Difference between revisions of "Documentation/OpenOffice.org needs YOU"

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|valign="top"|[[Image:documentation_note.png]]||The following text is an edited copy of a text by Dan Kegel.  
 
|valign="top"|[[Image:documentation_note.png]]||The following text is an edited copy of a text by Dan Kegel.  
 
  You can find the original text with more information for developers at
 
  You can find the original text with more information for developers at
  [http://www.kegel.com/openoffice/triage.html Dan Kegels web site].
+
  [http://www.kegel.com/openoffice/triage.html Dan Kegels website].
 
|}
 
|}
 
</div>
 
</div>
  
 
==Introduction==
 
==Introduction==
[http://www.openoffice.org/ OpenOffice.org] is a free,
+
Apache OpenOffice is the leading open-source office software suite for word processing, spreadsheets, presentations, graphics, databases and more. It is available in many languages and works on all common computers. It stores all your data in an international open standard format and can also read and write files from other common office software packages. It can be downloaded and used completely free of charge for any purpose.
Microsoft Office-compatible office suite which is becoming increasingly
+
popular.  Individuals, schools, governments, and companies are
+
evaluating OpenOffice.org as an effective and inexpensive alternative
+
to Microsoft Office.
+
+
As you can see, the following comment is a bit old now, with OOo 3 being the current version.
+
  
I recently tested compatibility between OpenOffice.org and Microsoft Office
+
Documents in Version 4.0 of OpenOffice and Microsoft Office 14.3.8 (for Mac) are compatible. Users will likely not notice any problems when exchanging documents with MS Office users.
by checking whether OpenOffice could correctly display Microsoft Office documents.
+
My unscientific impression is that Version 1.0.3 of OpenOffice.org scores
+
about a 70 out of 100 on MS Office compatibility, and Version 1.1.0 scores about a 90.
+
The new version is so good that many people won't
+
notice any problems when exchanging documents with MS Office users.
+
  
However -- if you *do* notice problems, you face a choice. You could:
+
OpenOffice is constantly evolving with the help of its users. If you notice a problem while using OpenOffice, you have an opportunity to help make the program better and easier to use.
 +
There are two ways you can help:
 
<ol>
 
<ol>
<li>do nothing, and wait for someone else to notice and fix the problems,
+
<li>file bug reports for the problems you see
<li>file bug reports for the problems you see, or
+
<li>help the team sort through bug reports filed by others
<li>file bug reports for problems you see, and help the team sort through bug reports filed by others
+
 
+
 
</ol>
 
</ol>
 +
 
The more you help, the more likely the problems you care about will be solved in the next release.
 
The more you help, the more likely the problems you care about will be solved in the next release.
I personally have helped sort through a number of bug reports, and
 
have been very happy to discover that my efforts made a big difference -
 
the [http://www.openoffice.org/project/www/issues/show_bug.cgi?id=14053 crash bugs I sent on to the developers] are getting fixed rapidly.
 
  
This page assumes you're already familiar with filing bug reports,
+
To file a bug report, register a [https://bz.apache.org/ooo/createaccount.cgi Bugzilla account]. You can also track your issue and view other issues from fellow users.
and tries to show you how to help sort through other people's bug reports effectively.
+
 
 +
For more information, follow this link: https://www.openoffice.org/qa/ooQAReloaded/ooQA-ReportBugs.html
  
 
==The Problem Report Backlog==
 
==The Problem Report Backlog==
OpenOffice.org is good software, but like all software, it has imperfections.
+
OpenOffice, like all software, has imperfections. So many people are using OpenOffice that
Lately, so many people are using the OpenOffice.org office suite that
+
they're even running into hard-to-trigger problems. Many of these users are helpfully filing problem reports in Bugzilla,
they're actually running into even fairly hard-to-trigger problems.
+
and OpenOffice developers are working on resolving the issues as they press on towards the next release.
Many of these users are helpfully filing problem reports in IssueZilla,
+
and the OpenOffice.org developers are working on resolving the issues as
+
they press on towards the next release.
+
  
