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| <h2>OpenOffice.org 1.0.x Features</h2> |
| <p>by Nick Richards with some content from John |
| McCreesh and Louis Suárez-Potts</p> |
| <p><em>2003-05-02</em></p> |
| <p class="Header"><a name="top"></a>Contents</p> |
| <dl> |
| <dd><a href="#introduction">Introduction</a></dd> |
| <dd><a href="#whatdoesitdo">What Does It Do?</a></dd> |
| <dd><a href="#entiresuite">The Entire Suite</a></dd> |
| <dd><a href="#names">Names of Components</a> </dd> |
| <dd><a href="#writer">Writer</a></dd> |
| <dd><a href="#calc">Calc</a></dd> |
| <dd><a href="#draw">Draw</a></dd> |
| <dd><a href="#impress">Impress</a></dd> |
| </dl> |
| <hr> |
| |
| <p class="Header">Introduction<a name="introduction"></a></p> |
| <p>What's in OpenOffice.org? What does it do? This page seeks to provide a brief |
| synopsis of the features of OpenOffice.org.</p> |
| <p><strong>Note</strong>. |
| This page does not detail the new features of OpenOffice.org 1.1. |
| Please see the |
| <a href="../features/1.1/features-text.html">OpenOffice.org 1.1 Features Page</a>.</p> |
| <p>For more information on updates, |
| you should go to the current <a href="1.0.3/release_notes_1.0.3.1.html">Release |
| Notes</a>.</p> |
| <a href="#top">Top</a> |
| <hr> |
| <p class="Header">Names of Components<a name="names"></a></p> |
| <p>OpenOffice.org has these components:</p> |
| |
| <ul> |
| <li><a href="#writer">Writer</a></li> |
| <li><a href="#calc">Calc</a></li> |
| <li><a href="#draw">Draw</a></li> |
| <li><a href="#impress">Impress</a></li> |
| </ul> |
| <p class="Header">What Does it Do?<a name="whatdoesitdo"></a></p> |
| <p>The suite covers pretty much everything you need with a word processor, spreadsheet, |
| presentation software, equation editor and a drawing program. It opens most |
| major formats such as MS Office almost flawlessly (Macros aren't converted), |
| saves to PDF<a href="#star">*</a> , has comprehensive help, and |
| spellchecking in 15 languages. Having said that, let's detail |
| some of the major features:</p> |
| |
| |
| <p class="Header">The Entire Suite<a name="entiresuite" id="entiresuite"></a></p> |
| <p>OpenOffice.org is a powerful yet simple environment for your work. All of |
| the features in this section are used throughout the suite and help to give |
| it a unique character.</p> |
| <ul> |
| |
| <li> The ability to import and export many different types of documents and |
| templates in a huge range of formats from HTML to MS Office XP. You can |
| work seamlessly with your colleagues, school or friends, no matter what |
| computer you use. Although we think the OpenOffice.org Open File Formats |
| are technically superior many people are still locked into other products |
| so you can set OpenOffice.org to use any other file format by default if |
| you wish.</li> |
| |
| <li> Runs natively on almost every modern operating system except Mac OS X. |
| This port is under development, and a volunteer porting team is working hard |
| on it. You can give them a hand and get it running quicker by joining the |
| project: <a href="http://porting.openoffice.org/mac/">http://porting.openoffice.org/mac/</a> |
| <li> Import address books from Mozilla/ Netscape 6.x/7 or LDAP. You don't |
| have to keep on typing in those contact details.</li> |
| |
| <li> Unicode support allows at least 23 localisations of OpenOffice.org. Not |
| only will OpenOffice.org run on practically anything but it'll run in practically |
| any language. There are more being added all the time. Even if yours isn't |
| there yet we might be able to put you in touch will some fellow speakers to |
| get the work done in double time. Together we work better.</li> |
| <li>Vastly enhanced printing capabilities and options over all platforms, |
| with extras like 'Print to PDF' under UNIX. If you want to see all that |
| work in hard copy, OpenOffice.org will take care of it for you; or if you |
| want to go for the 'paperless office' we can create 'digital paper' PDF |
| files that can be read on practically anything. OpenOffice.org is all about |
| bringing this sort of sophisticated, expensive functionality to the ordinary |
| user.</li> |
| <li>Autopilot guides you through creating complex document, clearly. Do you |
| know what to do but aren't sure how to do it? Let the autopilot help. It'll |
| ask you a few simple questions before creating a template for you to use |
| again and again. Impress everyone with your brilliant skills, but don't |
| let them know it was the autopilot!</li> |
| |
| <li>The Stylist allows you to change the entire look of your document instantly. |
| It's that little box in the corner of the screen and it's an easy way to get |
| a consistent look and apply formatting throughout your document. Just select |
| some text, a cell or an object and choose a different option to move simply |
| and easily between different styles. You can either use the built in defaults |
| or create your own. And if it gets in your way just press F11 or click the |
| little button near the top of your screen. You can get it back the same way |
| or change styles in the box on the left hand side of the font selection.</li> |
| <li>A native XML file format for small, yet powerful documents. File size |
| is typically half that of MS Office formats. XML is the computer industry |
| standard for data exchange. You're buying into the future and your documents |
| will always be readable, even in a simple text editor.</li> |
| <li> The powerful OpenOffice.org API allows you to create external functions |
| to leverage the power of the suite just how you need it. Independent programmers |
| can use our free software development kit (SDK) to extend the suite in ways |
| we haven't even thought of. You can use OpenOffice.org Basic or Java and |
| C/C++. More languages are being worked on at <a href="http://api.openoffice.org/" target="_blank">http://api.openoffice.org/</a>.</li> |
