Posts Tagged: openoffice

Riding Shotgun with Rick — No Comments
27
Jul 07

Ubuntu – Day 11

We are continuing to have problems with sending the newsletter out since our web host changed what they allow us to do. Rest assured we are working diligently to find a good solution for everyone. Remember that in the interim, we post the newsletter here on the site and you can read or print it from here. Please accept our apologies while we work on this problem.

I’m using the Ubuntu version of OpenOffice to work with our newsletter database to clean it up and find a new better solution for the newsletter. The spreadsheet in OpenOffice works great, but the database is pretty pokey compared to Windows based databases like File Maker Pro and Access.

Although I have just three days left with my Ubuntu test, I plan to continue using this Ubuntu laptop as my primary laptop, but will go back to my Windows desktop computer for most of my work since I need to continue to learn about Windows Vista to help troubleshoot it and teach it to my customers.

Links — No Comments
23
Jun 07

Converting FIleMaker Pro database files to OpenOffice Base

For Susan in Alaska, here are some forums dealing with converting FileMaker Pro databases to OpenOffice Base format that you can use in any operating system including Ubuntu:

 

OnAir Solutions — No Comments
23
Jun 07

Opening WordPerfect documents in OpenOffice

One of today's callers was having problems getting WordPerfect documents to open in the OpenOffice Writer word processor. The best thing to try is:

  1. Have the most current version of OpenOffice installed
  2. Start OpenOffice Writer
  3. Click File –> Open
  4. Change the file type to WordPerfect, then find and double-click the document

Here are some resources for more information on opening WordPerfect docs in OpenOffice.

 

Links — No Comments
16
Jun 07

Open Office Outlining Solution

Greg called in and is using the OpenOffice Word Processor (Writer) and had a problem with outlining. Here are two links to read up on possible solutions or post the question at these forums:

Disabling AutoFormat

Load styles at startup 

Application Tips — 2 Comments
30
Mar 07

Format Painter – Video Tip

I demonstrated today's tip in Microsoft Word, but it also works in all the Microsoft Office programs (Excel, Access, Publisher, Outlook, etc), WordPerfect, OpenOffice and others.

The tip is simple in its performance and gargantuan in its function. Format Painter copies formatting from one location and applies it to another. In the video example below, I formatted one line of text to have a particular look and it took 31 clicks of the mouse. Using Format Painter, I copied the look of that text to some plain text in just three steps. This technique comes in handy when formatting longer documents, spreadsheets, newsletters, etc and can save you a boat-load of time. Here's how to do it:

  1. Highlight the text that has already been formatted to your liking using your mouse.
  2. Click the Format Painter button. format painter button
  3. Highlight the text you want to apply the formatting too.

That's it!

Tip Within a Tip:

If you DOUBLE-CLICK the Format Painter button, you can apply the formatting changes to different parts of your document over and over until you unclick the Format Painter button.

Riding Shotgun with Rick — No Comments
18
Dec 06

Another Phenomenal reason to use the Firefox browser

I'm truly in awe right now. Everyday that goes by, Microsoft should be extremely worried. First, the Firefox browser has taken a bite (albeit not large) out of Microsoft's browser share, and with the roll out of Internet Explorer 7 not going well, that lead will continue to dwindle. Next, I truly believe that Windows Vista and Office 2007 will get the same cool reception as the buggy not very compatible Internet Explorer 7.

What I'm in awe about this evening, however, is yet another online suite of Office tools (word processor, spreadsheet, presentation manager, etc). This one is called Ajax13 . They include a basic word processor, spreadsheet, presentation manager, and graphics manager. The only requirement, however, is that you must use Firefox 1.5 or higher to access the programs. They aren't polished and as robust (yet) as OpenOffice or some of the other online office suites, but it demonstrates how mature and powerful web based applications are becoming.

Application Tips / Computer User Group / Riding Shotgun with Rick — 4 Comments
8
Nov 06

Open Office 2.0 — FREE Alternative to Microsoft Office

In today's meetings, we downloaded, installed, and worked with Open Office. The FREE altnernative to Microsoft Office. To read why the software is free, read this information from their web site .

OpenOffice programs are completely compatible with Microsoft Office programs and allows you to read, edit, and create Office documents without owning the Microsoft Office suite. Here is a list of the programs and their functions in Open Office:

Open Office icons

First, you need to download the product by clicking here . You will be asked if you want to donate to the project…this is completely voluntary, and you can simply click "Continue to Download" if you don't want to donate. After the download finishes (less than 15 minutes for cable users, about 30-40 minutes for DSL users, and more than 5 hours for dial-up users), you will see the following icon on your Desktop or wherever you chose to save the file:

