What’s changed or removed in Office 2013


The following table contains information about what’s changed in Outlook 2013.

Title Scope Type of Change Description
Outlook Meeting Workspaces Outlook Removing the feature The Meeting workspaces feature is removed from Outlook. The entry point commands to create Meeting Workspaces is removed from both the Quick Access Toolbar and the Ribbon.
Outlook Exchange Classic offline Outlook Removing the feature Offline mode is being removed from Outlook.
Remove /Cleanfreebusy switch and code Outlook Removing the feature Users can no longer start Outlook by using the /cleanfreebusy switch. If they try this, they will receive the following message: “Cannot start Microsoft Outlook. The command line argument is not valid. Verify the switch you are using.”
Command Bars object model (OM) Outlook Modification The Command Bars OM is being changed so that built-in Command Bar objects cannot be accessed through programming.
Outlook Direct Booking Outlook Removing the feature Direct booking of resources in the calendar no longer exists.
Import/Export to Applications Outlook Removing specific file-format support from the Import/Export wizard in Outlook The ability to import/export Outlook data to legacy file formats.
Journal Module and Journaling Outlook Removing the feature The Journal Module is being removed as a top-level module, and auto-journaling is also being removed.
Outlook Links Collection Office Removing the feature Links Collection object model is removed.
Notes and Journal customization Outlook Removing the feature Notes are now only yellow and medium size.
Legacy Contact Linking Outlook Removing the feature The capability to link arbitrary Outlook items to Outlook contacts. This contact linking existed only for displaying information in the Activities tab of the contact, which is a feature that is also removed for Outlook 2013.
Outlook Activities tab Outlook Removing the feature The Activities tab on contact forms is not available for Outlook 2013. The Activities tab used to aggregate all Outlook items (e-mail, meetings, tasks, and so on) associated with a contact.
Outlook Mobile Service (OMS) Outlook Removing the feature Support for the Outlook Mobile Service protocol, which is used for sending and receiving text messages from Outlook, is being removed.
Suggested Contacts Outlook Removing the feature Suggested Contacts was used to automatically keep track of everyone the user sends a message to, but who isn’t in Outlook contacts.In a clean Outlook 2013 installation, Suggested Contacts is no longer available, the folder never is created, and no suggested contact items are created. In an upgrade to Outlook 2013, this folder is visible, and participates in linking, aggregation and search. However, no new suggested contact items are added to the folder. The folder displays in an upgrade scenario. However, it can now be deleted.
Outlook Pubcal: Calendar Publishing Outlook Removing the feature Removing the ability to publish one’s calendar to Office.com.
Outlook/Exchange Deliver to PST Outlook Removing the feature Removing the ability for users to have Exchange accounts delivering into PST files.
Dialup/VPN Options Outlook Removing the feature Removing application level dial-up options and VPN options.
Public Folder Free/Busy Office Removing the feature Public Folder Free/Busy feature is replaced.
ToDo Bar Outlook Removing the feature A new functionality is implemented.
User Datagram Protocol (UDP) Office Removing the feature UDP is removed. In earlier versions of Outlook the feature was used for new mail alert results and for folder updates.
Preview unread messages Office Removing the feature The Auto Preview feature to preview unread items is removed. It remains possible to configure Message Preview for one, two, and three lines.
Outlook categories quick click Office Removing the feature Categories quick click from the message list is removed. Categories are displayed when they are applied in Office 2013 by right-clicking or using Ribbon buttons.
Outlook Search through Windows Shell Office and Windows Removing the feature In Office 2013, Outlook items do not display in Windows Shell searches (for example, searches from the Start Menu or by using Win+F). Perform Office searches within Office 2013.
Reason for Change Benefits Replacement Additional Information
The feature was not widely used. Allows for a simpler Ribbon experience. N/A For the feature description, see Use Meeting Workspaces to organize meetings
Offline mode is a legacy data access method for online mode connections to Exchange Server. N/A N/A N/A
Because of the removal of the Public Folder Free/Busy feature, this switch is no longer needed. N/A N/A N/A
Command bars are not used in Outlook 2013. Therefore, add-ins that use the Command Bars OM are not required. N/A Use the IRibbonExtensibility interface in an Outlook 2013 add-in instead of command bars. You can’t customize Inspector ribbons by using VBScript code behind forms. Updating Earlier Code for CommandBarsFor more information about how to use IRibbonExtensibility to customize the Outlook 2013 user interface programmatically, see Extending the User Interface in Outlook 2010.
This functionality is outdated and is superseded by the Exchange Availability service and free/busy for resources. More reliable service. Mailboxes that are currently configured to use Outlook direct booking should be migrated to Exchange 2007 or Exchange Server 2010 resource mailboxes.Exchange 2007 and Exchange Server 2010 resource mailboxes provide a better range of features. These mailboxes also provide server-side administration by using the Exchange Management Shell or the Exchange Management Console to simplify resource mailbox management. N/A
The following legacy formats were removed from the Import/Export Wizard: Internet Mail Account Settings, Internet Mail and Addresses, Comma Separated Values (DOS), Access 97-2003, Excel 97-2003, Tab Separated Values (DOS), Tab Separated Values (Windows), ACT!, Contact Manager, Lotus Organizer, Outlook Express/Windows Mail, Personal Address Book. N/A Import/Export to the PST and CSV formats is still a supported option. Export Outlook items to an Outlook Data File (.pst)
N/A Replacement is unnecessary. N/A N/A
Functionality is removed in the UI. N/A N/A N/A
Keeping the Notes module simple. Simplifying how Notes are used. N/A N/A
Contact linking is replaced by the Outlook Social Connector and the New Person Card. N/A N/A N/A
N/A Simplicity The Activities tab is replaced by the Outlook Social Connector and displays in the People pane. N/A
Feature has low usage. No user benefit. N/A N/A
N/A N/A N/A N/A
N/A N/A Users in Exchange Server environments can use Exchange Calendar Publishing.Non-Exchange users can use a service such as Hotmail to share calendars. Enable Internet Calendar PublishingHow to keep your family in sync with Hotmail Calendar
N/A N/A N/A N/A
Available as part of the operating system. N/A Follow operating system instructions for configuring VPN or dial-up networking connections, For Windows Vista and Windows 7, see Set up an incoming VPN or dial-up connection.For Windows 8, see Configure a Dial-Up Networking Connection Item.
Replaced by the Exchange availability service Free/Busy functionality is more reliable Free busy information can be obtained through the Exchange Availability service Understanding the Availability Service
A new feature known as Pinned Peeks is implemented to achieve similar functionality. Pinned Peeks feature N/A N/A
The UDP functionality that was provided by UDP is replaced with an asynchronous notification method. N/A N/A N/A
N/A N/A N/A N/A
Low usage. This feature was used by around 1% of users. Simplicity Apply categories by choosing from the short-cut menus (right clicking) or by choosing Ribbon buttons. N/A
N/A N/A Search Office items within the Office application. N/A

