try defaults write com.microsoft.word kSubUIAppCompletedFirstRunSetup1507 -bool false if works change "word" for "excel", "Powerpoint", etc

@gbyers where is the path for that?.... im looking everywhere and cant find it

The office plists live in their respective sandbox container. Navigate to ~/Library/Containers/com.microsoft.Excel/Data/Library/Preferences to see the location. If you'd like a list of preferences: https://macadmins.software/ and click the 'preferences' button at the top. That site is run by microsoft employees.

@thetfordb thanks for that !!
i changed it to FALSE but when i re-luanch excel, the"whats new" screen still does not pop up and the file gets changed back to TRUE.
perhaps im doing something wrong?
im editing the plist with XCODE.... is that what you use?

in terminal type defaults write com.microsoft.Word kSubUIAppCompletedFirstRunSetup1507 -bool false then launch Word it should go through first run

@gbyers Thank you so much !!

It would be nice to automate that login/license set up junk but I know thats a few hoops to jump through to get there.

@vferra - Adding to what was shared regarding the "defaults write" command, the Office for Mac team has put out a training series with a number of Jamf Pro examples in it as well.

You can view the video training series here: www.office4mac.com

@mark.buffington thanx for the info - i will look into this !!