Product Reviews

ISBN 0-7356-0555-6

This book is good value for money provided you're not at your desk working - mainly because, when you're there, you can read Microsoft Office 2000 Resource Kit on-line, as well download the contents of its accompanying CD. However, since this is less than convenient, the target audience may well find it easier to purchase the book instead.

The Resource Kit is primarily a reference guide to assist in the roll out, support and maintenance of Office 2000 within large organisations. It's also a useful tool to examine the issues that an Office 2000 deployment might have for an organisation before a decision has been taken to install. The book first examines the various deployment options for Office 2000 (using Terminal Server for entirely server-based operation, Network Server for local processing but

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central app installation and normal local operation). There's also a lot of mind-boggling but important information on how Office hooks into email and database servers, followed by a run through Web browser and server support.

The new installation technologies are covered in great detail, not just in principle but in practice too. For example, the book discusses the order in which various components need to be installed, and covers special configurations for different types of user. The new Custom Installation Wizard is explained in depth, as are the various options for removing old and current Office bits.

On the support side, the Resource Kit spells out how to use system policies to control user activity, set up custom help facilities and manage the various security features. Possibly the most vital section covers how to plan the migration to 2000 in a mixed environment - Access being as nasty as ever. Finally, Office 2000's new Web integration functionality is stripped bare. This is essential reading for IT managers as it's fundamentally different from Office 97, and takes a lot of planning if users are to get the best from the new features.

The Resource Kit isn't a great read - I'm convinced everything Microsoft Press churns out is written by a top-secret supercomputer in a bunker in Redmond. Boredom aside, it's an informative tool, but you may prefer to visit the Web site and research for free.