In my role I work with Microsoft Word on a daily basis and here is a quick top tip. If you have inserted figure numbers for images or drawings in a Microsoft Word document, you can update them throughout the document and the figures will renumber automatically. This is helpful if you have moved or inserted new images.
This process applies to Microsoft® Word® 2010, 2013, 2016, 2019 or 365 (Windows)
Updating figure numbers in a Word document
To update all figure numbers (caption fields) in a Word document:
I have always been a big advocate for Microsoft Apps for Enterprise since falling into it very early on in my consultancy career so much so I have delivered talks to User Groups and Conferences.
In my presentation I spoke heavily about channel management and why channels should be changed based on the type of end user. Microsoft have now received the ability for administrators to “allow” end users modify their own Office channel.
I see a number of positives but also negatives especially when it comes to third party plugin or applications that may not be supported in a particular channel release.
So how do users change the channel?
This can be done via two methods
Microsoft Endpoint Manager – Administrative Template
Group Policy Template
For this post I am going to demonstrate via Microsoft Endpoint Manager but the path of the setting is in the same place in Group Policy.
Launch Microsoft Endpoint Manager and browse to Devices -> Configuration Policy.
Click Create Policy Select Windows 10 and later for Platform Select Templates for Profile type Select Administrative Templates for Template name Then press Create
Provide a name and description like below then press next
The policy we want to configure lives under two locations, but you only need to configure one.
Tick Enable and select the channels you want to make available to the end user.
Select any Scope tags you may require then press Next
Add your Assignment Groups then press Next
Click Create
Once the policy has been assigned to the workstation the end user will be able to switch channel on your selection earlier. Thats how simple it is to end users to have the ability to modify their own channel
If you are running Exchange 2010, 2013, 2016 or 2019. You will need to run the following PowerShell script and in this example I am going to be targeting Exchange 2010.
# This is just default path to Exchange 2010 RPC logs. Change it to match your Exchange version.
$logpath = 'C:\Program Files\Microsoft\Exchange Server\V14\Logging\RPC Client Access'
# We limit the amount of logs by timeframe. This is to get more current view.
$files = Get-ChildItem $logpath |Where-Object {$_.LastWriteTime -ge (Get-Date).AddDays(-15)}
# Now, let's get the logs.
$logs = $files | ForEach {Get-Content $_.FullName}| Where-Object {$_ -notlike '#*'}
# We covert the data to PowerShell objects
$result = $logs |ConvertFrom-Csv -Header date-time,session-id,seq-number,client-name,organization-info,client-software,client-software-version,client-mode,client-ip,server-ip,protocol,application-id,operation,rpc-status,processing-time,operation-specific,failures
# And finally we filter the client information and group it by version number.
$result | Where-Object {$_.'client-software' -eq 'OUTLOOK.EXE'}|group client-software-version
Once you have obtained the required information, you need identity which Outlook version is contacting to your Exchange server by using the following table.
Sometimes, you may come across an issue the required language pack is missing from your specified SourcePath location. As an administrator for your network may have not downloaded it or removed it by accident. In the event this may or may not happen, Microsoft recommends that you specify a backup language and allow the Office 365 Deployment Tool to use the Office CDN (Content Delivery Network) for missing files.
To do is you will need to ensure that the required languages are specified in the XML and AllowCdnFallback is set to true, as the ODT will use source files from the Office CDN to complete the installation successfully.
Microsoft Apps for Enterprise (formally known as Click to Run) has been a massive part of my consultancy / implementation career going back to the very first day I implemented it for a customer in 2013. Since then I have earned a number of scars from implementations where things have always gone to plan due to the limitations within the product at the time or because a customer network just couldn’t handle the download of an .OST file 50 users.
So lets begin with a typical configuration.xml file as shown below;
Lets dive in by first saying, when modifying the configuration.xml you need to be careful of the following;
Case – One thing I have seen many times where people have been caught out is where case has been changed for example;
Add to add, Product ID to product id
So lets look at the Add Element of the configuration.xml
SourcePath
This defines where the installation files for Microsoft Apps for Enterprise are stored using the /download switch. In many of my deployments, organisations have specified a network location. The reasoning behind this allows the organization to control the update of Features/Functionality as many organizations have 3rd party add-ins that maybe affected by a newer release.
“\\Server\Share”
One of the best parts of SourcePath, its optional. If you blank out the path like below;
Once all the installation files are pulled down into the SourcePath if a modification happens to the configuration.xml and the /download switch is ran. The Office Deployment Tool will conserve your network bandwidth by downloading only the missing files.
