Documentation/UserGuide/Migration Guide/Introduction

Migration Guide

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• Introduction
• Sharing Files with Microsoft Office Users
• Importing other Microsoft Office Files
• General Differences in Use between OpenOffice.org and Microsoft Office
• Differences in Use between Writer and Word
• Differences in Use between Calc and Excel
• Differences in Use between Impress and PowerPoint
• Customizing OpenOffice.org

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What is Apache OpenOffice?

ApacheOpenOffice (AOO) is a freely-available, full-featuredofficesuite. It includes the following components.

Writer (word processor)

Writer is a feature-richtool for creating letters, books, reports, newsletters, brochures,and other documents. You can insert graphics and objects from othercomponents into Writer documents. Writer can export files to HTML,XHTML, XML, Adobe’s Portable Document Format(PDF), and severalversions of Microsoft Word files. It also connects to your emailclient.

Calc (spreadsheet)

Calchas all of the advancedanalysis, charting and decision-making features expected from ahigh-end spreadsheet. It includes over 300 functions for financial,statistical and mathematical operations among others. The ScenarioManager provides “what if” analyses. Calc generates 2-D and 3-Dcharts, which can be integrated into other AOO documents. You canalso open and work with Microsoft Excel workbooks and save them inExcel format. Calc can export spreadsheetsto Adobe’s PortableDocument Format (PDF) and to HTML.

Impress (presentation graphics)

Impressprovides all thecommon multi-media presentation tools, such asspecial effects,animation, and drawing tools. It is integrated withthe advancedgraphics capabilities of the Draw and Math components.Slideshows canbe further enhanced with Fontwork’s special effectstext, as well assound and video clips. Impress is compatible with Microsoft’sPowerPoint file format, and can save your work innumerous graphicsformats including Macromedia Flash (SWF).

Draw (vector graphics)

Draw is a vector drawingtool that can produce everything from simple diagrams or flowchartsto 3-D artwork. Its Smart Connectors feature allows you to defineyour own connection points. You can use Draw to create drawings foruse in any of AOO’s other components, and you can create your ownclipart and add it to the Gallery. Draw can import graphics from manycommon formats and save them in over 20 formats including PNG, HTML,PDF and Flash.

Base (database)

Base offers tools forday-to-day database work within a simple interface.It can create andedit forms, reports, queries, tables, views andrelations, so managinga connected database is much the same as in other popular databaseapplications. Base provides many new features,such as the ability toanalyze and edit relationships from a diagram view. Base incorporatesHSQLDB as its default relational databaseengine. It can also usedBASE, Microsoft Access, MySQL or Oracle, or any ODBC or JDBCcompliant database. Base also provides support for asubset of ANSI-92SQL.

Math (formula editor)

Math is AOO’s formula orequation editor. You can use it to create complex equations thatinclude symbols or characters not available in standard font sets.While it is most commonly used to create formulas in other documents,such as Writer and Impress files, Math can also work as a stand-alonetool. You can save formulas in the standard Mathematical MarkupLanguage (MathML) format for inclusion in webpages and otherdocuments not created by AOO.

What are the advantages of Apache OpenOffice?

Hereare some of the advantages of Apache OpenOffice over otherofficesuites:

• No licensing fees. AOO is free for anyone to use anddistribute at no cost. Many features that are available as extra costadd-ins in other office suites (like PDF export) are free with AOO.There are no hidden charges and all future upgrades are free.
• Open source. You can distribute, copy, and modify the softwareas much as you wish, in accordance with AOO's Open Source license.
• Cross-platform. AOO 4.0 runs on several hardware architecturesand under multiple operating systems, such as Microsoft Windows,MacOS X, Linux, and Sun Solaris.
• Extensive language support. AOO’s user interface isavailable in over 40 languages and the AOO project provides spelling,hyphenation and thesuarus dictionaries in over 70 languages anddialects. AOO also provides support for both Complex Text Layout(CTL)and Right to Left (RTL) layout languages (such as Hindi, Hebrew andArabic).
• Consistent user interface. All the components haveasimilar “look and feel”, making them easy to use and master.
• Integration. The components of Apache OpenOffice are wellintegrated with one another.
  • All the components share a common spelling checker and othertools,which are used consistently across the suite. For example, thedrawing tools available in Writer are also found in Calc, withsimilar but enhanced versions in Impress and Draw.
  • You do not need to know which application was used to createaparticular file (for example, you can open a Draw file from Writer).
• Granularity. Usually, if you change an option, it affects allcomponents. However, options can be set at a component level or evendocument level.
• File compatibility. AOO includes PDF and Flash exportcapabilities, as well as support for opening and saving files in manycommon formats including Microsoft Office, HTML, XML, Word Perfectand Lotus 123 formats.
• No vendor lock-in. AOO 4.0 uses OpenDocument, anXML(eXtensible Markup Language) file format developed as an industrystandard by OASIS (Organization for the Advancement of StructuredInformation Standards). These files can easily be unzipped and readby any text editor, and their framework is open and published.

