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A credible rival to MS Office, OpenOffice.org includes powerful applications for making text documents, spreadsheets, presentations, diagrams, and databases, as well as HTML and XML documents. Not only does it let you edit basic documents, such as letters and faxes, it also handles equations and complex and multipart documents with bibliographies, reference tables, and indexes.
The interface is similar to that of MS Office, and even advanced Office users will find almost everything they're used to: templates, collaborative features (versions, recording changes), macros, and even a programming language. OOo, as it's known, lets you open and save documents in formats as diverse as MS Office formats, PDF, HTML, and XML. It can also import files from those formats, as well as WordPerfect and others. However, it normally saves files in the open-standard Oasis OpenDocument XML format, for maximum compatibility with other applications.
The latest versions of OpenOffice have seen a spurt of growth in the extensions available for the program. These include templates for professional writers, an export tool for bidirectional functionality with Google Docs, blog publishing, and others. Blog publishing assistance especially strikes us as a natural area for word processing to grow toward.
We were pleased to find that stability has improved too. No doubt about it, the multilingual and crossplatform OpenOffice.org is a compelling option for anyone in search of an alternative office suite.
OpenOffice.org:Publisher's Description
From OpenOffice.org:
OpenOffice.org is both an open-source product and a project. The product is a multiplatform office productivity suite. It includes desktop applications such as a word processor, a spreadsheet program, a presentation manager, and a drawing program, with a user interface and feature set similar to those of other office suites. OpenOffice.org also works transparently with a variety of file formats, including those of Microsoft Office. Localizations of OpenOffice.org are available in 27 languages, with more being constantly added by the community. OpenOffice.org runs on Solaris, Linux (including PPC Linux), and Windows. Written in C++ and with documented APIs licensed under the LGPL and SISSL open-source protocols, OpenOffice.org allows any knowledgeable developer to benefit from the source.
What's new in this version:
- Improved startup speed
- Support for Microsoft Office 2007 files
- Encryption support for Microsoft Word 97, 2000, XP files
- Database forms now support zooming
- Impress supports comments
- Import pivot tables from Microsoft Excel 2007 documents
- Improved sort, cell merging, and complex copy and paste features in Calc
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All versions:
4.3 starsout of 1,954 votes
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Current version:
4.4 starsout of 185 votes
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My rating:
Write review
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"Not the version claimed"
Version: OpenOffice.org 3.2.1
Pros
None at all 10 characters.
Cons
I wanted 3.2.1 which has a British English version. I selected the 3.2.1 download link and got 3.4, which does not!
It's a con! -
"works great I only need to learn more abour it"
Version: OpenOffice.org 3.2.1
Pros
LOL! ; price is right
Cons
I haven't found any
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"it does everything and free to use"
Version: OpenOffice.org 3.2.1
Pros
we like you java
Cons
may be a liitle bit faster
Summary
tnx alot java we can save time and money
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"price is right, works well"
Version: OpenOffice.org 3.2.1
Pros
Can't complain about the product, works well
Cons
There are none for this free product
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"Awesome Software"
Version: OpenOffice.org 3.2.1
Pros
Execellent.....
Cons
There's Nothing wrong with this software.
Summary
I really love this software, especially creating databases. Let me tell you; As a small home based busines , I created employee timesheets, project management and the list goes on and on. It also works well with google app.
Thank you OpenOffice for such a awesome software. -
"good to fair"
Version: OpenOffice.org 3.2.1
Pros
free and process .txt, ..doc and .pdf files
Cons
oracle/ellison bought sun, which means an uncertain future for OO
Summary
Good for the time being. Follow the ones to the new office suite, which isn't quite functional; I will. Something is going to happen to this, quite possibly a for-pay suite or else dropping it entirely as far as safety updates. Also has a component that loads very slowly on startup.
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"This is a great free product."
Version: OpenOffice.org 3.2.1
Pros
It does everything that the Microsoft's product does.
Cons
Haven't found any yet.
Summary
For the investment, nothing can beat OpenOffice.
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"is free and work"
Version: OpenOffice.org 3.2.1
Pros
if you dont have the money this program can do it
Cons
its not 100% microsoft office BUT is free and work
Summary
is a program that can help and work
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"Love The Software"
Version: OpenOffice.org 3.2.1
Pros
I like the auto pdf. file opener. I used to have to save the pdf. files to the desktop and then use the powerpoint viewer.
Cons
None for now.
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"Why buy any office software? This program does it all."
Version: OpenOffice.org 3.2.1
Pros
It does more than the average person ever needs. Even for business applications, it is more than adequate and has ALL the features other programs only offer in premium or 'professional' editions.
Cons
There is nothing I dislike. I was using the text editor, too, but have now gone to a desktop publishing program for this purpose.
Summary
I highly recommend it. Why buy office software?
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