Problem is, problem reports are coming in faster than they can be dealt with,
+
However, problem reports are coming in faster than they can be dealt with because many of the problem reports are duplicates or system problems. The result is a backlog of over a thousand unchecked problem reports from users, and every day another four new reports are added to the backlog. This backlog is both a shame, and a treasure trove.  Many of the problem reports in the backlog contain enough information for developers to quickly find and solve the problem - but it takes time to sort through the reports.
because many of the problem reports are duplicates or system problems.
+
The result is a backlog of over a thousand unexamined problem reports from users,
+
and every day, another four new reports are added to the backlog.
+
This backlog is both a shame, and a treasure trove.  Many of the
+
problem reports in the backlog contain enough information for
+
developers to quickly find and solve the problem - but it takes time
+
to sort through the reports.
+
  
That's where <b>you</b> come in.  You can help the developers do what they do
+
That's where <b>you</b> come in.  You can help the developers do what they do best.  All you have to do is help sort through the incoming bug reports. This is called <i>triage</i>.
best.  All you have to do is help sort through the incoming bug reports.
+
This is called <i>triage</i>.
+
  
 
==Triage==
 
==Triage==
Line 95: Line 71:
  
 
<ol>
 
<ol>
<li>[http://www.openoffice.org/servlets/Join Register as a member of OpenOffice.org]
+
<li>[https://www.openoffice.org/servlets/Join Register as a member of {{AOo}}]
 
<li>Request to be a member of the QA project by clicking the "Join This Project" link at the upper
 
<li>Request to be a member of the QA project by clicking the "Join This Project" link at the upper
right hand of [http://qa.openoffice.org/ qa.openoffice.org]
+
right hand of [https://www.openoffice.org/qa/ qa.openoffice.org]
<li>Review [http://qa.openoffice.org/helping.html qa.openoffice.org/helping.html] and
+
<li>Review [https://www.openoffice.org/qa/helping.html qa.openoffice.org/helping.html] and
[http://qa.openoffice.org/priorities.html qa.openoffice.org/priorities.html]
+
[https://www.openoffice.org/qa/priorities.html qa.openoffice.org/priorities.html]
<li>[http://qa.openoffice.org/servlets/ProjectMailingListList Join the dev@qa.openoffice.org mailing list]
+
<li>[https://openoffice.apache.org/mailing-lists.html#qa-mailing-list-public Join the dev@qa.openoffice.org mailing list]
<li>Request the ability to set issue status by emailing dev@qa.openoffice.org with
+
<li>Request the ability to set issue status by emailing dev@openoffice.apache.org with
 
subject line <b>"Volunteer Privileges - <OOo.org userid>"</b>.
 
subject line <b>"Volunteer Privileges - <OOo.org userid>"</b>.
 
Mention your OOo.org userid again in the message body, and
 
Mention your OOo.org userid again in the message body, and
Line 109: Line 85:
  
 
</ol>
 
</ol>
Then pick an [http://www.openoffice.org/project/www/issues/buglist.cgi?issue_type=DEFECT&amp;issue_status=UNCONFIRMED&amp;changedin=5&amp;keywords=oooqa&amp;keywords_type=nowords&amp;order=%27Importance%27 unconfirmed bug report] (or <i>issue</i>, as the OpenOffice
+
Then pick an [https://bz.apache.org/ooo/buglist.cgi?changedin=5&issue_status=UNCONFIRMED&issue_type=DEFECT&keywords=oooqa&keywords_type=nowords unconfirmed bug report] (or <i>issue</i>, as the OpenOffice team calls them), and help triage it as follows:  
team calls them), and help triage it as follows:  
+
  