Office 2013–Standard system requirements


Office 2013–Standard system requirements

Refer to the following table for a snapshot of the overall system requirements for Office 2013.The information that follows this table outlines any additional requirements for specific components of Office 2013, including add-ons and tools.
When you choose a product suite or individual program to deploy, evaluate the computers before you deploy any software to make sure that they meet the minimum operating system requirements.

Standard system requirements for Office 2013

Component Office 2013 Requirements
Computer and processor 1 gigahertz (Ghz) or faster x86- or x64-bit processor with SSE2 instruction set
Memory (RAM) 1 gigabyte (GB) RAM (32 bit); 2 gigabytes (GB) RAM (64 bit)
Hard Disk 3.0 gigabytes (GB) available
Display Graphics hardware acceleration requires a DirectX10 graphics card and 1024 x 576 resolution
Operating System Windows 7, Windows 8, Windows Server 2008 R2, or Windows Server 2012
Browser Microsoft Internet Explorer 8, 9, or 10; Mozilla Firefox 10.x or a later version; Apple Safari 5; or Google Chrome 17.x.
.NET version 3.5, 4.0, or 4.5
Multi-touch A touch-enabled device is required to use any multi-touch functionality. However, all features and functionality are always available by using a keyboard, mouse, or other standard or accessible input device. Note that new touch features are optimized for use with Windows 8.
Additional requirements and considerations Some functionality may vary, based on the system configuration. Some features may require additional or advanced hardware or server connectivity.

