Microsoft Begins Beta Testing Trackpad Support in Word and Excel Apps for iPad

[MacRumors]

Microsoft this week began testing mouse and trackpad support in the latest beta versions of its Word and Excel apps for iPad. The functionality was introduced in version 2.42 of each app, available through Apple's beta testing service TestFlight.

Mouse and trackpad support provides rich visual feedback when editing documents or spreadsheets. When using a trackpad, the cursor displays as a circle on the screen, popping up only when you have a finger on the trackpad. The circle then morphs into various other shapes when hovering over app icons, text fields, or other on-screen elements.

iPadOS 13.4 introduced trackpad and mouse support on all iPad Pro models, the iPad Air 2 and later, the fifth-generation iPad and later, and the iPad mini 4 and later. Keyboards with built-in trackpads include Apple's Magic Keyboard, Brydge's Pro+ for the iPad Pro, Logitech's Combo for the 10.2-inch iPad and the 10.5-inch iPad Air, and more.

Microsoft previously said that mouse and trackpad support in the Word, Excel, and PowerPoint apps will be made available to all users at some point this fall.

Article Link: Microsoft Begins Beta Testing Trackpad Support in Word and Excel Apps for iPad

 

[toph2toast]

Can we just make a touch screen MacBook already. All of this just seems to be beating around the bush.

 

[headlessmike]

I'm still waiting for the day when I can advance slides in Powerpoint on iOS with a keyboard like on a Mac or PC.

EDIT: Apparently it's there now. Had been complaining to Microsoft for years that this did not work and finally gave up a few months ago.

 

[5097842]

Better late than never?

 

[Spock]

Can we just make a touch screen MacBook already. All of this just seems to be beating around the bush.

Adding touchpad support to the iPad somehow equals beating around the bush for a touchscreen MacBook? If anything it shows that Apple shouldn’t use a touchscreen in the MacBook..

 

[realeric]

Well, now iPad becomes MacBook Air. That's good as iPad has few real use.

 

[Jetman]

Just updated from Testflight - No obvious mouse functionality for me here, still just the big dot icon everywhere, no text I bar or icon snapping.

 

[GeoStructural]

Better late than never?

What? Trackpad for iOS/iPad OS was released just recently.

I'm still waiting for the day when I can advance slides in Powerpoint on iOS with a keyboard like on a Mac or PC.

This is already possible with the current app and it has been possible for a long time.

I am actually waiting for full-fledged versions of the Apps, iPad Pro is particularly powerful enough to run the entire suite smoothly, Excel for iPad is pretty much a file viewer, no where near the desktop app I use daily and rely so much on. PowerPoint is better featured but it is still missing so much. Word can get the job done, but still not ideal.

 

[geWAPpnet]

I'm still waiting for the day when I can advance slides in Powerpoint on iOS with a keyboard like on a Mac or PC.

What do you mean? As soon as you have started the presentation mode you can already use the exact same keys like on a Mac or PC (space, backspace, cursor keys).

 

[VforVelveta]

Just updated from Testflight - No obvious mouse functionality for me here, still just the big dot icon everywhere, no text I bar or icon snapping.

Same here, I'm wondering if the functionality will be expanded during the beta of this version. Seems like at this point it's just snapping to icons and sections in the toolbar. But yeah, no I-beam in word and can't drag to select multiple cells in Excel, hoping this is just the start.

 

[mariusfanu]

Go Microsoft, curios if they'll reuse parts of this for the macOS app once it hits Apple Silicone

 

[geWAPpnet]

What? Trackpad for iOS/iPad OS was released just recently.

Yeah, in Corona times it seems like time flies. But it was released half a year ago! It is a feature of iPadOS 13.4 and not of 14.

 

[cmaier]

Go Microsoft, curios if they'll reuse parts of this for the macOS app once it hits Apple Silicone

Doubt it. Would be way easier to just recompile the macos version than to essentially rewrite all the functionality that is missing in the ipados version.

 

[adamjackson]

This is great news! I did a cross-country trip on my motorcycle last month and still had a few important work meetings. MS Teams and all of the O365 apps worked brilliantly and people were surprised to hear I was working on an iPad but I did find doing more complex Excel / PowerPoint modifications was hampered by the lack of native trackpad support.

