The Advantages of Apache OpenOffice

Getting Started with OpenOffice.org 2.x

Chapter 1: What is OpenOffice.org?

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• What does OpenOffice.org include?
• The advantages of OpenOffice.org

• How does OpenOffice.org compare?
• Features
• New features in version 2

• Minimum requirements
• Getting the software
• How to get help
• A short history of OpenOffice.org
• How is OpenOffice.org licensed?
• What is "open source"?
• Frequently asked questions

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Here are some of the advantages of OpenOffice.org over other office suites:

• No licensing fees. OOo is free for anyone to use and distribute at no cost. Many features that are available as extra cost add-ins in other office suites (like PDF export) are free with OOo. There are no hidden charges now or in the future.
• Open source. You can distribute, copy, and modify the software as much as you wish, in accordance with either of OOo's Open Source licenses.
• Cross-platform. OOo 2.x runs on several hardware architectures and under multiple operating systems, such as Microsoft Windows, Mac OS X, Linux, and Sun Solaris.
• Extensive language support. OOo's user interface is available in over 40 languages, and the OOo project provides spelling, hyphenation, and thesaurus dictionaries in over 70 languages and dialects. OOo also provides support for both Complex Text Layout (CTL) and Right to Left (RTL) layout languages (such as Hindi, Hebrew, and Arabic).
• Consistent user interface. All the components have a similar "look and feel," making them easy to use and master.
• Integration. The components of OpenOffice.org are well integrated with one another.
  • All the components share a common spelling checker and other tools, which are used consistently across the suite. For example, the drawing tools available in Writer are also found in Calc, with similar but enhanced versions in Impress and Draw.
  • You do not need to know which application was used to create a particular file (for example, you can open a Draw file from Writer).
• Granularity. Usually, if you change an option, it affects all components. However, OOo options can be set at a component level or even document level.
• File compatibility. OOo includes PDF and Flash export capabilities, as well as support for opening and saving files in many common formats including Microsoft Office, HTML, XML, WordPerfect, and Lotus 123 formats.
• No vendor lock-in. OOo 2.x uses OpenDocument, an XML (eXtensible Markup Language) file format developed as an industry standard by OASIS (Organization for the Advancement of Structured Information Standards). These files can easily be unzipped and read by any text editor, and their framework is open and published.
• You have a voice. Enhancements, software fixes, and release dates are community-driven. You can join the community and affect the course of the product you use.

You can read more about OpenOffice.org, its mission, history, licensing, and other organizational information here: http://www.openoffice.org/about.html