 
<ul>
 
<ul>
 
<li>
 
<li>
See if you can find a similar bug in the list of frequently-duplicated issues or by [http://www.openoffice.org/project/www/issues/query.cgi searching Issuezilla]. If you think it's a duplicate of issue 12345, say
+
See if you can find a similar bug in the list of frequently-duplicated issues or by [https://bz.apache.org/ooo/query.cgi searching Bugzilla]. If you think it's a duplicate of issue 12345, say something like <i>"Looks like a duplicate of issue 12345"</i> in the Comment box. The word 'issue', followed by a number, gets turned into a handy hyperlink, so people who look at the bug report can click on those words to see how issue 12345 was solved.
something like <i>"Looks like a duplicate of issue 12345"</i> in
+
the Comment box. The word 'issue' followed by a number gets turned
+
into a handy hyperlink, so people who look at the bug report can
+
click on those words to see how issue 12345 was solved.
+
  
  
 
<li>
 
<li>
Try to reproduce the bug on your computer. In the Comment box,
+
Try to reproduce the bug on your computer. In the Comment box, say whether you were able to or not, and how you did it (if you
say whether you were able to or not, and how you did it (if you
+
weren't following a recipe already in the bug report). If you can't reproduce the bug, also ask for more details if there wasn't enough info in the original report.
weren't following a recipe already in the bug report). If you can't
+
reproduce the bug, also ask for more details if there wasn't enough
+
info in the original report.
+
  
 
<li>
 
<li>
 
If it's a crash or freeze bug, send the automatic report that the Crash Reporter offers you to send.
 
If it's a crash or freeze bug, send the automatic report that the Crash Reporter offers you to send.
  
<li>If you *can* reproduce the bug, mark it 'NEW' to signal the
+
<li>If you *can* reproduce the bug, mark it 'NEW' to signal the developers to have a look.</li>
developers to have a look.</li>
+
  
<li>If you can't reproduce the bug, and you're pretty sure you have
+
<li>If you can't reproduce the bug, and you're pretty sure you have all the info you need, mark the bug WORKSFORME.</li>
all the info you need, mark the bug WORKSFORME.</li>
+
  
<li>If you want to get email when someone replies (and you probably
+
<li>If you want to get email when someone replies (and you probably do), put your @openoffice.org email address (the one given to you
do), put your @openoffice.org email address (the one given to you
+
when you registered to use Bugzilla) in the CC: field in the upper right.</li>
when you registered to use Issuezilla) in the CC: field in the
+
upper right.</li>
+
  
 
<li>Add the keyword 'oooqa' to show someone's started triaging it.</li>
 
<li>Add the keyword 'oooqa' to show someone's started triaging it.</li>
Line 150: Line 114:
 
That's all there is to it!
 
That's all there is to it!
  
If you asked for more information from the original submitter,
+
If you asked for more information from the original submitter, and you remembered to put your OpenOffice email address in the CC: field in the upper right, you'll get email when they reply to your question. When you get the reply, go to the bug's page in Bugzilla, and finish triaging the bug if you can.
and you remembered to put your OpenOffice.org email address in the CC: field
+
in the upper right, you'll get email when they reply to your question.
+
When you get the reply, go to the bug's page in IssueZilla, and
+
finish triaging the bug if you can.  
+
  
 
==Workflow==
 
==Workflow==
 
A helpful diagram of the life cycle of a bug report
 
A helpful diagram of the life cycle of a bug report
is online at [http://qa.openoffice.org/issue_handling/workflowcharts/taskhandling_workflow_issuetracker_confirm.html qa.openoffice.org/issue_handling/taskhandling_workflow_issuetracker_confirm.html].
+
is online at  
 +
[https://www.openoffice.org/qa/issue_handling/workflowcharts/taskhandling_workflow_issuetracker_confirm.html www.openoffice.org/qa/issue_handling/workflowcharts/taskhandling_workflow_issuetracker_confirm.html].
  