 

[Maconplasma]

Better late than never?

LOL! When Apple is late to the party this forum says "Too Little Too Late". When Microsoft is late to the party it's "Better late than Never".

 

[Aluminum213]

Please take your time Microsoft, I know you’re a small company with limited resources. Don’t stress yourself too much

 

[headlessmike]

This is already possible with the current app and it has been possible for a long time.

What do you mean? As soon as you have started the presentation mode you can already use the exact same keys like on a Mac or PC (space, backspace, cursor keys).

Ok, cool! I had been trying it for years and that feature had not been implemented in the iOS version. Gave up trying earlier this year. It was really annoying when the only way to advance slides was to swipe the display. I have a presenter remote that works with iOS devices over Bluetooth and all it does is send left/right arrow keyboard commands. It always worked with Keynote but never with Powerpoint in the past.

 

[VforVelveta]

Yeah, in Corona times it seems like time flies. But it was released half a year ago! It is a feature of iPadOS 13.4 and not of 14.

Sure, but when you have a fully custom document editor like the Office suite has, adding robust support for an entirely new input method takes time, especially when it just drops out of the blue and you have to cram it into an existing roadmap. I don't think even the iWork apps were ready day one, and that team would have known about the changes months ahead of time.

 

[Powermax]

I am still waiting for Pause/Play with the Spacebar in the YouTube App.

 

[justiny]

I am actually waiting for full-fledged versions of the Apps, iPad Pro is particularly powerful enough to run the entire suite smoothly, Excel for iPad is pretty much a file viewer, no where near the desktop app I use daily and rely so much on. PowerPoint is better featured but it is still missing so much. Word can get the job done, but still not ideal.

This x1000

I travel for work and carry both my iPad Pro and MBP with me. I would love to leave my MBP at home but the fact is, I need it because the iPadOS Office apps only get me 80% to completing my work. Even on Word, I can't get the job done without needing 3 other apps and switching back and forth, it's just not worth it.

 

[Kinotto]

Waiting for a full fledged version of Office for iPad so I can stop carrying my MacBook at work...I guess there’s some financial reason behind the iOS version being so crippled, maybe too much competition with the Surface lineup?

 

[oneMadRssn]

I am actually waiting for full-fledged versions of the Apps, iPad Pro is particularly powerful enough to run the entire suite smoothly, Excel for iPad is pretty much a file viewer, no where near the desktop app I use daily and rely so much on. PowerPoint is better featured but it is still missing so much. Word can get the job done, but still not ideal.

I think input-entry is the biggest issue with Excel. It should be a lot smarter. If the cell is formatted as a currency, give me a number-entry keyboard. If the cell is formatted as text, give me a text keyboard. If the cell is a formula or if the cells above/below are formulas, give me a good formula builder keyboard layout.

If they inputting in Excel, I think it will be very useful. As it is right now, entry is such a pain in the ass that it's not worth using.

 

[GeoStructural]

I think input-entry is the biggest issue with Excel. It should be a lot smarter. If the cell is formatted as a currency, give me a number-entry keyboard. If the cell is formatted as text, give me a text keyboard. If the cell is a formula or if the cells above/below are formulas, give me a good formula builder keyboard layout.

If they inputting in Excel, I think it will be very useful. As it is right now, entry is such a pain in the ass that it's not worth using.

In addition to that, plotting and editing charts is also a pain.

 

[c14nhl]

Looking forward to having this functionality.

Does anyone know of a real technical reason why we can’t just have the desktop version of the Office apps on iPad? I mean iPad optimised but with all the functionality of the desktop apps?

 

[JKAussieSkater]

Can we just make a touch screen MacBook already. All of this just seems to be beating around the bush.

It’s weird how 6 people disliked your post and weirder still that I’m the first to like your post.

In 2020, where nearly every non-Apple laptop has a touchscreen, Apple are still insisting that nobody wants or needs them.

Apple’s hubris is strong. People would buy touchscreen Macs, that’s a guarantee.