to the public. In addition to the Metro-inspired user interface, Office 2013 incorporates numerous new features and enhancements and lets you access your documents from anywhere by storing them in cloud.
Just like Windows 8, Office 2013 also works great on both touch-screen devices and traditional computers. A number of touch gestures have been included to improve the touch experience and quickly perform various tasks when working on a touch screen (see how to use Office on touch screen). Microsoft has even released two separate Metro-style apps Office apps: Lync client and OneNote client. Both these apps work alongside regular desktop versions.
Other than Lync and OneNote apps Microsoft hasn’t released any other apps designed exclusively for touch screen. But the Office team has done a range of improvements to make finger access better.
Did you know that there is a secret Touch Mode in Office 2013? Yes, there is a secret Touch Mode in Office 2013 that allows you easily access all options and features of Office on touch screen devices. The Touch Mode adds a little more space around buttons and icons so you can tap theme more easily on a touch-enabled screen.
According to Microsoft, apps automatically use this mode when installed on a touch hardware but in some cases you need to manually activate the mode. And the best thing is you can activate the Touch Mode even on your traditional computer.
How to activate Touch Mode in Office 2013:
Step 1: Launch Word, Excel, PowerPoint or any other Office 2013 program.
Step 2: Right-click (see how to right-click on touch screen) on the small down arrow next to the quick access toolbar, expand the menu, and then click or tap on Touch Mode to add the Touch Mode to the Quick Access Toolbar.
Step 3: From now onwards, just click or tap the Touch Mode icon in the Quick Access Toolbar to activate the Touch Mode.
Don’t forget to check out how to install Office 2013 on a different location or drive, and how to activate Office 2013.
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