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I need to use Mac like I would on PC for work. Please help!

Anonymous
2024-04-17T19:35:28+00:00

I need to use Mac like I would on PC for work. Please help!

Microsoft 365 and Office | Word | For business | MacOS

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  1. Charles Kenyon 166.5K Reputation points Volunteer Moderator
    2024-04-17T21:22:06+00:00

    They are not the same program even though they edit the same files. There are Windows emulators for the Mac that let you run Windows programs, like Parallels. That is the only way you will get all Word for Windows functions on a Mac.

    You may not need all of them, though.

    Can you be specific about differences that are a problem for you? There well be ways to do what you want in the Mac version.

    How to Ask Questions In this Forum (to get the best and quickest answers)

    Here is my summary opinion on the different programs named Word:

    See Compare Word features on different platforms. (this is an archival copy) current page is Word Features Comparison: Web vs Desktop.

    • There are multiple programs, all named Word, and all created and published by Microsoft. This can be confusing when trying to get help.
    • They all can edit the same document files that have the same file structure. Some of the programs have no control over some of the document structures.
    • They may all be called Microsoft 365 or Word 365 if using the subscription plan. If it is called Office 2021 (2019, 2016, etc.) it is the perpetual license version which is only the desktop programs.
    • But, they are different programs with different features and controls.

    As of April 2024, the most powerful Word program, with the most features, remains the Windows desktop application from Microsoft 365. I do not expect that to change. The perpetual license version Word 2021 is very close as far as features but does not receive new features as added. The perpetual license versions of Office/Word is only the desktop applications and does not include the online or mobile versions.

    The Macintosh desktop application is second in number of features.

    The things available in the Windows version not yet on the Mac version include Content Controls, Building Blocks, UserForms, and ActiveX. It can use, but cannot create, or modify most Content Controls. AutoText is a Building Block that the Mac can and does use. The Mac version lacks the more powerful tools to manage styles available in the Windows version through the Manage Styles Dialog. See How do I manage styles? Mac User. (Look at all of the responses, not just the one marked as an answer.)

    The browser version of Word – Word Online – has a Transcribe feature that has recently been added to the Windows desktop version of Microsoft 365’s Word. It also has the ability to Export to PowerPoint (although not that usefully). Otherwise, the browser version has far fewer features and editing in it has been reported to mess up automatic numbering. Chromebooks use a version of this or of the Android mobile app. See How to access Microsoft Office on a Chromebook. This can only be used with documents stored on OneDrive or SharePoint. Differences between using a document in the browser and in the Word desktop application. I would use this for note taking and for quick viewing/printing, but not for editing. Especially not for editing long or complex documents. The ability to mess these up is too high.

    The mobile applications (Android/IOS, etc.) vary somewhat but have far fewer features. I would use them for note taking and for quick viewing/printing, but not for editing. Especially not for editing long or complex documents. Primarily these can only be used with documents on OneDrive or SharePoint*. (Usually, you can get at documents on your local device, but it is tricky.)* What you can do in the Microsoft 365 apps on mobile devices with a Microsoft 365 subscription See also Word for Android Phones Help, Word for Android Tablets HelpWord for iPhone Help, Word for iPad Help.

    When seeking help, it is important to give the program that you are having problems with as a part of your question.

    Note that the statements about capabilities and usefulness are my opinions, not anything from Microsoft. They are based on my use and on my observations over the years here and in other Word forums. In my opinion, none of the versions is perfect. They can all be useful, recognizing their limitations.

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  2. Bob Jones AKA CyberTaz MVP 434.8K Reputation points
    2024-04-17T21:03:18+00:00

    You need to be far more specific in order for anyone to even begin to provide a meaningful response.

    Keep in mind that although they are similar a Mac is not just a PC with an Apple logo:

    • PCs & Macs are different hardware technology
    • Each runs it's own Operating System
    • Software written for one OS may not be identical to its counterpart written for the other.
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