Roy,
Open Office is an open source office suite with word processor,
spreadsheet, presentation program, vector drawing program and a
database program.
The word processor, spreadsheet and presentation program have
reasonably good file compatibility with Microsoft's Word, Excel and
Power Point file
formats from all but the latest Vista versions.
If you need MS Access compatibility, you are out of luck. The database
in Open Office is not compatible with Access. Only MS Access is
compatible with
MS Access files. This is one of the problems of proprietary software.
Built in obsolescence and file incompatibilities between different
versions. Your old
version will not work on XP and if it is old enough, the new version
may not read the files from the old version.
Open Office uses ISO approved standards for its file formats. Microsoft
uses its own formats that are not fully documented and are restricted
by patents and
other encumberances so others may not properly and fully implement them
and thus restricting you to paying for and using their products
exclusively.
Depending on what you need to do, the database in Open Office may
suffice. If not, there are many other open source databases available
for a download.
They range from simple to complete SQL databases capable of rather
large and complex files. Open Office's database can serve as a front
end for many of
these more complex databases if desired.
Ross Bernheim
On Aug 2, 2007, at 18:07, Roy and Christina Forrester wrote:
I downloaded Office (Something or Other) thinking I was Getting the
latest version of Microsoft Office including Access Database. It has
been some time since I used Access but I have a particular application
I need it for and the old version I have won't work with XP.
I am loathe to install (Office Pro 2007) in case I mess up other
applications which I use constantly such as Word and Excel.
Can any body reassure me?
Roy Forrester <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
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