Office 2013 applications – specific requirements

The standard Office 2013 system requirements that are listed in the Office 2013 for Personal Computers–standard system requirements table apply to each Office 2013 application. The following Office 2013 programs have some additional requirements:

  • Access 2013
  • Excel 2013
  • InfoPath 2013
  • Lync 2013
  • Lync Server 2013
  • Office Solution Management (Telemetry Dashboard)
  • OneNote 2013
  • Outlook 2013
  • Project Professional 2013
  • Word 2013

Access 2013

The information in this table outlines additional requirements for specific components of Access 2013.
Specific Access 2013 requirements

Component Requirement
Internet
  • Access 2013 Internet functionality requires an Internet connection and either Internet Explorer 8 or Internet Explorer 9.
  • Instant Search functionality requires Windows Search 4.0.

 

Excel 2013

The information in this table outlines additional requirements for specific components of Excel 2013.

Specific Excel 2013 requirements

Component Requirement
Internet
  • Excel 2013 Internet functionality requires an Internet connection and either Internet Explorer 8 or Internet Explorer 9.
  • Instant Search functionality requires Windows Search 4.0.
PowerPivot To use PowerPivot, you must have .NET 3.5 or .NET 4.0 and at least 2 gigabytes (GB) of RAM.
PowerView add-in To use with the PowerView add-in, you must have Silverlight 5.0 installed and at least 2 gigabytes (GB) of RAM.

 

InfoPath 2013

The information in this table outlines additional requirements for specific components of InfoPath 2013.

Specific InfoPath 2013 requirements

Component Requirement
Internet
  • InfoPath 2013 Internet functionality requires an Internet connection and either Internet Explorer 8 or Internet Explorer 9.
  • Instant Search functionality requires Windows Search 4.0.
Programmability Programmability scenarios require .NET 4.0.

 Lync 2013

Microsoft LyncLync 2013 has different hardware requirements from those that are listed in the system requirements Office 2013 for Personal Computers–standard system requirements table above. Refer to the following table for personal computer system requirements or recommendations that are specific to Lync 2013.

Specific Lync 2013 requirements

Component Requirement
Computer/ processor Intel Pentium 4, AMD Athlon 64, or equivalent
Memory (RAM) 2 gigabytes (GB) RAM
Operating System Windows 7 or Windows 8
Data and voice Minimum 1.6 gigahertz (GHz) or faster processor. We recommend 2.0 gigahertz (32 bit or 64 bit).
Video For VGA: Dual core 1.9 gigahertz (GHz) processor, or fasterFor High Definition: Qual core 2.0 gigahertz (GHz) processor, or fasterDisplay resolution: 1024 x 768
Conferencing
  • Polycom CX5000 HD (Microsoft RoundTable) conferencing device
  • Minimum 2.0 gigahertz (GHz) or faster processor
Graphics Hardware
  • Support for Microsoft DirectX 9 application programming interface (API).
  • Minimum of 128 megabytes (MB) graphics memory
  • Windows Display Driver Model driver
  • 32 bits per pixel capable format
Telephony Microphone and speakers, headset with microphone, or equivalent device(s). Recommended devices:

  • Phones with the “Optimized for Microsoft Lync” logo (see Phones and Devices Qualified for Microsoft Lync for a list)
  • Phones that run Microsoft Lync 2010 Phone Edition
  • A W15-certified (or equivalent) ADA-compliant phone
Video source USB 2.0 video camera or Polycom CX5000 HD device (Microsoft RoundTable)

Lync Server 2013

The information in this table outlines additional requirements for specific components of Lync 2013.