• You have a voice. Enhancements, software fixes andreleasedates are community-driven. You can join the community andaffect thecourse of the product you use.

Youcan read more about Apache OpenOffice, its mission,history,licensing and other organizational informationhere:OpenOffice/about.htmlhttp://www.ApacheOpenOffice/about.html

How does Apache OpenOffice compare?

Apache OpenOffice can match and exceed the feature set of competingofficesuites. The following table lists the main components of AOOandcompares them with their equivalents in two leading officesuites,Microsoft Office 2003 (MSO) and WordPerfect Office X3(WP).

Function	Apache OpenOffice	Microsoft Office	WordPerfect Office
Word processor	Writer	Word®	WordPerfect® X3
Spreadsheet	Calc	Excel®	Quattro Pro® X3
Vector Graphics	Draw	no	no
Presentation Graphics	Impress	PowerPoint®	Presentations™ X3
Database	Base	Access® 1	Paradox® 2
Math or Formula Editor	Math	yes	no

¹Professional version only.

²Professional and Student and Teachereditions only.

Features

Thefollowing tables list some important features of ApacheOpenOfficeand compare them with two leading office suites,Microsoft Office2003 (MSO) and WordPerfect X3 (WP).

Styles and formatting

Feature	Apache OpenOffice	Microsoft Office	WordPerfect Office
Navigator	yes	limited1	no
Styles and Formatting window	yes	yes	no
Keyboard support for paragraph styles	yes	yes	no
Support for page, frame, and list styles	yes	no	no
Word completion	yes	Excel only	no
Spelling and language proofing modules	70+	50+2	25
Formula or equation tools	yes	yes	no

¹“Outline View” in Word offers a subset ofthefeatures of AOO’s Navigator.

²Requires an additional license for the theMultilingual UserInterface Pack.

Interoperability

Feature	Apache OpenOffice	Microsoft Office	WordPerfect Office
PDF export capability	yes	yes1	yes
Flash export capability	yes	no	yes
XML export capability	yes	yes	yes
OpenDocument XML format	yes	no	no
Import/Export Microsoft Office files	yes	yes	yes
Import WordPerfect files	yes	yes	yes
Import Lotus 123 files	yes	yes	yes
Connect to external databases (MySQL, Oracle, Access, etc.)	yes	yes	yes
Languages available (localizations)	40+	35+	30
Supported operating systems	Windows, Mac OS X, Linux, Solaris	Windows only2	Windows only
Unicode language support	yes	yes	no

¹Requires additional third-party software,such as PDF Writer orPDF Converter.²Microsoft Office: Macis not feature compatible with MicrosoftOffice 2003.

Programmability

Macrosare programs which automate tasks and can be embedded in adocument.The following table lists the languages available formacrodevelopment in each office suite.

Language	Apache OpenOffice	Microsoft Office	WordPerfect Office
Basic-derived language	OpenBasic	VBA	VBA
Beanshell	yes	no	no
Java	yes	no	no
JavaScript	yes	no	no
Python	yes	no	no

Beyond simple macros, some office suites can be extended to includenewfeatures. This capability usually takes the form of plug-ins. Inthecase of Apache OpenOffice, it can also be done through changes tothesource code.

