Russell Barton wrote:
Hi,
I am interested in using Open office as a substitute for MS Word. I have looked at you site called open office org.3 and downloaded lots of files but see only files about how I can join you and help develop more material. I am really only able to use word processing programs to process words. Developing programs, getting into the depths of software or programming is way beyond my capability.
1. Can I use this resource as a substitue for MS Word?
Yes, there is very good (but not perfect) compatibility with Word files,
and Writer (the word processing part of OpenOffice.org) has the same
kind of functionality.
2. If I can, how do I use it?
You first need to download the program itself . On the home page of
www.openoffice.org, click on "I want to download OpenOffice.org" and
then (assuming you are using some form of Windows) on the "Download
now!" link. (For other systems, and additional information, there is
another link below that. You then would need to find the appropriate
Download link in the table it provides.) Then double-click on the
downloaded file to start the installation, and follow the instructions.
After that, you should have an icon on your desktop that starts OOo and
lets you select which of its component functions you want, which in your
case is Writer for text documents. Also, there will be an icon in your
system tray that lets you right-click to do the same.
3. Also can word documents that I create be read by other programs like MS
word or Word Perfect?
Unless you tell it otherwise, OOo saves in the standardized Open
Document Format formats (.odt for text documents), and Word and
WordPerfect don't understand those. But you can use File > Save As to
select an appropriate format -- or better yet, get your correspondents
to install OOo. After all, it's free! If you do use Save As, make sure
the automatic file name extension option is selected.
I am a writer of novels ans short storys and that is all I need to use
your program for.
Many thanks,
Russell Barton, Dartmouth, Nova Scotia, Canada.
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