OfficeClientEdition
This defines whether the 32-bit or 64-bit edition of Microsoft 365 Apps is downloaded or installed. If Office is not installed on the device and OfficeClientEdition is not specified, the ODT will default to the 64-bit edition, unless the device is running a 32-bit edition of Windows or has less than 4 GB RAM.
If Office is installed and OfficeClientEdition not specified again, the Office Deployment Tool will match the architecture of the existing installation of Office.
If Office is installed and OfficeClientEdition is specified, then it must match the already installed architecture. If it doesn’t, the installation will fail, since mixed architectures are not supported.
Allowed values:
OfficeClientEdition=”64″
OfficeClientEdition=”32″
Again following an on going theme which you will see throughout this post. Is option is again, Optionally and will use the intelligence above.
Channel
This defines which channel to use for installing Office. If Office is not installed on the device, the default setting for the Channel attribute is Current. If Office is installed on the device and the channel attribute is not specified, the Office Deployment Tool will match the channel of the existing installation.
Now in my experience, the allowed values are not set in stone, Microsoft loves changing the name to fit their approach. So as of December 2020 the below names are currently valid.
Allowed values:
Channel=”BetaChannel”
Channel=”CurrentPreview”
Channel=”Current”
Channel=”MonthlyEnterprise”
Channel=”SemiAnnualPreview”
Channel=”SemiAnnual”
Important Note
– To use these attribute values, you need to be using at least version 16.0.12827.20268 of the Office Deployment Tool, which was released on Tuesday June 9, 2020.
– Previous allowed values for each update channel can still be used, which means you don’t have to update your older configuration XML files.
– Beta Channel (sometimes referred to as Insider Fast) is not a supported build so should only be used in test environments and by a small group of select users, such as IT staff or application developers.
Current Channel
Monthly Enterprise Channel
Semi-Annual Enterprise Channel
Recommended use
Provide your users with new Office features as soon as they are ready, but on no set schedule.
Provide your users with new Office features only once a month and on a predictable schedule.
For select devices in your organization, where extensive testing is needed before rolling out new Office features. For example, to comply with regulatory, governmental, or other organizational requirements.
Release frequency1
At least once a month (likely more often), but on no set schedule
Once a month, on the second Tuesday of the month
Once a month, on the second Tuesday of the month
Feature updates2
As soon as they’re ready (usually once a month), but on no set schedule
Once a month, on the second Tuesday of the month
Twice a year (in January and July), on the second Tuesday of the month
Security updates3
(if needed)
Once a month, on the second Tuesday of the month
Once a month, on the second Tuesday of the month
Once a month, on the second Tuesday of the month
Non-security updates2
(if needed)
Usually at least once a month (possibly more often), but no set schedule
Once a month, on the second Tuesday of the month
Once a month, on the second Tuesday of the month
Support duration for a given version4
Until the next version is released with new features, which is usually about one month
4 For a table that shows which version and build is currently supported for each of these update channels, see Update history for Microsoft 365 Apps.
So lets look at the Product ID Element of the configuration.xml
Now this is one of the most important elements understanding what version of Microsoft Office needs to be installed and as you can see the most install will be O365PlusRetail however, there many a need for other versions.
Product ID
Office 365 Plan
Product ID
Microsoft 365 Apps for enterprise
O365ProPlusRetail
Office 365 Enterprise E3
O365ProPlusRetail
Office 365 Enterprise E4
O365ProPlusRetail
Office 365 Enterprise E5
O365ProPlusRetail
Office 365 Midsize
O365ProPlusRetail
Office 365 Business
O365BusinessRetail
Office 365 Business Premium
O365BusinessRetail
Office Small Business Premium
O365SmallBusPremRetail
Microsoft 365 E3
O365ProPlusRetail
Microsoft 365 E5
O365ProPlusRetail
Microsoft 365 Business
O365BusinessRetail
But how do you install other non-Microsoft 365 product IDs which are supported
AccessRetail
ProjectProXVolume
Access2019Retail
ProjectPro2019Retail
Access2019Volume
ProjectPro2019Volume
ExcelRetail
ProjectStdRetail
Excel2019Retail
ProjectStdXVolume
Excel2019Volume
ProjectStd2019Retail
HomeBusinessRetail
ProjectStd2019Volume
HomeBusiness2019Retail
ProPlus2019Volume
HomeStudentRetail
PublisherRetail
HomeStudent2019Retail
Publisher2019Retail
O365HomePremRetail
Publisher2019Volume
OneNoteRetail
Standard2019Volume
OutlookRetail
VisioProXVolume
Outlook2019Retail
VisioPro2019Retail
Outlook2019Volume
VisioPro2019Volume
Personal2019Retail
VisioStdRetail
PowerPointRetail
VisioStdXVolume
PowerPoint2019Retail
VisioStd2019Retail
PowerPoint2019Volume
VisioStd2019Volume
ProfessionalRetail
WordRetail
Professional2019Retail
Word2019Retail
Word2019Volume
For those with a keen eye, Skype for Business was not listed above but heres the supported IDs
Skype for Business 2016
SkypeforBusinessRetail
Skype for Business Basic 2016
SkypeforBusinessEntryRetail
Skype for Business 2019
SkypeforBusiness2019Retail
Skype for Business 2019 (volume licensed)
SkypeforBusiness2019Volume
Skype for Business Basic 2019
SkypeforBusinessEntry2019Retail
Language ID
When installing Office for any organisation getting the language is one of the most important elements.
