2008/10/31 Frederik Larsen <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> > Hello open Office discussion. > > I am pretty new to Open office. I wanted to download the new version 3.0 > Found that i could help by filling in the OpenOffice.org > survey< > http://survey.services.openoffice.org/user/ooo_survey_january_2008_en.php > >but > thi link to this was broken. Not so good a start for new-comers > wanting > to believe in an alternative to other office software. > Then wnating t report this broken link by hitting Reporting Bugs & > Issues<http://qa.openoffice.org/issue_handling/project_issues.html>on > the same page and then going to "OpenOffice.org > Infrastructure Problems< > http://qa.openoffice.org/issue_handling/project_issues.html#oooinfrastructure > >" > just to find the link "component > www<http://www.openoffice.org/issues/enter_bug.cgi?component=www>" > leading to a page with the below message: > Enter issue > > start: > > *Permission denied* > > This all does not seem very professional, and actually not very reassuring, > if i should keep using this product. If this is what i found of faults on > the website in my first 2 minuts, how will it be to use the applications? > > Confused new user!! > > Fred > <http://www.openoffice.org/issues/reports.cgi> >
Hello Fred, Welcome to OpenOffice.org. I think that one difference between Open Source software and (at least some kinds of) proprietary software is that the former doesn't hold your hand from the cradle to the grave. This community thrives on volunnteers, and isn't a closed and well delimited circuit. One of the downsides of this dynamic ecosystem is that there may be some piitfalls etc. You stumbled on one of those, a File Not Found (the rare times I visit Mr G's emporium, I regularly stumble on some of those too... so after all the difference on that level may be small). The survey is not obligatory, and I have the impression that it isn't considered a priority to keep up up to date. Normally you are presented the option to fill in the questionnaire when you install OOo. Otherwise, I found (on the OOo website that isn't always so easy to browse...) it here: http://surveys.services.openoffice.org/surveys/index.php?sid=91452 Filing issues is not so easy at first hand (like most things it gets easier as you do it...). First thing is that you have to be registered to file an issue. That's probably why you got the 'permission denied' message - underneath it says "the user 'guest' has no permission etc. - Please Login first" Secondly, you have to get a bit acquainted with the components of this open source project and the names developers give to them. The other day, I was trying to file an issue concerning an extension, but I'm not sure I got it to the right spot. The idea is that different developers get to see issues filed concerning the part of the big job they are working on. Many people on the users' list ask more experienced colleagues to file issues. Finally, I think it's the program itself that proves whether the OpenOffice.org is professional. Several million people and quite some commercial and official organisations are already using it on a daily basis for all their office work. I don't think governments would chose to replace the well known proprietary software with OOo if the latter didn't perform as required. HTH -- Guy using dutch OOo Aqua 3.0.0 on a iMac Intel DualCore Tiger and brazilian OOo Aqua 3.0.0 on an Intel MacBook Pro Leopard Dodoes can't afford to have headaches
