Open Office software is a free full-featured office software suite. It can be used to open and save documents in many other formats, including those of many versions of Microsoft Office.
It is also cross-platform independent, meaning that it can run on several operating systems such as windows, Mac OS-X, Linux, and Sun Solaris.
Files created by Open Office are based on the industry standard known as open document format. This is quickly becoming the preferred file format for government agencies, schools, and companies who prefer not to be dependent on a particular software supplier.
The first version of OpenOffice was released in April of 2002.
"Writer" is a full-featured program for creating letters, reports, books, brochures, and other documents. You can export files to PDF, HTML, XHTML, XML, and many file versions of Microsoft word.
"Calc" is a high-end spreadsheet tool that includes functions for finance, statistics, and mathematics. Calc can also generate 2 and 3-dimensional charts. You can export spreadsheets to PDF, HTML, and Excel format.
"Impress" is a powerful multimedia presentation tool providing special effects, animation, sound, and video. Impress is compatible with Microsoft's power point file format. You can save files in many graphics formats, including flash.
"Draw" is a vector drawing tool you can use to create diagrams, flowcharts, and even 3-dimensional artwork. Draw can import many common graphics file formats and save them in over 20 file formats such as JPEG, PNG, PDF, HTML, and Flash.
"Base" is a database creation and management tool with a simple to use interface. You can create tables, views, data entry forms, queries, and reports. Base uses HSQLDB as its default database engine. It can also use dBase, Microsoft Access, MySQL, or Oracle.
"Math" is a formula or equation editor. You can create complex equations that include characters or symbols that are not available in standard font sets. These equations can then be used in documents such as Impress or Writer files.
Why would you consider using this free Open Office suite? One reason may be that you're tired of paying for upgrades for your existing office software suite. Or maybe you've never owned an office software application before. Well, what better way to learn than to try this free software.Download Open Office.
The top toolbar is a standard toolbar consistent across all OpenOffice.org programs. Positioning the mouse pointer over an icon will give you more information about that tool.
The next toolbar is the formatting toolbar. It shows tools that are active in response to the cursor's position.
You can display or hide toolbars by choosing View, then Toolbars. Then select the toolbar you want display or hide.
Toolbars can be docked or floating. You can move docked toolbars. You can tear-off toolbars and let them float. Or you can dock them elsewhere.
You can protect a document so that it cannot be viewed without a password. Simply access the File menu, select "Save as", and then select the "Save with password" option. Then enter a password.
Now when you open a protected document you must enter the password to view it.
To access tool menu otions, click the Tools menu and select Options.
Under Memory options you can make the Quickstart menu appear when the computer starts-up.
The next time your computer starts, the quickstart menu appears when you right-click on the icon in your system tray.
Use Print options to be warned when the paper size or orientation does not match what's available for your printer.
Use Online update options to specify how often to check for automatic updates.
By accessing "Load/Save", then General options, you can select Auto-recovery. This allows you to recover a document after a system crash.
Under Language settings, select Writing aids for various spelling options. For example, you can require the program to check spelling as you type.
Under the Tools menu, you can specify various Auto-correct options. For example, you can have the document capitalize the first letter of every sentence.
The OOo software suite provides help within each application.
If you are a previous or current Microsoft Office user, there are some things you may want to be familiar with. Click on the contents tab and select common help topics. Select the open office and Microsoft office topic. Here you will find cross-reference information regarding file types, open office terminology, and document conversion.
The OpenOffice contents tab is useful for finding general information regarding a specific category. For example, lets say I need to know more about inserting a table into a text document. First I would select the text documents section, followed by the Tables category. There I will find help on inserting tables.
At the top is a pull-down menu allowing you to select help for a particular open office application. Here you can choose help for the main applications, OOo Calc, OOo Base, OOo Draw, OOo Impress, OOo Math, or OOo Writer.
You can use the index to position to a Help topic.
You can select Find to search for a particular term. When searching for a term you can narrow your search results by specifying complete words, or to search in topic headings only.
When viewing a help topic, you can right-click to add a bookmark. Now this topic will be available under your bookmarks tab for later reference.