Specific Lync Server 2013 requirements

Component Requirement
Computer/ processor Intel Pentium 4, AMD Athlon 64, or equivalent
Memory (RAM) 2 gigabytes (GB) RAM
Operating System Windows, XP (32 bit), Windows 7, Windows 8, Windows Server 2008 R2, or Windows Server 2012
Video Display with 1024 x 768 resolution
Graphics Hardware
  • Support for Microsoft DirectX 9 API
  • Minimum of 128 megabytes (MB) graphics memory
  • Windows Display Driver Model driver
  • 32 bits per pixel capable format

 

Office Solution Management (Telemetry Dashboard)

Telemetry Dashboard is installed with Office Professional Plus 2013 and Office 365 ProPlus editions of Office 2013. The information in this table outlines additional requirements for specific components of Office Solution Management Telemetry Dashboard server.

Specific requirements for Telemetry Dashboard

Component Telemetry Dashboard Server Requirement
Database SQL Server 2005, SQL Server 2008, or SQL Server 2012
Shared folders For every 10,000+ users, 11 gigabytes of disk space to act as a temporary store for telemetry data.

 

OneNote 2013

The information in this table outlines additional requirements for specific components of OneNote 2013.

Specific requirements for OneNote 2013

Component Requirement
Internet
  • OneNote 2013 Internet functionality requires an Internet connection and Internet Explorer 8 or Internet Explorer 9.
  • Instant Search functionality requires Windows Search 4.0.

 

Outlook 2013

The information in this table outlines additional requirements for specific components of Outlook 2013.

Specific requirements for Outlook 2013

Component Requirement
Internet
  • Outlook 2013 Internet functionality requires an Internet connection and Internet Explorer 8 or Internet Explorer 9.
  • Instant Search requires Windows Search 4.0.
For integration with Exchange Be sure to connect Outlook 2013 to the supported versions of Exchange: Exchange 2007, Exchange 2010, or Exchange Server 2013. Outlook 2013 is not supported on Exchange 2003.
For integration with Microsoft Exchange Server 2013 and Lync Server 2013 (optional) Some features require Exchange Server 2013 and Lync Server 2013.For a list of some new Outlook 2013 features that are enabled with Microsoft Exchange Server 2013 see What’s new in Outlook 2013.
For integration with Microsoft Lync (optional) Office Communicator 2007 R2, Microsoft Lync 2010 and Lync 2013 are supported with Outlook 2013. Office Communicator 2005 and Office Communicator 2007 are not supported.
Inking features Certain inking features require Windows 7 or Windows 8.
Speech recognition Speech recognition functionality requires a close-talk microphone and audio output device
IRM Information Rights Management features require access to a computer that runs Windows Server 2003 with SP1, Windows Server 2008, Windows Server 2008 R2, or Windows Server 2012 and Windows Rights Management Services.
Dynamic Calendars Dynamic calendars require server connectivity.
Advanced Certain advanced functionality requires connectivity to Exchange Server 2010 or Exchange Server 2007, SharePoint Server 2007, SharePoint Server 2010, or Windows Server 2003 with SP1 running Windows SharePoint Services.
Microsoft ID Certain features require a Microsoft ID (Windows Live ID).

 

Project Professional 2013

The information in this table outlines additional requirements for specific components of Project Professional 2013.

