eXpresso is pleased to announce that during the spring of 2009, we will be releasing a new version of eXpresso that more fully enables Asymmetric Document Collaboration™ by introducing complete support for Excel in the browser. Here, we answer a few questions about the new release.

What are the differences between the current version of eXpresso and the Spring ’09 release?

eXpresso currently utilizes Microsoft’s Office Web Components for online viewing and editing of spreadsheets online. Not all of the features of Excel are supported by the Office Web Components and are, therefore, not available when using eXpresso’s online interface. To address this, we have provided an add-in for Excel, allows users to view and edit spreadsheets that are stored in eXpresso directly from the desktop Excel application. When using the add-in, all of the features of Excel, with the exception of linked spreadsheets, are supported. When the spreadsheet is shared, contacts need to open the spreadsheet using the add-in to have access to these special features. The most commonly used features that currently require use of the add-in are:

• Text wrap and other special text formatting
• Protected Areas
• Pivot Tables
• Split and Freeze Panes
• Printing
• Charts & Graphs
• Images
• Data Validation
• Conditional Formatting
• Embedded Objects
• Hyperlinks
• Comments

With the next release, eXpresso will replace the Office Web Components with the eXpresso Office Controller. This new solution will enable users to take advantages of all of the features of Excel online. eXpresso subscribers will be able to work with all spreadsheet elements, including; charts, graphs, images, macros and text formatting and each of the other features in the list above. The toolbar for file editing in eXpresso will look exactly like the user’s Excel 2003 or Excel 2007 toolbar. All of eXpresso’s Asymmetric Collaboration™ features such as regional sharing; timed alerts and complete audit trail and history will remain accessible, making eXpresso, by far, the most powerful spreadsheet collaboration service available.

Will I need to install any new software?

Yes. You will be prompted to complete a onetime download of the eXpresso Office Controller. The download is very quick and you will be walked through with each step. It should not take more than a few minutes. You do not need to uninstall the Microsoft Office Web Components.

Are there any other software requirements?

There are no new software requirements. As always, eXpresso requires a valid Microsoft Excel license and the Internet Explorer browser or the Internet Explorer tab installed in a Firefox browser.

Is there a charge for the new release?

No. People who subscribe to eXpresso now will get the new features at no additional charge. We should note that starting with this release, everyone who needs to upload or edit a spreadsheet will need to be an eXpresso subscriber.

Will I still need the eXpresso Add-in for Excel?

Some people will find that they can complete their work easily in the browser and will find the Add-in no longer necessary; however for some it will still be of great use. The Add-in is ideal if you want to work on your files while you are not connected to the Internet. Sophisticated users may also use the Add-in as a way to connect an Excel file to another data source. In fact, as we continue to improve our online service, we are improving the Add-in as well. With the next release, you will notice that it is easier than ever to upload and save files to the eXpresso server.

Do you tweet? Is hashtag part of your vocabulary? Are you constantly being followed or are you the one doing the following? Or, are you a Web extrovert and crave more friends?

Whatever the case, you can follow expressocorp on Twitter or connect with us on Facebook.  With Twitter, you’ll receive short updates from our team. We’ll tweet about things like development, product announcements, user tips, and more. It’s painless, and we promise not to overtweet.

On eXpresso’s Facebook page, we would like to see our users participate in open discussions, in addition to seeing announcements, event info, and more. Please check out our page and follow us by becoming a fan.

Thanks and let the dialogue begin!

Note: We’ll tend to use both of these services to communicate informal information that is better suited for dialogue in these forms of media. Please continue to get official news through the eXpresso website, our email newsletter, and our blog.

Tags: twitter, facebook, expresso, expressocorp, office, collaboration, new, announcements

One of the newest features launched in eXpresso is the ability to define limitations for the interactions a person may have with a file. This takes file collaboration to an unprecedented new level.  Not only can people be viewing and editing the same file at the same time, different people can be working within their own customized view of the file. I’ll show you two simple examples.

The first is a “Sales Forecast” spreadsheet that will contain the projected numbers of sales per product or service category.  This aggregate view makes a lot of sense for the Sale Manager, but each sales person specializes in specific categories, so seeing all the forecast categories is not necessary for them. In Figure 1, you can see that the file owner can see all columns and rows including the category color legend at the top, but the category color legend and the non-applicable category rows are hidden from each user.  As a result, each user only sees the columns and rows that relate to her/his responsibilities.  It’s like four different files exist, but really it is only one file that has been customized per person. This saves a lot of time for the Sales Manager because she/he does not need to consolidate files, create separate sheets for each sales person, or link cells across sheets.

Figure 1 – Customizing Spreadsheet Access per Person

My second example is similar but for a presentation. Let’s say this is a “Company Overview” presentation for an upcoming speaking engagement. Coworkers could be given access to update the slides that relate to her or his area of expertise.  In Figure 2, the file owner can see all the slides, but specific individuals may only see their relevant slides.  You could also hide slides from people with View Only rights, too. (Not to be confused with the Hide Slide feature in PowerPoint.  With PowerPoint, hidden slides are still visible, except when in Show mode.  With eXpresso, hidden slides do not even show up in the list.) In the past, people would have needed to send separate files, forcing the file owner to copy and paste submitted slides into one master file, but with eXpresso this can all be done with one file.

Figure 2 – Customizing Presentation Access per Person

Today, you can customize Excel files per person in eXpresso, but very soon you will be able to do this for PowerPoint too.  To start customizing your spreadsheets:

• Sign in to eXpresso
• Share a file with someone by giving them “Limited Editing” rights
• Then “Set Limits” on the file to make customized views of the file

Sign in right now and give it a try.

