Microsoft Pushes Out SP1 for Office 2008 for Mac, Vows VBA's Return

Microsoft today is making available Service Pack 1 for Office 2008 for Mac, while promising to reinstate Visual Basic for Applications (VBA) in the software's next version.SP1 addresses application stability, security and performance. Enhancements include improved cross-platform compatibility when exchanging files between Excel 2008 for the Mac and Excel 2007 for Windows; a better calendar view and all-day reminders with reoccurrence; and more reliable printing of PowerPoint files. Customers can download the update for free beginning at noon PT, and it will be also available from Microsoft Auto Update.

The return of VBA means users will be able to automate tasks and create new features within Windows apps. "The team recognizes that VBA-language support is important to a select group of customers who rely on sharing macros across platforms," according to a statement from Apple. That said, given Office 2008 only arrived in January and Microsoft typically upgrades its software every two to three years, the next version of its productivity suite may not see the light of day until 2010.MacWorld, The Mac Observer