Re: [libreoffice-users] Very basic questions

Hi :)

Yes, LibreOffice can open any and all documents created in OpenOffice.  There 
are no problems there afaik.  The problem with ".doc" files (or ".docx") is NOT 
between OpenOffice and LibreOffice.  Such files saved by either LO or OOo and 
then opened in the other look the same. (except that LO can add ".svg" pictures 
which OOo can't handle yet).

Frequently, documents saved by any version of MS Word and then opened with any 
other version of Word or any other program do have  problems with layout.  
Usually it is just pictures but sometimes other objects that have not been 
formatted "inline" (whatever that means) have wandered off-course slightly but 
can be dragged back into place.  


On different machine's word-processors tend to re-organise layouts a little to 
take into account the printer settings on that machine.  This makes it even more 
important to format pictures and objects inline rather than 'floating' or 
'skating' around over the top of text (at least that is the way i understand 
'inline' at the moment).

There appears to be 5 ways around the layout problems.
1. Use 
File - "Export to pdf"
because pdf retains exactly the layout regardless of printer settings or 
anything.  Perhaps send the ".doc" along with the ".pdf" (which i re-save as a 
".gif" as it can be much lighter-weight).  People can see the layout of the pdf 
and then edit the ".doc".  Annoyingly, pdf is difficult for most people to edit 
but at least the layout is unchanged.

2. Make sure pictures and objects are formatted inline when you edit/create a 
document.

3. Drag the pictures and objects back into the right places.

4. Give everyone links to download LibreOffice (or OpenOffice but preferably 
LibreO) whenever you send out documents.

5  Use the ".odt" format instead.  Most MS Office users can read/write/edit 
these now.  Only MS Office 2003 and earlier can't and most users of those older 
products might appreciate upgrading to LibreO anyway.

Some people are managing to use both OpenOffice and LibreOffic on one machine 
but it generally seems to cause problems.  I gather that these problems are 
being worked on.  I would recommend only having 1 or the other at any one time 
as there are unlikely to be any differences between documents produced by either 
except that LibreO has a bit more functionality and a more aggressive update 
schedule.

Regards from
Tom :)






________________________________
From: Luuk <luuk34@gmail.com>
To: users@libreoffice.org
Sent: Mon, 7 February, 2011 12:03:45
Subject: Re: [libreoffice-users] Very basic questions

On 07-02-11 12:44, Sigrid Carrera wrote:
> Hello, 
>
> On Mon, 7 Feb 2011 11:17:50 -0000
> "Robert" <mlbrnrobert@rob29.plus.com> wrote:
>
> > Hullo,
> >
> > Some very basic questions that I don't see in your FAQs !
> >
> > I've been using Open Office for some years now and want to change to Libre 
> > Office.
> >
> > Will Libre Office open all the files I have made with Open Office ?
> Yes, it will open the files that you've created with OpenOffice.org. 
But there are some problems, especially with pictures in .doc-files....
at least there are a lot of problems reported her about that....

>  
>
> > Can Libre Office and Open Office both be installed and used on one machine ?
> Yes, I'm using LibreOffice and OpenOffice.org on the same computer. I haven't 
> experienced any problems. 

Some problems seems to 'go away' when openoffice.org is de-installed...

>  
>
> Regards, 
> Sigrid

Just to add somethings to this questions.....


-- 
Unsubscribe instructions: E-mail to users+help@libreoffice.org
List archive: http://listarchives.libreoffice.org/www/users/
*** All posts to this list are publicly archived for eternity ***


      
-- 
Unsubscribe instructions: E-mail to users+help@libreoffice.org
List archive: http://listarchives.libreoffice.org/www/users/
*** All posts to this list are publicly archived for eternity ***