Using Office Web Apps for the MSFT 2010 Annual Report

We're always excited to see new ways people are using Office Web Apps to share documents. A few weeks ago, Microsoft released its 2010 Annual Report and, for the first time, anyone can view it directly in their web browser using Word Web App (or download it to their desktop if they prefer).

Now investors can read the 10-K, letter to shareholders, or annual report, even if they're at a computer that doesn't have Office installed.And, thanks to the high-fidelity viewing experience in Office Web Apps, everyone gets a great view of the content with all the pictures, charts, footnotes, and formatting in the web browser.

With Office Web Apps and SkyDrive, anyone can easily add a Web Apps link to a document on their website or blog for free. For example, you could post a link to your resume, grocery list (in Excel, of course), or humorous PowerPoint presentation on your blog. Or businesses could link to support material, presentations, or price lists on their website (just like Dane Creek Folios). (For PowerPoint presentations and Excel spreadsheets, you can also embed mini versions of your documents directly in your site.)

Then anyone viewing the site can just click on the document and view it in their browser. You don't have to worry about what version of Office visitors to your site have, or if they have Office installed at all. And there's no need to translate your document contents into HTML or convert to PDF - just use your original Office documents.

Here's how to do this in a few simple steps:

1. Visit http://office.live.com and sign-in.
2. Add your Office document to the Public folder in SkyDrive (or create a new folder and share it with everyone).
3. Copy the link (hover over the file in SkyDrive, right-click and select copy hyperlink).
4. Paste the link on your site.

Hopefully this gives you some ideas for how you might use Office Web Apps to enhance your website or blog. We'd love to hear stories of how you're using the product!

Evan Lew
Product Manager, Office Web Apps