| </ul> |
| |
| <a href="#top">Top</a> |
| <hr> |
| <p class="Header">WRITER<a name="writer"></a></p> |
| <p>OpenOffice.org Writer is at the heart of the suite. It's a sophisticated |
| Word Processing and document layout program with all of the features mentioned |
| above and a few more of its own.</p> |
| <ul> |
| <li> Form-letter management to send letters to addresses in a database. Automate |
| chores and make complex things easy, it's the way we've tried to design |
| OpenOffice.org and we think it shows through here.</li> |
| <li> Compare changes and work collaboratively using the Versions system. If |
| you need to work on a document together, but can't be at the same computer |
| then OpenOffice.org's powerful 'Versioning' will come in handy. It lets |
| you see what's changed, who's changed it and accept or reject the changes |
| either individually or with a powerful series of filters. Currently versioning |
| information doesn't export perfectly to some other formats. |
| <li>Direct connection with external email software to seamlessly send your |
| documents worldwide. Cut down on the number of clicks and get your work |
| into the hands of the people who need it.</li> |
| </ul> |
| <ul> |
| <li> AutoCorrect word completion speeds up your writing in a non-obtrusive |
| and powerful way. As you're typing it makes its best guess at what you mean |
| to say. You can accept it by pressing enter or just keep on typing to ignore. |
| If you make a mistake at any time just press Ctrl+Z for a quick and simple |
| undo. Now I love this but I understand that these AutoCorrect features can |
| drive some people up the wall. So there's a flexible menu where you can |
| choose exactly what you want on or off. You won't find AutoCorrect word |
| completion anywhere else, it's just another optional feature that makes |
| OpenOffice.org unique.</li> |
| <li> Indexing functions make moving around inside a document easy. A simple bibliography database makes it easy to store sources for essays.</li> |
| <li> Sophisticated layout manager, with extensive Desktop Publishing (DTP) |
| functionality that allows you to display everything you want simply and |
| clearly.</li> |
| </ul> |
| <a href="#top">Top</a> |
| <hr> |
| <p class="Header">CALC<a name="calc"></a></p> |
| <p>It's the spreadsheet program you've always wanted. Newcomers find it intuitive |
| and easy to learn; professional data miners and number crunchers will appreciate |
| the comprehensive range of advanced functions. </p> |
| <ul> |
| <li> You're also free to pull in data from corporate databases, and cross-tabulate, |
| summarise, and manipulate with advanced DataPilot technology.</li> |
| <li> Natural language formulas let you create formulas using words (e.g. "sales |
| - costs").</li> |
| <li> You can be your own spreadsheet expert thanks to templates with built-in |
| functions, allowing you to concentrate on your real work.</li> |
| <li> Scenario Manager allows "what if..." analysis at the touch |
| of a button.</li> |
| <li> Charting tools to visualise data in 2D or 3D.</li> |
| </ul> |
| <a href="#top">Top</a> |
| <hr> |
| <p class="Header">DRAW<a name="draw"></a></p> |
| <p>DRAW - from a quick sketch to a complex plan, DRAW gives you the tools |
| to communicate with graphics and diagrams. It won't organise or edit your |
| digital photo's as well as other programs but if you need to create a diagram, |
| picture or illustration then you'll be glad to have it.</p> |
| <ul> |
| <li> FontWork allows you shape stunning 2D and 3D images from text for an |
| extra effect. </li> |
| <li> Quick and easy creation of complex 3D shapes. Sophisticated rendering |
| let you create photo realistic images with your own texture, lighting |
| effect, transparency, perspective, and so on.</li> |
| <li> Bezier curves, for realistic smooth curves.</li> |
| <li> Eyedropper to change any pixel colour into another</li> |
| <li> Raster tools and effects.</li> |
| <li> Enjoy single click access to the objects you need for your diagrams</li> |
| <li> Arrange objects, rotate in two or three dimensions; the 3D controller |
| puts spheres, rings, cubes, etc at your disposal.</li> |
| <li> Smart connectors make short work of flowcharts, organisation charts, |
| network diagrams etc</li> |
| <li> Import and Export graphics to and from all common formats (including |
| BMP, GIF, JPEG, PNG, TIFF, and WMF).</li> |
| </ul> |
| <a href="#top">Top</a> |
| <hr> |
| <p class="Header">IMPRESS<a name="impress"></a></p> |
| |
| <p>IMPRESS is a truly outstanding tool for creating effective multimedia presentations. |
| Your presentations will stand out with 2D and 3D clip art, special effects animation, |
| and high-impact drawing tools. </p> |
| <ul> |
| <li> Exploits all the effects and graphics tools from Draw for the complete |
| range of easy-to-use drawing and diagramming tools to spice up your presentation.</li> |
| <li> AutoLayout makes sure your presentations look professional. Even quickly |
| produced presentations look great, less time micromanaging bullet placement, |
| more productivity.</li> |
| <li> A complete range of Views are supported: Drawing / Outline / Slides |
| / Notes / Handouts to meet all the needs of presenters and audiences.</li> |
| <li> Slide show Animation and Effects bring your presentation to life. |
| </ul> |
| <hr> |
| <p class="subp1em"><a name="star" id="star"></a>Under UNIX based systems where |
| spadmin, the printer administration program, uses ghostscript, ps2pdf, etc. |
| We're working on a new 'create PDF' feature on all the platforms we support, |
| you can find it in the 'developer' builds today.</p> |
| |
| <p><b>This software is OSI Certified Open Source Software. OSI Certified is |
| a certification mark of the <a href="http://www.opensource.org/">Open Source |
| Initiative</a>.</b></p> |
| |
| <a href="#top">Top</a> |
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