Error Reporting: Users can optionally submit error report information to Microsoft for analysis to improve Office XP. Automatic Recovery: Excel, PowerPoint, Publisher, and Word periodically save open documents in the background so the latest revision can be opened if an error occurs; users can configure how often files are saved, discard the latest revision, overwrite a file with it, or save it as a separate file. A new Setup INI Customization Wizard allows administrators to customize the Office XP INI configuration file prior to deployment. The Basic mode allows users to perform full-text searches, while the Advanced mode provides additional file property query options. A Compress Pictures button on the Picture toolbar allows users to optimize images inserted into files. Document Recovery: Access, Excel, PowerPoint, and Word present users with an option to immediately save open files when an error occurs before a program is closed or restarted to prevent loss of data. The Insert Clip Art task pane is available in Excel, FrontPage, PowerPoint, and Word and provides options to search for and insert online clip art into files.

The Office Clipboard has been redesigned as the Clipboard task pane across all Office XP programs and can accommodate up to 24 clipboard items compared to 12 in Office 2000. Clipboard items provide a visual representation to help users distinguish different types of content. The Office Clipboard task pane opens when at least two items are copied. The speech recognition feature encompasses two different modes: Dictation, which transcribes spoken words into text; and Voice Command, which invokes interface features. Two pieces of wire: You’ll need about 20 to 30 feet (15 to 20 meters) of 22-gauge magnet wire. Users who make substantial hardware changes to an Office XP device may need to reactivate the software through the Internet or by telephone. However the space agency is aware that whatever innovations lead to a future space habitat, need to also feedback into our own habitat — the novel techniques could be used to build affordable, sustainable housing here on Earth. As part of a pilot experiment, consumers in Australia, France, and New Zealand could purchase a subscription for Office XP starting in May 2001; the worldwide release of the activation model was contingent on the success of the pilot experiment, but Microsoft terminated support for subscriptions in 2002 based on feedback and research that demonstrated it was not well understood by consumers.

Microsoft originally intended to deliver the activation model to United States customers after the retail availability of Office XP on May 31, 2001, but later decided to make it available to consumers in “a few select locations” instead, citing a more cautious delivery approach. Office XP introduced an optional subscription-based activation model that allowed consumers to annually license the product and receive incremental updates at a reduced price when compared with the cost of a full retail version. In an effort to curtail software piracy, Microsoft incorporated product activation technology into all versions of Office XP to prohibit users from installing a single copy of the software in a manner that violates the end-user license agreement (EULA). Security features in all Office programs have been consolidated into a single Security tab. In spite of this, Microsoft distributed optical media and a single subscription to authorized U.S. Office XP Media Content on a separate disk.

Office XP introduces handwriting recognition in all Office programs, allowing users to write with a mouse or stylus instead of entering text by typing on a keyboard. While most assessments of Office XP were positive, the speech recognition feature was frequently criticized due to its inaccuracy and lack of advanced functionality. While others simply believe we humans will carelessly destroy ourselves before ever reaching the singularity. When users revert automatically corrected text in an Office document to its original spelling, the text will not correct itself again. Speech recognition based on Microsoft Research technology is available for all Office XP programs, allowing users to dictate text into active documents, to change document formatting, and to navigate the interface by voice. Handwriting recognition engines are available for the English, Simplified Chinese, Traditional Chinese, Japanese, and Korean versions of Office XP. Instead, the engines – four marine gas turbines that Rolls-Royce describes as the most powerful gas turbines available today – will power generators that produce a total of 80 megawatts of electricity.