How to configure Word 365, OneNote 365 for a specific group of users - current best practice/recommendations

Question

We need to configure for a group of users (they happen to be transcribers) Word 365 and OneNote 365 with many options enabled (boxes checked) and options disable (boxes unchecked).

These options are for examples, there are many more:

Word 365 > Options > General > uncheck Enable Modern Comments

Word 265 > Options > Advanced > uncheck Use Advanced Typography

Word 365 > Options > Save > uncheck Autosave files store in the cloud by default

OneNote: Change the Ribbon to classic

OneNote: Change to Horizon tabs

OneNote: Options > Display > Move Page list to the left

In 2016 we used a default profile for that group, it was used for a previous version of Word as well. That is causing issues as we now use Office 365. It is picking up some of the orginal settings/checkboxes but missing many - after recent update it reset a bunch of proofing settings - that is not good as we'll have to manually uncheck/check a number of settings.

What is the current best practice? I understand we can use administrative templates/gp, macro's, Office Customization Tool, and reg hacks. It may be a combination of them as well. Thank you all in advance.

Answer 1

Hi @ Michael

Some of your requirements can be achieved through group policy or registry keys, but users can still change the most of these settings later.

Word 365 > Options > General > uncheck Enable Modern Comments

In the registry editor, locate to HKEY_CURRENT_USER\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Office\16.0\Word\Options, find "DisableModernComments" value.

To disable Modern Comments, this registry value is decimal "16026" or hexadecimal "0x00003e9a".

Word 365 > Options > Advanced > uncheck Use Advanced Typography

Currently, I have only found solutions for manual operation through the UI interface.

Word 365 > Options > Save > uncheck Autosave files store in the cloud by default

You may edit group policy: User Configuration > Administrative Templates > Microsoft Office 2016 > AutoSave > Enable "Turn AutoSave by default in Word".

Change the Ribbon to classic

For Ribbon UI, you may export and import Customize the .exportedUI file. OR you may use .xml and VBA to customize the ribbon. The reference: https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/previous-versions/office/developer/office-2010/ee767705(v=office.14)?redirectedfrom=MSDN

OneNote: Change to Horizon tabs

Locate to Computer\HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Office\16.0\OneNote\Options\Other in Registry Editor, find the value of "VerticalTabLayoutState", when its value data is "0", it means "Horizonal Tabs" layout is enabled.

OneNote: Options > Display > Move Page list to the left

Via group policy: Administrative Templates > Microsoft OneNote 2016 > OneNote Options > Display, enable "Page tabs appear on the left".

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