Feature	Apache OpenOffice	Microsoft Office	WordPerfect Office
C and C++	yes	yes	yes
Java	yes	no	no
Python	yes	no	no
Source code available!	yes	no	no

Security

Feature	Apache OpenOffice	Microsoft Office	WordPerfect Office
Digital signatures	yes	yes	yes
Strong encryption	yes	yes	yes
Secure paths for macro execution	yes	yes	no

New features in version 2

ApacheOpenOffice 4.0 delivers hundreds of improvements and newfeatures.Here are some of the major enhancements.

What are the minimum requirements?

ApacheOpenOffice 4.0 requires one of the following operating systems:

• Microsoft Windows Windows 2000 (Service Pack 2 or higher),Windows XP or Windows 2003, Windows 7 and Windows 8
• GNU/Linux Kernel version 2.2.13 and glibc 2.4.0 or newer
• Mac OS X 10.3.x (10.3.5 recommended), Mac OS X 10.4.x, plusX11
• Solaris version 8 or higher

Some Apache OpenOffice features (wizards and the databasecomponent)require that the Java Runtime Environment (JRE) beinstalled on yourcomputer. Although AOO will work fine without Javasupport, some features will not be available. You can download thelatest versionfrom http://www.java.com.

Fora more detailed (and up-to-date) listing of requirements,see:[1][2]

How do I get the software?

Youcan get the Apache OpenOffice installation package in any oftheseways:

• Download a copy from the project’s home page:http://www.openoffice.org.
• Download a copy using the Peer to Peer client, BitTorrent.Theinstructions are here:[3].
• Purchase a copy on a CD-ROM or other digital form from a third partydistributor.
• The Apache OpenOffice Porting Project has links to versionsofthe software that have been, or are currently being “ported” torun under various operating systems.[4]

How do I install Apache OpenOffice?

Informationon installing and setting up Apache OpenOffice on thevarious supported operating systems is given here:[5]

Youcan also download the more detailed Setup Guide (in severallanguages) from[6]

How do I get support?

AOO comes with an extensive Help system. This is your first lineofsupport for using AOO.

To display the full Help system, press F1 or select ApacheOpenOffice Help from the Help menu. In addition, you can choosewhether to activate tooltips, extended tips, and the Help Agent(usingTools > Options > General).

If tooltips are enabled, place the mouse pointer over any of theiconsto see a small box (“tooltip”) with a brief explanation ofthe icon’s function. For a more detailed explanation, selectHelp > What's This? and hold the pointer over the icon.

TheHelp menu

Free online support

The Apache OpenOffice community not only develops software, butprovides free, volunteer-based support. Users of AOO can getcomprehensive online support from community venues such asnewsgroups, forums or mailing lists. There are also numerous websitesrun by users that offer free tips and tutorials.

Free Apache OpenOffice support
User FAQ	Frequently Asked Questions for Users
Users Mailing List	Free community support provided by a network of hundredsofexperienced users. You must be subscribed to post messages.Tosubscribe, send a blank email tosympa@ApacheOpenOffice Listarchives are here: [Edit needed]
Documentation Project	Templates, user guides, how-tos, and otherdocumentation.[7]
Edit needed]
The Apache OpenOffice Forum	Edit needed
AOO KnowledgeBase	A collection of questions and answers that users canquery.[8]

Readmore about the support options for ApacheOpenOfficeat:OpenOffice/index.htmlhttp://support.ApacheOpenOffice/index.html

Paid support and training

Alternatively,you can pay for support services. Service contracts canbe purchased from a vendor or consulting firm specializing in ApacheOpenOffice.

Alist of independent consultants and the services they offer, listedalphabetically by region and then by country, is provided on theApache OpenOffice website. (Edit needed)

Other resources and addons

Severalwebsites provide additional free resources and addons toenhanceApache OpenOffice. The following table lists a few of thesewebsites.

Free AOO templates, artwork and other addons
OOExtras	Provides templates, samples and macros in severallanguages.[9]
AOOMacros	A repository for AOO macros and addons, and documentationaboutwriting macros and/or extending AOO.[10]
Open Clip Art Library	An archive of clip art that can be used for free for anyuse.OpenOffice/http://www.openclipart.org/
Apache OpenOffice Macro Information	Andrew Pitonyak, the author of Apache OpenOfficeMacrosExplained, maintains this site which providesextensivedocumentation on AOO's macro capability. Many good referrallinks arealso provided at:[11]

What is involved in the initial migration?