Tags: online, collaboration, spreadsheets, presentations, customize, share, files, eXpresso

Please join one of our partners, Etelos, for the next Etelos Partner showcase, where they will show you how to save time and relieve spreadsheet frustration while trying to collaborate with others.

On Thursday, July 17, 10 AM PDT, their webinar will teach you how to share your Excel® spreadsheets online with other people using eXpresso. Remember, instead of emailing files back and forth, eXpresso enables multiple contacts to work on the same spreadsheet at the same time while online. All changes are tracked and published to a shared version of the file in real-time. Plus, eXpresso has added functionality to Microsoft Excel by providing much needed features like real-time collaborative editing, cell editing assignments, spreadsheet comparisons, individual-level access controls, file change history, and more. Registration is free.

Unique functionalities that will be demonstrated:

• Getting Started and System Requirements
• Uploading and Sharing Spreadsheets
• Editing Excel Files Online
• Inviting and Adding Contacts
• Sharing Cell Regions
• Setting Alerts
• Assigning Tags, Notes and Folders
• Accessing Controls

Sign up today and reserve your Webinar seat now at:
https://www2.gotomeeting.com/register/306181319

Title: How to share your Excel® spreadsheets online
Date: Thursday, July 17, 2008
Time: 10:00 AM – 11:00 AM PDT

This webinar is co-sponsored by Etelos and eXpresso. The Etelos Partner Showcase features some of the innovative and useful web applications that can be found in the Etelos Marketplace™. The Etelos Marketplace is the place for developing, distributing and consuming web-based, on-demand business solutions. To discover more innovative web applications, please visit www.etelos.com/marketplace.

Webinar System Requirements

• PC-based Attendees need Windows® 2000, XP Home, XP Pro, 2003 Server, Vista
• Macintosh®-based Attendees need Mac OS® X 10.3.9 (Panther®) or newer

This webinar invitation is open to both current and future Etelos developers, partners and customers. Etelos is revolutionizing how software is developed, delivered and consumed. For more information on other Web applications from Etelos, go to www.etelos.com/marketplace.

Tags: How, share, excel, spreadsheets, online, expresso, webinar, free, etelos, marketplace

As you might guess, I’ve seen a lot of spreadsheets lately. I’ve seen extremely complex spreadsheets for production management that include pivot tables and macros. I’ve seen very simple spreadsheets with only a few rows for expense reporting. I’ve seen boring spreadsheets and even a fun soccer one. (Thank you Reto.) Most of these spreadsheets are developed to fill a very specific need and are really only useful to their owners and collaborators.

However, a partner recently suggested that a good way to introduce eXpresso to new users would be to create package of more generic spreadsheets that would be useful to many different small and medium businesses. We’ve done just that, and we would love to share them with anyone who is interested. Our free Excel template package includes:

• Balance Sheet, Projected
• Cash Flow, 12 Months
• Financial History and Ratios
• Profit Projection, 3 Year
• Sales Forecast, 1 Year
• Start-up Expenses

These spreadsheets are simple, will save you lots of time, and include easy-to-follow instructions. If you are interested in some or all of these spreadsheets, just send me an email, and I will share them with you. Or, add me to your contacts the next time you are in eXpresso and send me a chat message the next time you see me online.

My email address (and user ID) is anewman at expressocorp dot com.

Tags: free, excel, spreadsheet, templates, expresso, online

In case you have not heard, a new version of the eXpresso Add-in for Excel is available. All users of the Add-in should download the updated version today. You can sign in to eXpresso and download the new Add-in or download it now. Users who do not install the new Add-in will get an error message.

Users of the Add-in will be very pleased with the new features and enhancements in this upgraded version. Enhancements include:

• Support for your spreadsheet folders and double click to open
• Improved file “Check Out” for working with spreadsheets while away from an Internet connection
• Improved Support for Vista and Office 2007
• Automated updates for future releases

If you haven’t tried it yet, the eXpresso Add-in for Excel gives you access to your spreadsheets that are stored in eXpresso directly from your desktop Excel application. It combines the convenience of editing inside Excel with the sharing and real-time collaboration environment offered by eXpresso. Even better, when you work with spreadsheets using the add-in, all of the features of Excel will be available, even those not supported by the online interface.

To start working with your eXpresso spreadsheets directly inside Excel, download and install the new Add-in today.

Tags: excel, add-in, spreadsheets, online, share, collaborate, off-line, desktop, expresso

The European Soccer Championship 2008 is just a few days away. I’m especially excited to write about it because Switzerland, together with Austria is hosting it.
The opening game (Switzerland – Czech Repulic) is taking place in Basel on the 7. June 6PM GMT+1.

You may ask what eXpresso has to do with this championship? Well, in nature not so much but it provides an ideal platform to host a “score game” among friends and co-workers. Simply list all the games in a spreadsheet, share it with your friends/co-workers and let them put in their guesses.

Each participant has only access to his/her cell region. Final results and the finalists will only be known during the championship. Thanks to eXpresso I will be able to update it without ever emailing a single spreadsheet back and forth!

Send us an email if you would like to participate our internal eXpresso game or simply host your own. I would love to share the spreadsheet with you.

I hope to see Switzerland in the finals. Do you?

Tags: soccer, football, european, excel, spreadsheet, picks, championship, 2008, expresso, share, fun