Author Topic: Open Office (Read 1490 times)

Witch Hunter · « **on:** March 19, 2007, 05:10:45 PM »

Well it seems we're still having lots of problems with transfering posts from word to the fourms and the team is loaded with work, so, yesterday Orth suggested me to use Open Office, infact, he suggested we all use it :rolleyes:

So heres a link: OpenOffice.org: Home

Go download, it's free, it's spiffy and all that hazzle dazzle, and best of all... It doesn't seem to be as troublesome as word, cheers.

It has all the spell-checking and neat features too... really, go download it!

Many thanks Orth for introducing me to that program by the way:D

MJZ · « **Reply #1 on:** March 19, 2007, 05:27:42 PM »

Yeah OO! I've been using that on and off for years! Go freeware!

Deacon · « **Reply #2 on:** March 19, 2007, 05:27:52 PM »

The problem is converting from MSWord to the forums?

Witch Hunter · « **Reply #3 on:** March 19, 2007, 05:31:20 PM »

Yap yap! it changes characters like "..." into it's own special thingy where the three dots are connected and it also has some alternative forms for "-" and stuff... so the fourm erases it and does some whacky wizzle.

Stephen_Zuckerman · « **Reply #4 on:** March 19, 2007, 05:32:11 PM »

Yes. And with OpenOffice, it's easier to turn off all of those auto-correct bells and whistles that the PC and Mac versions of Word pile on. Those auto-correct deelies are what's messing with posts.

Though I just use a Firefox extension for my spellchecker. I keep forgetting that definite isn't spelled definate.

Deacon · « **Reply #5 on:** March 19, 2007, 07:27:34 PM »

Are things from MSWord compatible with Open Office? I have a ton of documents that are formatted for MS Word and don't want to lose them.

Stephen_Zuckerman · « **Reply #6 on:** March 19, 2007, 08:02:09 PM »

OpenOffice works with everything Word does, and quite a few more types, as well.

Not to mention it'll completely replace your Microsoft Office package... It comes with spreadsheet software, powerpoint stuff, document, and even a little drawing program that I haven't figured out yet.

Deacon · « **Reply #7 on:** March 19, 2007, 08:25:10 PM »

I'm using it now. So far so good.

Marswipp · « **Reply #8 on:** March 19, 2007, 10:38:22 PM »

OpenOffice is the free version of Star Office.

Deacon · « **Reply #9 on:** March 19, 2007, 11:15:36 PM »

Star Office scares me. They use it at my mom's school district and it is HORRIBLE.

Marswipp · « **Reply #10 on:** March 20, 2007, 06:21:46 PM »

Only if you don't know how to use it.

miltonyorkcastle · « **Reply #11 on:** March 21, 2007, 11:19:04 AM »

As just one more vote of confidence, I'm writing a paper using OpenOffice right now.

Leanthar · « **Reply #12 on:** March 21, 2007, 11:29:58 AM »

In my opinion, the problem is that we shouldn't be asking users to use differnet software in order to accomodate a forum or website. People should be able to use what they want and we should work around the problems that come up--when there are enough problems and it works well with the manpower spent on it.

However...we have no income and we do this in our spare time and we are using vbulletin of which we don't have the source code....and I could go on and on....So for now we do what we can do with what we have and the time we have. If I had my preference though we would provide a solution for the players that didn't "require" them to change software packages on their end.

Marswipp · « **Reply #13 on:** March 21, 2007, 12:48:43 PM »

um... I do believe Open Office was offered as a suggestion...

If I need to be blunt, maginify the quote (if it needs it):
[size=0]

Quote from: Witch_Hunter

...Orth suggested ... Open Office, infact, he suggested we all use it...

[/size]

jrizz · « **Reply #14 on:** March 21, 2007, 03:32:25 PM »

For you Mac users get neooffice

NeoOffice Home

orth · « **Reply #15 on:** March 21, 2007, 03:35:47 PM »

As an alternative to actually upgrading OpenOffice, if you are using MS Word, simply turn off the SmartQuotes and AutoCorrect features that change single quotes, double quotes, dashes and ellipses. I believe this can be accessed through Tools - Options or something similar. Somone with word might be able to help and point out where that feature is.

LordCove · « **Reply #16 on:** March 28, 2007, 05:59:14 AM »

Okay....help me out folks.

I've got OpenOffice....and documents I wrote on MSWord or Notepad, I've copied and pasted onto OpenOffice....saved it, and then tried copying and pasting from OpenOffice to the Forums....but it don't work, it's still cutting out most of the words.

Where am I going wrong?

( MSWord I have at work, and have already E-mailed myself most of the documents and deleted them from the work computer, so going back and turning off the Spellchecks on MSword wont work as I'd have to type it all up again )

Black Cat · « **Reply #17 on:** March 28, 2007, 06:52:40 AM »

If I sound strange and all, pardon me, but why do you need an external program to write posts on the forums in the first place? I'm puzzled.

LordCove · « **Reply #18 on:** March 28, 2007, 08:32:33 AM »

I write things on Microsoft Word or Notepad....and then usually copy and paste the whole thing onto the Forum. But due to some formatting issue....it cuts words off....ie " ! ...

So I've been advised to use OpenOffice, then cut and paste from there....but is still dont work. A document some 4 pages long on Microsoft Word is only showing as one paragraph long on the Forums....and Im really too lazy to type it all up in this little message box.

OneST8 · « **Reply #19 on:** March 28, 2007, 08:50:21 AM »

Quote from: LordCove

Okay....help me out folks.

I've got OpenOffice....and documents I wrote on MSWord or Notepad, I've copied and pasted onto OpenOffice....saved it, and then tried copying and pasting from OpenOffice to the Forums....but it don't work, it's still cutting out most of the words.

Where am I going wrong?

( MSWord I have at work, and have already E-mailed myself most of the documents and deleted them from the work computer, so going back and turning off the Spellchecks on MSword wont work as I'd have to type it all up again )

It seems to me that when you copied and pasted out of Word and into OO.o (or just opened up the .doc in OO.o) it's keeping the funky characters Word puts in there. Try saving the .doc as a .txt and then opening that up in OO.o and re-format it if need be. The suggestion I believe was to use OO.o from the get-go rather than to copy/paste/opening from Word. Notepad on the other hand should have no such problems which is sort of confusing me if that is indeed the case.

Quote from: Black Cat

If I sound strange and all, pardon me, but why do you need an external program to write posts on the forums in the first place? I'm puzzled.

While you and I may not use external apps, some folks like to do their work in something with a spelling/grammer checker. Personally, FireFox with the Google toolbar (which has a spellchecker) works just fine for me. Though I do recall a period when the old-old forums would eat posts from time-to-time however, if that is still happening I would seriously be surprised.