Sharing files

SeeSharing Files with Microsoft Office Users inthis guide forinformation about opening and saving files of variousformats.

How do I import other files used in Microsoft Office?

SeeImporting other Microsoft Office Files in thisguide forinformation about importing custom dictionaries, AutoCorrectentriesand AutoText entries into Apache OpenOffice.

What changes do I need to make in the way that I work?

Whilethe interfaces of Apache OpenOffice and Microsoft Officearesufficiently similar to allow immediate productivity, they arenotidentical. Some functions are based on different underlyingconcepts.The chapters in this guide will to help you with thesedifferences.

In general what is different in use between Microsoft OfficeandApache OpenOffice?

SeeGeneral Differences in Use between ApacheOpenOffice andMicrosoft Office in this guide first, as it gives anoverall viewof differences; the other chapters build on theinformation presentedin that chapter.

What are the specific differences in use between Word and Writer?

SeeDifferences in Use between Writer and Word in this guideforspecific information related to text documents.

What are the specific differences in use between Excel and Calc?

SeeDifferences in Use between Calc and Excel in this guideforspecific information related to spreadsheets.

What are the specific differences in use between PowerPointandImpress?

SeeDifferences in Use between Impress and PowerPointinthis guide for specific information related to presentations.

How can I change Apache OpenOffice to make it work even more liketheway I have worked in Microsoft Office?

SeeCustomizing Apache OpenOffice inthis guide forinformation about changing Apache OpenOffice to make itwork yourway. That chapter includes links to macros that were writtento helpease the transition.

How do I use the Math Object editor (Apache OpenOffice’sequivalentto Equation Editor)?

SeeMathObjectsin theWriterGuide.

What about that database functionality?

SeeGetting Started with Base in theGetting Started Guide, andtheDatabaseGuidefor details on the new Base component of Apache OpenOffice.

Is there an equivalent to WordArt?

Yes.See Chapter 15 “Using Fontwork” in the Getting Startedguide.

What are the issues when migrating from WordPerfect to Writer?

Can I open WordPerfect files in AOO?

Yes,a WordPerfect filter is now available in the standardApacheOpenOffice installation.

What macros are available to make Writer work more likeWordPerfect?

Reveal codes

ApacheOpenOffice’s Writer does not have underlying codes in thesame waythat WordPerfect does. But a macro is being written that willallowyou to work in a similar way to WordPerfect’s reveal codes.See[12]availableat[13]for more information.

Hanging indents

Thehanging indent concept in Writer is quite different from theconceptused in WordPerfect. The best approach in Apache OpenOffice isto usestyles, but to ease the transition, seeeither[14]or[15]availablefrom[16]for a macro thatapproximates WordPerfect’s way of implementinghanging indents.

How is Apache OpenOffice licensed?

ApacheOpenOffice is distributed under the Open Source Initiative(OSI)approved Lesser General Public License (LGPL). The LGPL can beviewedon the AOO website at:[17]

Formore general information on AOO’s licensing, please referto:OpenOffice/license.htmlhttp://www.ApacheOpenOffice/license.html.

What is “open source”?

Theideals of open-source software can be explained by the fouressentialrights, which are embodied within the Free SoftwareFoundation’sGeneral Public License (GPL):

• The right to use the software for any purpose.
• Freedom to redistribute the software for free or for a fee.
• Access to the complete source code of the program (that is,the“blueprints”).
• The right to modify any part of the source, or use portions of itinother programs.

Anotherview of this philosophy comes from the Open SourceDefinition:

“The basic idea behind open source is very simple: When programmerscanread, redistribute, and modify the source code for a pieceofsoftware, the software evolves. People improve it, people adaptit,people fix bugs. And this can happen at a speed that, if one isusedto the slow pace of conventional software development,seemsastonishing.”

Formore information on Free and Open Source software, visitthesewebsites:

OpenSource Initiative (OSI):[18]

FreeSoftware Foundation (FSF): [19]

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