MatchOS and MatchInstalled cannot install the operating system languages if Office doesn’t support that language or if the ODT cannot find the correct language pack in the local source files.
MatchInstalled can be used only if there is at least one Click-to-Run product already installed. It can’t be used with the /download switch for the Office Deployment Tool.
Updates Enabled
If set to TRUE, Office will check for updates and If set to FALSE, Office won’t check for updates, but the user can check for updates by going to File > Account > Update Options > Update Now.
Allowed values:
Enabled=”TRUE”
Enabled=”FALSE”
This is also optionally and the default value is TRUE if not specified.
UpdatePath attribute (part of Updates element)
This defines where the updates for Office come from. UpdatePath can specify a network, local, or HTTP path of a source for Office installation files. Environment variables can be used for network or local paths.
If you use Group Policy with the Administrative Template files (ADMX/ADML) for Office, you can set UpdatePath by using the Update Path policy setting. You can find this policy setting under Computer Configuration\Policies\Administrative Templates\Microsoft Office 2016 (Machine)\Updates.
This is also optionally and defaults to the CDN if not specified.
Level attribute (part of Display element)
If Level is set to None, Office is installed with no user interface: no progress bars, completion screens, error messages, or other user interface are displayed.
If Level is set to Full, Office is installed with the normal installation experience.
Allowed values:
Level=”None”
Level=”Full”
AcceptEULA attribute (part of Display element)
If AcceptEULA is set to TRUE, the user does not see a Microsoft Software License Terms dialog box. If this attribute is set to FALSE or is not included, the user may see a Microsoft Software License Terms dialog box. We recommend that administrators set AcceptEULA to TRUE.
Allowed values:
AcceptEULA=”TRUE”
AcceptEULA=”FALSE”
This is also optionally and default is set to FALSE if not specified.
This completes the understanding of the core configuration.xml, in the next part I will look at all options available under the Add Element.
During my career within the Microsoft 365 stack, I have even delivered a number of sessions about Microsoft Apps for Enterprise at a several conferences within the EMEA region. One of the questions I have always encountered is how do I switch channel I am on without pushing out a new configuration.xml?
Well this is where PowerShell becomes your friend.
Variables
First component of the script is the variables used within the function I have created. In the function you will need to modify the sections where it defines the channel name.
The below function is designed to check if the required reg keys exist before attempting to switch the channel. The final step in the script is to start the update process.
Microsoft has now announced that Microsoft Apps for Enterprise will receive 3 changes to its product releases. These changes are currently In Development but I dont expect them to be in that state for long as I am already seeing one of the changes within my own tenant.
Over the lifetime of Office ProPlus which is now Microsoft Apps for Business, Microsoft have changed the name for the channels multiple time. So this new development isnt a surprise as Microsoft does love a name change.
Existing Channel Name
New Channel Name
Semi-Annual
Semi-Annual Enterprise
Semi-Annual (Targeted)
Semi-Annual Enterprise (Preview)
Monthly
Current
Monthly (Targeted)
Current (Preview)
New update channel for Microsoft Apps for Enterprise
In the past, there have only ever been 4 main Channels for Microsoft Apps for Enterprise (not including the insider release channels). Microsoft has announced that they are creating a new channel to help customers seeking to stay up to date with features updates, such as real-time collaboration and AI capabilities. This channel will be called Monthly Enterprise
The existing Office 365 tenants you should be firmilar that Semi-Annual Channel is the default channel, however for new Office 365 tenants the default will become the Current Channel.