I have uploaded an early draft of GS Chapter 1. It includes portions
of Chapters 1, 2, 3, and 4 of the OOo2.x book. (Other parts of those
chapters have either been deleted or moved to other chapters or
appendixes in the book.)
http://oooauthors.org/en/authors/userguide3/gs3/GS3_drafts/0101GS-IntroducingOOo_JHW20080606.odt/file_view
Summary of changes: I deleted much of the "brochure" type material
(the comparison tables and the list of new features). The bits on
history, licensing, open source, and faqs at the end of the former
chapter could go into an appendix at the end of the book, if we want
to keep them. From the former Ch2 (Starting OOo) I deleted most of the
pictures. Much of the former Ch3 (File Management) can go into an
appendix (file formats) or into a new chapter on printing, exporting
etc. I kept most of Ch4 (Menus and Toolbars), with the bit on
customizing menu content destined for a new chapter on customizing OOo.
This draft is still rough. I have left notes indicating places where I
intend to fill in more information. I still need to remove some of the
pictures from their frames and insert them properly, and do some other
tidying up to match the new styles. I also need to redo (recapture,
crop, or both) some or all of the pictures, but that will come much later.
I am providing this draft now to allow anyone with an interest in this
book to comment on the structure of the chapter, what I've included,
and so on. Don't waste your time pointing out details or anything I
mentioned in the paragraph above.
Here is the chapter's table of contents.
--Jean
Chapter 1 Introducing OpenOffice.org
What is OpenOffice.org?
Writer (word processor)
Calc (spreadsheet)
Impress (presentations)
Draw (vector graphics)
Base (database)
Math (formula editor)
The advantages of OpenOffice.org
Minimum requirements
How to get the software
How to install the software
How to get help
Help system
Free online support
Paid support and training
Extensions and addons
Starting OpenOffice.org
Starting from an existing document
Using the Quickstarter under Windows
Using the Quickstarter in Linux
Preloading OOo under Linux/KDE
Starting from the command line
OpenOffice.org’s workspace
Menu bar
Right-click (context) menus
Toolbars
Displaying or hiding toolbars
Submenus and tear-off toolbars
Moving toolbars
Floating toolbars
Docking/floating windows and toolbars
Starting a new document
Opening an existing document
Saving documents
Password protection
Saving a document automatically
Renaming and deleting files
Using the Open and Save As dialogs
File associations
Using the Navigator
