Genealogy Chat

I am considering downloading OpenOffice.org 3.1.1 in the hope that the word processing function will be better than Wordpad and Notepad. Has anybody used this system and can give me some advice.

I use it as I cant afford Microsoft office and it is completely compatible. So I can save my works documents as .doc and send it to people with Office to open ok. Before I had it I couldnt open anything from people who had office and vice versa. Its fine, download it and try it out. And of course its free :)

Thanks for your help. I will certainly download it and give it a try. I too cannot afford Microsoft office at the moment.

Thanks Steven. All these tips are handy to know.

Jeanette

Just a word of warning. 'Open Office' is exactly that, it is 'open' to a whole host of virus attacks/worms/hijacking/Trojans etc etc...

It does work well, but there is no security offered and you could end up with un-wanted infections or worse

The link that Steven sent is good. I paid about £40 for the package and it has three licenses

Sorry to be a spoil sport but it’s worth knowing

Ginny
x

Ginny I have open office on my PC but also now have office so don't use open office much. But shouldn't your anti virus catch any nasties?

I believe the software is 'open' and there are sites you can get passwords from to enable you to re-write the software. This makes it vulnerable as the writer could include script that your pc/anti virus thinks is 'no risk', leaving it vulnerable for people to 'get in' There are no 'updates' so patches cant be dowloaded to protect you


I have copied this if it helps;



1. Security and confidentiality
Putting your data out there on the Internet can be a scary. How can you be sure nobody is snooping? How can you guarantee confidentiality?

2. No Internet – no work
As if it wasn’t already true, your Internet connection become just as vital as your power plug. If you loose connection you can’t get any work done.

3. World of Beta
Features might come and go, and the interface might change overnight – though usually to the better. Some might become premium features once the application has matured.

4. Lack of features
I don’t miss a lot but there are essential features that I still really need in order to do everything using these tools. So I still need to pull them out into a desktop application to make them look pretty.

5. Lock-in
Can I get all my data out the day I find a better alternative? Most of these tools allow you to export the single document but so far there is not a batch functionality for it.

6. Missing localization
The spell checking is only in (American) English, number and date formats are also only available in English standards.

7. No possibilities for audit of changes
Since we are only two people this hasn’t been an issue – but for a bigger group the option of approving/auditing changes might be a necessity.

8. No linking to other documents wiki-style
Writely is not a wiki-tool but the ability to create relations to other documents would be a very useful feature.

9. Exporting to .doc creates some layout issues
Exporting a document to Word/OpenOffice for further editing and layout inherent some layout issues. It inserts some blank lines and you need to do some clean up of the document before it looks ok.

10. Its free
So what can I expect/demand from the supplier?


Ginny
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PS Its not the 'downloading' of the sofware where problems can crop up, its using the programmes and exchanging them with others.

When you get 'updates', say, for Java or Adobe these updates include new and improved programmes but a lot of the time they are updates for 'patches'. These patches plug security wholes in the software and protect you from virus attacks. Thats why there are sooo many updates because as the sofware is produced you have 'hackers' finding 'holes', its a constant battle!

You dont get this protection from 'open' software so if you open a 'word' document for example that someone has sent you, you dont know what's included in that document..ie; 'bugs'

Youre Windows/Service pack updates include patches to correspond with all 'Microsoft' software...hence you have to pay for it in the first place...the updates as you know come as part of the package

Its the users choice of course and Im sure many people have been using open office without any problems, its whether you want to take the risk.

Hi all,

Surely if you make sure you download from reputable sites and keep Virus/ Firewall up to date, there should be no "surprises"

Also don't just click on any "updates" that appear on your PC.........always go to the relevant home page and search for updates.

When you do a Google search, check the bottom of each search item for the site URL which you will be sent to..................

BBC - Homepage
Breaking news, sport, TV, radio and a whole lot more. The BBC informs, educates and entertains - wherever you are, whatever your age.
www.bbc.co.uk/ - Cached - Similar

Below is a good site for free programs, just be sure to click on the correct buttons!
If it says Download Latest Version Here (CLICK) don't go to the other side of the page which says "Ads By Google" and then complain when the advert site asks for payment !

http://www.filehippo.com/

http://www.filehippo.com/download_openoffice/

Open Office is fine and I ended up using it without any problems when I lost my copy of Word 2000 and Works.!
Found the discs eventually which were very expensive.

In answer to the listed 1-10, just try it and if it's not suitable then delete it and get a different program.
Use some common sense and be careful out there !

1. Security and confidentiality

That's why we have firewalls, virus checkers etc. and there are free programs for that too.


2. No Internet – no work

That's why we have firewalls, virus checkers etc. and there are free programs for this too.


3. World of Beta

Don't download Betas unless you know what to expect (Software which is not finished but released for testing by public, may be unstable and could cause crashes or data loss)

4. Lack of features

You get what you pay or don't pay for............whatever suits you personally.

5. Lock-in

I've never had a problem writing, saving, sending, printing, what do you want to do with it.......................

6. Missing localization

Lots of spellcheckers etc out there.

7. No possibilities for audit of changes

You get what you pay or don't pay for............whatever suits you personally.

8. No linking to other documents wiki-style

Well maybe there will be a Beta for that sometime but once again........

You get what you pay or don't pay for............whatever suits you personally.

9. Exporting to .doc creates some layout issues

Sometimes you may require to do some more work but.........

You get what you pay or don't pay for............whatever suits you personally.

10. Its free

Exactly...............Its free, Its free, Its free, Its free, Its free, Its free

Just back on line. Thanks everybody for your input and good advice.