The installation of Outlook Social Connector is different from most downloads. Besides downloading Outlook Social Connector (for Outlook 2007 and Outlook 2003; it’s included in Outlook 2010), you must download provider files for each social network you want to connect to. Watch this short video to see how, and see the important links plus an overview of the Outlook Social Connector below.

Note: To use Facebook in the Outlook Social Connector, you must allow a third party application (which is the default setting). If you have edited these settings in Facebook, you may need to edit them again. On your Facebook home page, click Account, and then click Application Settings.

For more help, ask questions at Microsoft Answers.

--Doug Thomas

Here's a challenge: can I make a business card in 90 seconds? Learn a thing or two about to work with the free templates at Office Online.

Now, I don't know if you would want to make...

Today, the Outlook Social Connector lets you connect with Facebook and Windows Live, and it works for Outlook 2003 and Outlook 2007, along with Outlook 2010. Cool beans. I gotta say that I have been using this and it's quite pleasurable--plus a time-saver. How do you use it? Let me show you in this quick video (complete with a warning) on the Outlook Social Connector.

Learn more about the Connector and the links you need in the announcement. Need to learn about what else I mentioned in the video? Click here for how to work with RSS feeds in Outlook, adding email accounts, and see my earlier video on TwInbox, the Twitter add-in for Outlook.

--Doug Thomas

Our friends at Office Labs have spun a sequel: Ribbon Hero 2. Starting today, you can download this free game to learn some tips and shortcuts about Office. (Oh, to heck with that. Just download it because Ribbon Hero 2—featuring the time-travelling adventures of our old friend, Clippy—is fun. Even, dare I say, addictive?)

Ribbon Hero 2 follows Clippy (yes, he’s alive!) as he explores...

Love the ribbon or hate it, here's a way to find things more quickly: Search Commands, a free download from Office Labs:

Get the Search Commands  free download for Office 2007 and Office 2010 at Office Labs. It works for Word, Excel, and PowerPoint.

--Doug Thomas

Here’s a little balm to sooth your nerves about presenting at your next meeting. I’ve collected some advice from presentation masters Seth Godin, Guy Kawasaki, and Garr Reynolds to help you create better PowerPoint Slides and give better presentations. Plus we'll look at that ace you have up your sleeve: PowerPoint’s underutilized Presenter’s View tool. Read the full post to find help and how-to links discussed in the video.

--Doug Thomas

Now you can use and submit a resume template designed by Monster.com without leaving your Microsoft Word program. Doug Thomas shows you Monster's Easy Submit Resumes.

Find more about working with Monster Easy Submit templates. –Doug Thomas

In Office 2010, all suites will contain my favorite program: OneNote. Instead of diving into some the new features, I just want to show you some of things you can do with the program. For more on OneNote, read yesterday's post from our ace OneNote writer or Crabby's take on OneNote. You can download the free Office 2010 Beta (with OneNote included) here; it won't expire until 10/31/10.

--Doug Thomas

In Office 2007 or Office 2010 you can place your favorite commands in the aptly named Quick Access Toolbar (QAT) to always have them at the ready regardless what tab or Ribbon you are working in. Let me show you how this works in this short video.

As we approach the holidays, folks are checking their contacts data twice. Access is a great tool for this. You can use the powerful customization tools to make a contact list specifically for your needs, whether it's for details about them (their birthday, their dog's name), or your business with them (their last order, your last call).  Let me show you how in this short video using a free Contacts Database template from Office. com.

If you are looking for step-by-step instructions, the copious notes are in the full post.

--Doug Thomas