 
==Priorities, Priorities==
 
==Priorities, Priorities==
  
There are so many bug reports that it's vital to tackle the ones
+
There are so many bug reports that it's vital to tackle the ones with the highest potential payoff first. This is a matter of
with the highest potential payoff first.   This is a matter of
+
taste.  Some people might want to look just at fresh bugs, others might care more about crash bugs, others might care more about Microsoft Office compatibility.
taste.  Some people might want to look just at fresh bugs,
+
others might care more about crash bugs, others
+
might care more about Microsoft Office compatibility.
+
  
No matter what area you care about,  
+
No matter what area you care about, you can probably come up with an Bugzilla query that pulls up bug reports about it.  Below are a few example queries, enough for you to get started with.
you can probably come up with an IssueZilla query that pulls up
+
bug reports about it.  Below are a few example queries,
+
enough for you to get started with.
+
 
+
Note: these example queries aren't perfect - they miss a few bugs,
+
and pull up a few issues that aren't really what they were meant to find, so take
+
them with a grain of salt.  You can edit the queries by clicking
+
on the "Edit Query" link on the bottom right of the query result page.
+
  
 +
{{Note|These example queries aren't perfect - they miss a few bugs, and pull up a few issues that aren't really what they were meant to find, so take them with a grain of salt.  You can edit the queries by clicking on the "Edit Query" link on the bottom right of the query result page.}}
  
 
=Recently Reported Bugs=
 
=Recently Reported Bugs=
  
Recently reported bugs are important to check because a user is
+
Recently reported bugs are important to check because a user is waiting for help, and is probably willing to provide additional
waiting for help, and is probably willing to provide additional
+
information or testcases if you need them to reproduce the bug.
information or testcases if you need them to reproduce the bug.
+
 
+
You can find a daily list of recently reported bugs, plus excerpts from developer blogs, at [http://planet.go-oo.org/ Planet go-oo].
+

Latest revision as of 13:03, 30 June 2023

Edit-find-replace.png This article should be checked for accuracy and conformity to style.

Book-old.png    This article is outdated.    
Documentation note.png The following text is an edited copy of a text by Dan Kegel.
You can find the original text with more information for developers at
Dan Kegels website.

Introduction

Apache OpenOffice is the leading open-source office software suite for word processing, spreadsheets, presentations, graphics, databases and more. It is available in many languages and works on all common computers. It stores all your data in an international open standard format and can also read and write files from other common office software packages. It can be downloaded and used completely free of charge for any purpose.

Documents in Version 4.0 of OpenOffice and Microsoft Office 14.3.8 (for Mac) are compatible. Users will likely not notice any problems when exchanging documents with MS Office users.

OpenOffice is constantly evolving with the help of its users. If you notice a problem while using OpenOffice, you have an opportunity to help make the program better and easier to use. There are two ways you can help:

  1. file bug reports for the problems you see
  2. help the team sort through bug reports filed by others

The more you help, the more likely the problems you care about will be solved in the next release.

To file a bug report, register a Bugzilla account. You can also track your issue and view other issues from fellow users.

For more information, follow this link: https://www.openoffice.org/qa/ooQAReloaded/ooQA-ReportBugs.html

The Problem Report Backlog

OpenOffice, like all software, has imperfections. So many people are using OpenOffice that they're even running into hard-to-trigger problems. Many of these users are helpfully filing problem reports in Bugzilla, and OpenOffice developers are working on resolving the issues as they press on towards the next release.

However, problem reports are coming in faster than they can be dealt with because many of the problem reports are duplicates or system problems. The result is a backlog of over a thousand unchecked problem reports from users, and every day another four new reports are added to the backlog. This backlog is both a shame, and a treasure trove. Many of the problem reports in the backlog contain enough information for developers to quickly find and solve the problem - but it takes time to sort through the reports.

That's where you come in. You can help the developers do what they do best. All you have to do is help sort through the incoming bug reports. This is called triage.

