Components
Open Office is a collection of applications that closely work together to provide the features expected from a modern office . Many of the components are designed to mirror those available in Microsoft Office. The components available include:
Writer |
A word processor similar in look and feel to Microsoft Word that offers a comparable range of functions and tools. It also includes the ability to export Portable Document Format (PDF) files with no additional software and can also function as a WYSIWYG (what you see is what you get) editor for creating and editing web pages. |
Calc |
A spreadsheet similar to Microsoft Excel with approximately the same range of features. Calc provides many features not available in Excel, including a system which automatically defines series for graphing, based on the layout of the user’s data. Calc is also capable of writing spreadsheets directly as a PDF file. |
Impress |
A presentation program similar to Microsoft PowerPoint. It can export presentations to Adobe Flash (SWF) files allowing them to be played on any computer with Flash player installed. It also includes the ability to create PDF files and read Microsoft PowerPoint's .ppt format. Impress suffers from a lack of ready-made presentation designs. However, templates are readily available on the Internet. |
Base |
A database program comparable to Microsoft Access. Base allows the creation and manipulation of databases along with the building of forms and reports to provide easy access to data for end-users. As is the case with Access, Base may be used as a front-end to a number of different database systems, including Access databases (JET), ODBC data sources and MySQL/PostgreSQL. Base became part of the starting with version 3.0. Native to the OpenOffice, is an adaptation of HSQL. While Base can be a front-end for any of the databases listed, there is no need for any of them to be installed. |
Draw |
A vector graphics editor related in features to early versions of CorelDRAW. It features versatile "connectors" between shapes - which are available in a range of line styles - and facilitate building drawings such as flowcharts. It also has similar features to Desktop publishing software such as Scribus and Microsoft Publisher. |
Math |
A tool for creating and editing mathematical formulas, similar to Microsoft Equation Editor. Formulas can be embedded inside other Open Office documents, like those created by Writer. It supports multiple fonts and can export to PDF. |
QuickStarter
QuicStarter is a small program for Windows and Linux that runs when the computer kick starts for the first time. It loads core files and libraries for Open Office during computer startup and allows the applications to start quicker when selected at a later time. The amount of time it takes to open Open Office applications was a common complaint in version 1.0 of the and Quickstarter was an attempt to find a solution. Substantial improvements were made in this area for version 3.2.
The macro recorder
Is used to record user actions and replay them later to help with automating tasks while using Open Office Basic (see below).
It is not possible to download these components individually on Windows - though they can be installed separately. Most Linux distributions break the components into individual packages which may be downloaded and installed separately.
Features According to its mission statement, the Open Office project aims "To create, as a community, the leading international office that will run on all major platforms and provide access to all functionality and data through open-component based APIs and an XML-based file format."
Open Office aspires to compete with Microsoft Office and emulate its look and feel where suitable. It can read and write most of the file formats found in Microsoft Office and many other applications; an essential feature of the for many users. Open Office has been found to be able to open files of older versions of Microsoft Office and damaged files that newer versions of Microsoft Office itself cannot open. However, it is not able to open older Word for Macintosh (MCW) files.
Platforms
Platforms for which Open Office is available include Microsoft Windows, Linux, Solaris, BSD, OpenVMS, OS/2 and IRIX.[10] The current primary development platforms are Microsoft Windows, Linux and Solaris.
A port for Mac OS X exists for OS X machines which have the X Window System component installed. A port to OS X's native Aqua user interface is in progress and is scheduled for completion for the 3.0 milestone.[11] NeoOffice is an independent offshoot of Open Office that is specially adapted for Mac OS X.
Open Office Basic
Open Office Basic is a programming language similar to Microsoft Visual Basic for Applications (VBA) based on StarOffice Basic. In addition to the macros, the upcoming Novell edition of Open Office 2.0 supports running Microsoft VBA macros, a feature expected to be incorporated into the mainstream version soon.
Open Office Basic is available in the Writer and Calc applications. It is written in functions called subroutines or macros, with each macro performing a different task such as counting all words in a paragraph. Open Office Basic is especially useful in performing repetitive tasks that have not been integrated in the program.
As the Open Office database (called "Base") uses documents created under the Writer application for reports and forms, one could say that Base can also be programmed with Open Office Basic.
File formats
Open Office pioneered its own file format- OpenDocument (ODF) - which became an accepted industry standard. It also supports reading (and in some cases writing) a large number of legacy proprietary file formats (e.g.: WordPerfect, StarOffice, Lotus software, MS Works, Rich Text Format.) Most notably Microsoft Office formats after which the OpenDocument specification was "approved for release as an ISO and IEC International Standard" under the name ISO/IEC 26300:2006. |