Specific requirements for Project Professional 2013

Component Requirement
Visual Reports To use the Visual Reports feature one of the following versions of Excel must be installed on the computer:

  • Office Excel 2007
  • Excel 2010
  • Excel 2013

and one of the following versions of Microsoft Office Visio:

  • Visio Professional 2007
  • Visio 2010
  • Visio 2013
Import Outlook Tasks feature To use the Import Outlook Tasks feature, one of the following versions of Outlook must be installed on the computer:

  • Outlook 2007
  • Office Outlook 2010
  • Outlook 2013
SkyDrive integration Users must have a Windows Live ID.
Project Professional in an Enterprise
  • To enable enterprise Project, portfolio, and resource management capabilities, Project Server 2013 is required.
  • To import tasks to the Outlook calendar or Outlook Tasks list, Project Web App and Exchange Server 2013 are required.
  • To synchronize Project Server 2013 with a SharePoint Server 2013 or SharePoint Server 2010 task list, you must install either Access 2010 or Visio 2010.
  • To create a new Project Site from Project Server 2013 you must use SharePoint Server 2013.
  • To use Lync integration, you must have Lync 2010.

 

Word 2013

The information in this table outlines additional requirements for specific components of Word 2013.

Specific requirements for Project Professional 2013

Component Requirement
Co-authoring Co-authoring requires SharePoint Foundation 2013 and a Windows Live ID account for SkyDrive. It might also require more memory than the amount listed in the Office 2013 for Personal Computers–standard system requirements table above.

 

Windows Server Edition & Features Overview


Windows Server Edition & Features Overview

Edition Ideal for… High Level Feature Comparison Licensing Model
Datacenter Highly virtualized private & hybrid cloud environments Full Windows Server functionality with unlimited virtual instances Processor + CAL*
Standard Low density or non-virtualized environments Full Windows Server functionality with two virtual instances Processor + CAL*
Essentials Small business environments Simpler interface, pre-configured connectivity to cloud based services; no virtualization rights Server (25 User Account Limit)
Foundation Economical general purpose server General purpose Server functionality with no virtualization rights Server (15 User Account Limit)

 

*CALs are required for every user or device accessing a server. See the Product Use Rights ( http://www.microsoft.com/licensing/about-licensing/product-licensing.aspx ) for details.

 

**Pricing represents Open No Level (NL) ERP. For your specific pricing, contact your Microsoft reseller.

SQL SERVER 2012 CAPABILITIES



The table below shows a feature comparison among the three main editions.

Features

Enterprise

Business

Intelligence

Standard

Maximum Number of Cores

OS Max¹

16 Cores-DB

OS Max-AS&RS²

16 Cores

Basic OLTP

checked

checked

checked

Program-ability (T-SQL, Data Types, FileTable)

checked

checked

checked

Manageability (SQL Server Management Studio, Policy-based Management)

checked

checked

checked

Basic High Availability³

checked

checked

checked

Basic Corporate BI (Reporting, Analytics, Multidimensional Semantic Model, Data Mining)

checked

checked

checked

Basic Data Integration (Built-in Data Connectors, Designer Transforms)

checked

checked

checked

Self-Service Business Intelligence (Alerting, Power View, PowerPivot for SharePoint Server)?

checked

checked

Advanced Corporate BI (Tabular BI Semantic Model, Advanced Analytic’s and Reporting, VertiPaq™ In-Memory Engine, Advanced Data Mining)

checked

checked

Enterprise Data Management (Data Quality Services, Master Data Services)

checked

checked

Advanced Data Integration (Fuzzy Grouping and Lookup, Change Data Capture)

checked

Advanced Security (SQL Server Audit, Transparent Data Encryption)

checked

Data Warehousing (ColumnStore Index, Compression, Partitioning)

checked

Advanced High Availability (Multiple, Active Secondaries; Multi-site, Geo-Clustering)³

checked

  1. Existing SQL Server Enterprise edition licenses in the Server + CAL licensing model upgraded to SQL Server 2012 will be limited to server deployments with 20 cores or less. Refer to Datasheet and FAQ for more details.
  2. Analysis Services & Reporting Services.
  3. Basic includes log shipping, database mirroring, server core support and two-node Failover Clustering. Windows Server Enterprise edition or above is a system requirement for AlwaysOn / Failover Clustering.
  4. SharePoint Server with Enterprise CAL is a system requirement for Power View and PowerPivot for SharePoint. Alerting is accessible through SharePoint Foundation or above.