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New MS Word for ipadOS?

C

C Punkt

macrumors member
Original poster
Sep 2, 2019
70
19
Hi there,

so in the heading it said iPhone and iPad, but within the structure there where only iOS branches so I hope I'm right here anyways..

I'm wondering when the new iPadOS optimized word update comes out, everywhere it says: now, from now on, in fall, soon but no real date. I have the newest version on my iPad but cant really tell whether this is the final version (I think many functions are still missing)

I can't find more of a changelog than this:

"When moving a finger across the built-in trackpad of Magic Keyboard, the cursor transforms into the tool you need depending on the content you’re pointing to. And using a mouse or trackpad with iPad for common tasks like highlighting a passage of text in Word, selecting a range of cells in Excel, and moving and resizing graphics in PowerPoint are as simple and intuitive as ever. This experience will be immediately familiar to anyone who has ever used Office on a Mac or a PC and helps make iPad even more versatile and capable of getting more work done."

I think that works for me now, but I expected mouse support as on a PC: Moving the cursor inbewteen a word and split it e.g. or right click and open context menu.. all this won't work yet. Also my interface doesn't look like that there on the pic:

techcommunity.microsoft.com

New Office updates make working on iPad even easier | Microsoft Community Hub

Check out the latest updates to the Office apps that take advantage of the capabilities of the newest iPad Pro, iPad Air and iPad models.
techcommunity.microsoft.com techcommunity.microsoft.com

Do you have any info on how this "roll out" works and how fast and in what steps? Thanks!
 
Still haven’t go the update as well.
Waiting forever to get proper contextual menu via mouse right click and more keyboard shortcut.
 
Has anyone received this update yet? I don’t understand how it could be updated in the App Store for some users, but not others. I don’t know anyone who’s received the update.
 
Word 2.43 for IpadOS is out here (Europe) and .... and it is just bugfixes. No new features. Anybody else got more?
 
Got the update as well in SEA.

I notice some changes on Excel. At least addresses some issues that I notice before (or was it already there previously, not sure):
1. Now can select multiple cells by holding shift and tapping on certain cell. Previously had to hold shift + using arrow keys.
2. Right click / two fingers tap on cell now bring up contextual menu (slow response).

Frustratingly still no insert page number on PowerPoint (come on!).

It seems now the pointer is shape shifting to menu icons as well.

Opening PowerPoint for the first time showing notification that now it support using pointing device / trackpad.
 
Last edited:
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macdogpro said:
Got the update as well in SEA.

I notice some changes on Excel. At least addresses some issues that I notice before (or was it already there previously, not sure):
1. Now can select multiple cells by holding shift and tapping on certain cell. Previously had to hold shift + using arrow keys.
2. Right click / two fingers tap on cell now bring up contextual menu (slow response).

Frustratingly still no insert page number on PowerPoint (come on!).

It seems now the pointer is shape shifting to menu icons as well.

Opening PowerPoint for the first time showing notification that now it support using pointing device / trackpad.
Click to expand...
Interesting, thanks for reporting. What is the version number of the update you received, if I may ask? 2.43, or later?
 
Another two weeks gone by.... no sign of the promised extended trackpad abilities here in Germany so far. Anybody can report having a version later than 2.43?
 
Microsoft Word start screen on the new iPad Air. ... These updates are just the latest in a series of improvements... To the best of my knowledge, there is no such thing as a phased roll-out in the iOS/iPad App Store.
 
Guys and gals, there's some news: just saw that Microsoft released Excel 2.44 for iPad-OS: fast switching between private and business-accounts AND rich visual feedback with pointing devices. So they have not forgotten us.... I hardly ever use Excel, but here's hoping they'll follow suit and release Word 2.44 soon ....
 
Ybersetzer said:
Guys and gals, there's some news: just saw that Microsoft released Excel 2.44 for iPad-OS: fast switching between private and business-accounts AND rich visual feedback with pointing devices. So they have not forgotten us.... I hardly ever use Excel, but here's hoping they'll follow suit and release Word 2.44 soon ....
Click to expand...
Just updated Excel and PowerPoint to version 2.44.

Didn’t find any visual changes on “rich visual feedback with pointing devices”, the shape shifting cursor is not different from version 2.43 that already doing that.

Minor visual change that I noticed is on the start screen, there’s no more color themed vertical ribbon now. Similar to the recently shown new beta version of the web app that‘s now become light grey for the ribbon. Only the home icon that still being color themed (green for Excel, orange for PowerPoint). All of the icons has been simplified without text now.
But on the working screen, the horizontal colored ribbon is still the same.

Didn’t find any new function or tools either.

I hope they‘re adding scribble compatibility for Word soon, that’ll explain the delay in updating.
 
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Word 2.44 is now available. The iPad-OS-grey-dot-cursor is now a traditionally shaped grey cursor when moving around text, and text selection has become easier.
 
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Ybersetzer said:
Word 2.44 is now available. The iPad-OS-grey-dot-cursor is now a traditionally shaped grey cursor when moving around text, and text selection has become easier.
Click to expand...
How has text selection become easier? I still can't mark up text by dragging the cursor (holding down left click) over a text. Or positioning the blinking cursor in between words or withing a word. So far that's a joke, do you think that's it already???
 
C Punkt said:
How has text selection become easier? I still can't mark up text by dragging the cursor (holding down left click) over a text. Or positioning the blinking cursor in between words or withing a word. So far that's a joke, do you think that's it already???
Click to expand...

Not clear what you're talking about - I can do those actions with my mouse, no problems.
 
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C Punkt said:
How has text selection become easier? I still can't mark up text by dragging the cursor (holding down left click) over a text. Or positioning the blinking cursor in between words or withing a word. So far that's a joke, do you think that's it already???
Click to expand...
Hi C Punkt, yes, it has, I just rechecked it according to your questions: clicking (I am on the magic keyboard for iPad) and then dragging selects text. And the blinking cursor can be set precisely where one wants to, be it between or in words etc.
 
sparksd said:
Not clear what you're talking about - I can do those actions with my mouse, no problems.
Click to expand...

Ybersetzer said:
Hi C Punkt, yes, it has, I just rechecked it according to your questions: clicking (I am on the magic keyboard for iPad) and then dragging selects text. And the blinking cursor can be set precisely where one wants to, be it between or in words etc.
Click to expand...

Very weird.. I see that I have the current version (at least in the App store it only lets me "OPEN" not "update" word. It also shows me the changelog from december there.. but I cannot do the mentioned things.. Still whole different experience marking up text and placing the cursor then on a Desktop.. no idea why that is. Using the MX Master 3 by Logitech
 
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