The latest OOo newsletter mentioned that Star Office (not free, but a
lot less than M$) is coming out with an 8.0 beta with extended support
for vba.
Joe
Robin Laing wrote:
Steve Sims wrote:
My problem is I would like to use OOO but as our main software is
accountancy based, every add-in we buy in for a spreadsheet won't
work with
OOO as Excel VBA won't translate in to OOO. This leaves us with the
desire
to use OOO but practically, we can't until this problem is resolved,
otherwise we are left running incompatible spreadsheet systems for
accounts\book-keeping, payroll and producing financial statements and
tax
returns.
The only other option is to rewrite all the accounts software in to OOO,
which we could do in time, but meanwhile we have unsatisfactory
systems for
producing accurate accountancy documents.
I have scoured the internet for OOO based addins suitable for our
business
use without success.
I have also spoken to one or two of our specialist software providers
who
say they won't produce an OOO version as there is no UK market and they
would have to rewrite the code. These providers produce Excel based
specialist software for calculating tax and payroll etc.
Their argument is they sell their products for around �40 and rely on
volume
sales as margins are low and those volumes just wouldn't justify the
time
input to rewrite the addins with the size of the UK OOO market.
Perhaps there would be a market if the same third party support for
Excel
add ins was available to OOO - maybe the customers are there but
won't move
until the same third party software support is available for OOO as MS
Office
Regards
Steve Sims
Director
Yardleystar Accountancy
PO Box 3988, Lichfield, Staffordshire WS13 6YL
Tel: 0870 242 1047
Fax: 0870 460 2085
Email: [EMAIL PROTECTED]
Web: http://www.yardleystar.co.uk
Ah, the problem of closed source applications. One of my biggest
headaches.
I am in the process of converting some archives that are in multiple
formats over to OOo so they are available in the future. Some of the
files will only open in Corel Draw which is not that common.
I do understand your frustration but that is a problem with the
software developers who are using a restrictive application. It isn't
OOo that is at fault as that plugins are written for Microsoft Office.
Of course Microsoft wants the developers to keep doing this because
it will keep their customers needing Microsoft Office.
As I use Linux, it makes it even more interesting as there are alot of
packages that won't run. I take the time to inform some suppliers
that if they want to sell to me, it had better work in Linux or I
don't purchase it.
In a low margin industry, you cannot blame them in not supporting OOo.
But it may prove interesting as they are in Europe as many
organizations and countries are looking at going to open source
software. The company may have to convert just to stay in business.
If you can provide them with links to validate the need to change for
future business, then you may have become their first open source
customer.
I know that there are non-open source commercial products available
but I am being lazy. :)
Robin Laing
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