Open Office

OpenOffice Suite

OpenOffice, is an open-source software application suite distributed as free software for download at www.openoffice.org.  OpenOffice aims to compete with Microsoft Office and to emulate its look and feel. It can read and write most of the file formats found in Microsoft Office, and many other applications.  OpenOffice.org has been found to be able to open files of older versions of Microsoft Office and damaged files that newer versions of Microsoft Office can’t open.

OpenOffice.org comprises a collection of applications that work together closely to provide the features of a modern office suite. Many of the components are designed to mirror those available in Microsoft Office. The components available include:

• Writer – A word processor similar to Microsoft Word and to WordPerfect. It can export Portable Document Format (PDF) files with no additional software.
• Calc – A spreadsheet similar to Microsoft Excel and to Lotus 1-2-3. Calc provides a number of features not present in Excel, including a system which automatically defines series for graphing, based on the layout of the user’s data. Calc can also export spreadsheets to the PDF format.
• Impress – A presentation program similar to Microsoft PowerPoint and Apple Keynote. Impress can export presentations to Adobe Flash (SWF) files, allowing them to be played on any computer with a Flash player installed. It also includes the ability to create PDF files, and the ability to read Microsoft PowerPoint’s .ppt format.
• Base – A database management program similar to Microsoft Access. Base allows the creation and manipulation of databases, and the building of forms and reports to provide easy access to data for end-users. As with MS Access, Base can function as a front-end to a number of different database systems, including Access databases (JET), ODBC data sources and MySQL/PostgreSQL.
• Draw – A vector graphics editor and diagramming tool, similar to Microsoft Visio and comparable in features to early versions of CorelDRAW. It features versatile “connectors” between shapes, which are available in a range of line styles and facilitate building drawings such as flowcharts. It has similar features to desktop-publishing software such as Scribus and Microsoft Publisher. Draw can also export its creations to the PDF format.

You can download a lot of free templates from http://templates.services.openoffice.org to help you create new very stylish documents and books etc e.g. a quarter page flyer, a resume etc.

For new users of OpenOffice, we have a short online video for using free templates in OpenOffice Writer.

[youtube width=”425″ height=”344″]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-w9u57ha-f4[/youtube]