Triage

Triage is what medics do when wounded soldiers arrive at a field hospital so fast they can't all be helped. They decide one of three things about each arriving patient, namely: he/she is either

  • well enough that they don't really need a doctor,
  • sick, and could get better if they get to see a doctor, or
  • need last rites more than they need the doctor.

Similarly, triage is also what QA people do when bug reports come in too fast for developers to handle by themselves. They look at each incoming bug report, and decide whether it:

  • is a duplicate of a known bug, in which case they can often email a workaround to the user,
  • is a bug in some other piece of software, in which case they try to direct the user to the right place for support for that software, or
  • is a reproducible and novel bug, in which case they send a recipe for reproducing the bug to the developers.

That lets the developers focus on fixing problems in the code.

How to help

Here's how to get started:

  1. Register as a member of Apache OpenOffice
  2. Request to be a member of the QA project by clicking the "Join This Project" link at the upper right hand of qa.openoffice.org
  3. Review qa.openoffice.org/helping.html and qa.openoffice.org/priorities.html
  4. Join the dev@qa.openoffice.org mailing list
  5. Request the ability to set issue status by emailing dev@openoffice.apache.org with subject line "Volunteer Privileges - <OOo.org userid>". Mention your OOo.org userid again in the message body, and while you're at it, introduce yourself to the group - it's nice to know who we're working with. After your request is granted, you should be able to add the oooqa keyword and modify all fields in an issue.

Then pick an unconfirmed bug report (or issue, as the OpenOffice team calls them), and help triage it as follows:

  • See if you can find a similar bug in the list of frequently-duplicated issues or by searching Bugzilla. If you think it's a duplicate of issue 12345, say something like "Looks like a duplicate of issue 12345" in the Comment box. The word 'issue', followed by a number, gets turned into a handy hyperlink, so people who look at the bug report can click on those words to see how issue 12345 was solved.
  • Try to reproduce the bug on your computer. In the Comment box, say whether you were able to or not, and how you did it (if you weren't following a recipe already in the bug report). If you can't reproduce the bug, also ask for more details if there wasn't enough info in the original report.
  • If it's a crash or freeze bug, send the automatic report that the Crash Reporter offers you to send.
  • If you *can* reproduce the bug, mark it 'NEW' to signal the developers to have a look.
  • If you can't reproduce the bug, and you're pretty sure you have all the info you need, mark the bug WORKSFORME.
  • If you want to get email when someone replies (and you probably do), put your @openoffice.org email address (the one given to you when you registered to use Bugzilla) in the CC: field in the upper right.
  • Add the keyword 'oooqa' to show someone's started triaging it.
  • Then press the Submit button.

That's all there is to it!

If you asked for more information from the original submitter, and you remembered to put your OpenOffice email address in the CC: field in the upper right, you'll get email when they reply to your question. When you get the reply, go to the bug's page in Bugzilla, and finish triaging the bug if you can.

Workflow

A helpful diagram of the life cycle of a bug report is online at www.openoffice.org/qa/issue_handling/workflowcharts/taskhandling_workflow_issuetracker_confirm.html.

Priorities, Priorities

There are so many bug reports that it's vital to tackle the ones with the highest potential payoff first. This is a matter of taste. Some people might want to look just at fresh bugs, others might care more about crash bugs, others might care more about Microsoft Office compatibility.

No matter what area you care about, you can probably come up with an Bugzilla query that pulls up bug reports about it. Below are a few example queries, enough for you to get started with.

Documentation note.png These example queries aren't perfect - they miss a few bugs, and pull up a few issues that aren't really what they were meant to find, so take them with a grain of salt. You can edit the queries by clicking on the "Edit Query" link on the bottom right of the query result page.

Recently Reported Bugs

Recently reported bugs are important to check because a user is waiting for help, and is probably willing to provide additional information or testcases if you need them to reproduce the bug.

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