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OpenOffice.org - Product Suite
Writer
OpenOffice.org Writer is a word processor similar in look and feel to Microsoft Word and offering a comparable range of functions and tools. It also includes the ability to export Portable Document Format (PDF) files with no additional software, and can also function as a WYSIWYG editor for creating and editing web pages. One important difference between Writer and Microsoft Word is that in Writer, many functions and number formats from Calc (below) are available in Writer's tables.
Calc
OpenOffice.org Calc is a spreadsheet program similar to Microsoft Excel with a roughly equivalent range of features. 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 is also capable of writing spreadsheets directly as a PDF file.
Impress
OpenOffice.org Impress is a presentation program similar to Microsoft PowerPoint. It can export presentations to Adobe Flash (SWF) files allowing them to be played on any computer with the Flash player installed. It also includes the ability to create PDF files.
Base
OpenOffice.org Base is a database 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 Access, Base is able to work as a front-end to a number of different database systems, including Access databases (JET), ODBC data sources and MySQL/PostgreSQL. Base became part of the suite starting with version 2.0.
Draw
OpenOffice.org Draw is a vector graphics editor comparable in features to CorelDRAW. It features versatile "connectors" between shapes, which are available in a range of line styles and facilitate building drawings such as flowcharts.
Math
OpenOffice.org Math is a tool for creating and editing mathematical formulae, similar to Microsoft Equation Editor. Formulae can be embedded inside other OpenOffice.org documents, such as those created by Writer. It supports multiple fonts and can export to PDF.
OpenOffice.org - Writer
Word Processing, Desktop Publishing software
OpenOffice.org - Calc
Spreadsheet, Calculating & Graphing software
OpenOffice.org - Impress
Presentations, SlideShow & multimedia software
OpenOffice.org - Draw
Vector graphics creation and manipulation software
OpenOffice.org - Base
Database; Data storage & management software
OpenOffice.org - Math
Mathematical equation & formula creation software
The Suite Advantage
OpenOffice.org is more than a collection of superb tools.
Unlike some competitors, this suite was not created from a collection of separate pieces of software. From the start, it was designed as one complete office package.
- All the packages have a consistent simple 'look and feel' making them very easy to use, with common 'learn once use everywhere' tools like the Styles and Formatting. OpenOffice.org takes its 'look and feel' from your computer - if you change your desktop, OpenOffice.org will change to match.
- The same tools are used consistently across the suite - for example, the tools you use to work with graphics within Writer are also found in Impress and Draw.
- You don't need to know which application was used to create a particular file - you can 'File Open' any OpenOffice.org file from anywhere and the correct application will be launched.
- All the packages share a common spell-checker, etc.; and if you change an 'Option' in one package, it's changed in them all.
- Information can be transferred easily between all the packages.
- All the components save in OpenDocument format, the new international standard for office documents. This XML based format offers substantial disk savings compared to common competitors' formats. It also means you can access your data from any OpenDocument compliant software.
- All the packages are installed in one single operation, using the installation process you are used to on your computer.
- All the packages are released under the same open licensing model - there are no hidden charges now or in the future.
Everything you need in an office productivity suite - get it today!.
Case Studies
Library stocks up on OpenOffice
Birmingham City Council, England, rolls out open-source software including OpenOffice.org and discovers "These are all powerful applications. What we have is a very stable, very secure desktop ... There has been a very positive user reaction"
Click here to read the full case study on-line.
Bristol Switches to StarOffice
Gavin Beckett, Bristol City Council's IT strategy manager, took up the challenge of building a business case to determine whether and how Bristol's 5,500 computers could migrate to an alternative office suite. Open source software had become a prominent option, and Beckett was keen to identify what open source could potentially offer.
Click here to read the full case study on-line.
Firm Deploys OpenOffice - Where It Makes Sense
With open-source productivity suites getting better and better, the cost of Microsoft Corp.'s Office is looking higher and higher to FN Manufacturing LLC. FN Manufacturing began testing OpenOffice.org 1.1.1 in 2004 with the hope of mitigating the costsassociated with an enterprisewide upgrade to Microsoft Office 2003. FN Manufacturing's goal was not necessarily to entirely replace Microsoft's Office suite, but to find and deploy a more cost-effective office solution where and when possible.
Click here to read how one company has used OpenOffice.org to meet its business needs.
Moving to an OpenOffice Culture
OpenOffice offers the entire organization immediate savings. Now that's something everyone can understand. Even with the moderate costs associated with training and support for a new application, Novell calculated it could achieve seven-figure savings just by cutting back on its MS Office licenses as it also streamlined its Windows contracts. Adopting OpenOffice for Windows, with an eye to eventually going all the way with Linux, made that possible.
Click here for the full story of how and why Novell migrated over 5000 users to OpenOffice.org
OpenOffice.org meets charity's needs - and makes for good business too
When you are a charitable organisation, you need to make every penny count. This case study shows how OpenOffice.org software enabled Migrant Helpline, a UK based charity, to invest in its staff and deliver a better service to clients, while generating useful business for a local company The Burningsuit Consultancy.
Click here to download in .sxw format (48k), or here to download in .pdf format (95k).
OpenOffice.org software meets finance company's needs for Microsoft Office compatibility and cuts costs
This Case Study shows how OpenOffice.org software helped a small finance company gain a competitive cost advantage over much larger competitors, and helped the IT infrastructure keep up with the rapid growth of the company.
Click here to download in .sxw format (46k), or here to download in .pdf format (89k).