Word 5.1 users who move to Word 98 can still use 5.1's toolbar, menus, and shortcuts, while accessing Word 98's new features. The Formula Palette provides easy access to a menu with the most popular functions, and Excel 98 can correct common mistakes in formulas, such as extra parentheses or operators. The program also uses color to simplify formula building and editing. The range of cells corresponding to a formula are color-coded, along with the cell containing the formula, so that you can quickly see which numbers a formula pertains to. Formatting in Excel 98 is much improved.
Individual cells can have custom formats, including rotated and indented text.
A standard set of number formats, in a new Special category, includes formats for commonly used data such as zip codes, telephone numbers, and Social Security numbers. Charts can include pictures, textures, and gradient fills. A new preview feature shows you where the page breaks are. You can drag and drop the breaks to get the layout you want for printing. Excel workbooks over a network.