Open Office icon

  1. Double-click on the file you just downloaded, wait for the installation to start then:
  2. Click Next
  3. Click Unpack
  4. Wait a few moments
  5. Click Next
  6. Click the "I accept" button
  7. Click Next
  8. Type your name in the "Name" box
  9. Click Next
  10. Click Next if you want to install ALL programs (OR click Custom, then Next if you want to choose which programs to install)
  11. On the screen presented below, check all the boxes IF you don't currently have Microsoft Office installed OR you want to make OpenOffice your default word processor, spreadsheet and presentation manager.
    open office install screen
  12. Click Next
  13. Click Install
  14. Wait a few moments
  15. Click Finish

The install is finished, the first time you open any of the OpenOffice.org programs, you will need to answer a few more questions…again, this is one time only:

  1. When the Welcome screen appears, click Next
  2. Scroll down to the bottom of the license agreement to make the Next button clickable, then click Accept
  3. Type your Name and Initials if they don't appear already
  4. Click Next
  5. Choose whether or not you want to register (it's not necessary)
  6. Click Finish

You are now ready to start using Open Office!!

One quick tip for the Word Processor and Spreadsheet programs, when you open them the first time Click Tools —> Options from the menus, then:

  1. Click the the "+" next to Load/Save
  2. Click the "Always Save As" box and choose the "Microsoft Word 97/2000/XP " option
  3. Click OK (these settings are illustrated below)

Default Save options

Setting this option allows you to save all your documents as Microsoft Word documents so that it is easier to share them. Do the same thing in the OpenOffice Spreadsheet (Calc) and change the save option to Excel.

One other tip we pointed out in the group today is that OpenOffice has a built-in function to create an Adobe Acrobat (PDF) file out of any document you create in OpenOffice.

 

 

Application Tips / Riding Shotgun with Rick — No Comments
21
Sep 06

OpenOffice – Revisited

I wanted to give a quick update on a product that we started talking about on the show about four years ago. It's called OpenOffice . OpenOffice is considered an open source project which means that no one entity owns it (although Sun Microsystems pushed it hard in the early going), and anyone can use it for free. OpenOffice, as the name implies, is a productivity software. It contains a Microsoft Office compatible word processor, spreadsheet, presentation manager and database. I installed it for my kids almost a year ago and have been rolling it out for more and more clients. I can honestly say that I'm impressed with the product.

OpenOffice opens and edits any of the Microsoft products and can save in the Microsoft format. Therefore compatibility is nearly seamless. Some smaller government jurisdictions are giving the expensive licensing fees attached to Microsoft Office in favor of the free OpenOffice. If you are looking for an alternative to Microsoft Office products, take another look at OpenOffice . I think you will be pleasantly surprised.

Email Tips — 2 Comments
15
Sep 06

How to open strange email attachments

One of the most common email questions we get is along the lines of how to open email attachments.

An email attachment is a file that is sent along with a regular email message. The file or files can be photos, PowerPoint presentations, documents or just about anything else.

Here are a few tips for opening strange email attachments.

1. Don't do it unless you know it's safe. There are still a few viruses out there that travel as email attachments. These viruses spread to people in the infected computer's address book so they likely will come from someone you know.

Common virus extensions (see extensions defined in the next the next step) include .vbs, .exe and .zip. However there are others out there so be careful.

2. Note the extension. Most attachements don't open because the attachment was created using a program that you do not have on your computer. The extension is the three letter code at end of the extension's name. For example photo.jpg, slideshow.ppt.

3. Visit FileXT and search for the file extension. This will tell you what program created the file and whether or not a viewer is available for download. A viewer is a program that allows you to read, but not edit, the given type of file.

4. You can also visit the website for the given program manufacturer to see whether a viewer is available.

Here are some common viewers:

DP Software — No Comments
28
Mar 06

Microsoft PowerPoint slideshows

Microsoft PowerPoint is a program for creating business presentations but many people use it for creating elaborate photo slide shows.

In addition to discussing PowerPoint we also talked about a few PowerPoint alternatives.

OpenOffice – a great free alternative to Microsoft Office

Ulead Movie Factory – for creating Slideshows and movies on DVDs or CDs

There are a couple of others that I failed to mention at the meeting.

SmoothShow – probably the most popular slideshow creator for professions 

XatShow -  this is one of my favorite programs because it will allow you to make screensavers, slideshows, DVDs, and other cool multimedia projects

In our question and answer session we discussed what the P,S,A and M stood for on most digital cameras – here is a recap:

P – Program mode – this is a full auto mode that allows you to change certain settings like the ISO (film speed) and flash settings.

S – Shutter priority – Great for sports or motion shots in weird lighting. You set the shutter speed and the camera determines the rest.

A -  Aperture priority – Great for setting long focal lengths (stuff’s in focus for a long way)  or short focal lengths and then letting the camera do everything else.

M – Full manual – You must tell the camera everything. You set the shutter speed, aperture, ISO, and flash settings. This is a great mode for learning about how your camera works, but it is not recommended for shooting when fractions of a second count such as in wildlife, sports or weddings.

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