Anyone ever use OpenOffice?

proofer

Hi.

My Microsoft Word software trial period ended on my new computer. Someone said to use OpenOffice for a free word processing software. I've downloaded it and I'm on the main page. But how do you create a simple document? I can't find a toolbar or even the correct page to try to create a document. Can anyone help?

Grampa Bud

When you installed it on your computer it should have left an icon on your screen. Click on that and it will take you to the home page to do whatever you want. I just did it myself so I wouldn't tell you wrong.

proofer

Nope. No icon found.

proofer

I did go back into openoffice.org. And I'm logged in. But I don't see a link, or anything to go into to create a document. What side of the page is it on?

dtsman

http://www.ehow.co.uk/video_4445775_...en-office.html


Bo

Remember,
If the women don't find you handsome,
they should at least find you handy.
(Red Green)

fabrk8r

I've been using OpenOffice for about 2 years now. It's an excellent word processing program that rivals or surpasses any "office" software I've used. It will even open and convert documents created with other software.

Proofer, from the way you describe your problem I get the feeling that you haven't actually downloaded and installed the program suite yet. It's an actual program, just like the Microsoft Word/Office suite and you once you have it installed on your computer you don't have to be online at the OpenOffice website to create documents.

If I'm wrong in my assumption (there's that word again) let me know and I will try to help.

__________________
"The physician can bury his mistakes, but the architect can only advise his clients to plant vines." -- Frank Lloyd Wright

Grampa Bud

fabrk8r is right. If there is no icon on your screen the download and subsequent attempts at installation were unsuccessful. You will have try again. Just put openoffice.com in your browser and hit enter. Then follow your nose and do what you are instructed, not what you want.

proofer

Thanks. I will follow your advice and download it again. It took about 40 minutes to download this morning. Then, after it said "download complete" (or something similiar), it didn't do anything else. So I just clicked on "close." I looked around for an icon on my desktop, but nothing showed up. I'll try it again. I'll follow up and let you know what happens. I was in AOL when I downloaded it the first time. I think I'll go through Internet Explorer this time to see if it works.

fabrk8r

After the program downloads the files will have to be unzipped before the installer will open. If you didn't unzip the original download, it's probably not necessary to download it again. Try doing a search for "openoffice" on your hard drive, or just look in your recent downloads folder.

__________________
"The physician can bury his mistakes, but the architect can only advise his clients to plant vines." -- Frank Lloyd Wright

proofer

Thanks for all your help. This morning when I downloaded open office through AOL, I chose "save." When it said that the download was complete, I clicked on "close." Nothing else happened. No icon.

This time, when downloading through Internet Explorer, I chose "run." It downloaded in half the time, but it also took me through extra steps that it didn't this morning: unpacking and Installation Wizard. It also put an icon on my desktop this time, too. I clicked on that icon and did a sample document with no trouble at all!

Was it the difference of choosing "run" instead of "save"? Was it the difference of going through Internet Explorer rather than AOL? I'm not sure. But it worked!

I sure appreciate your help. I do have another question for you. Say I create a new document---my resume. And say I go on a company's Web site and they ask that I upload my resume. Will my uploaded openoffice document retain my document's format that contains my centering, tabs, etc., on the receiving end?

alongston

If you have a Google account use Google Docs. These documents can be saved the same as Word and Excel and they are very user friendly. Plus, they auto-save... my favorite feature.

Grampa Bud

Proofer - Put simply..... Yes it will. Open Office is a mirror of Microsoft and it's operation, just without the monetary greed.

proofer

Thanks for your input!

trav2001

The difference the "save" feature saves the install file (.exe) to a location on your hard drive. The "run" feature just does a temporary save to your hard drive until you install the file. Once the program is fully operational the "run" commands removed all "downloaded" files like nothing ever happened.

By the way, I've used open office for many years, maybe close to 6 - 7 years now. I am only using the MS Office 2010 professional version because there are somethings that are just easier in MS Access than in OpenOffice database.

Glad you were able to get that fixed!

Rhizando

Yes! Support open source. Once you learn how to use it you will see its just as good as the Office products.