Anyone use Open Office? - Virtual Dr Forums-Computer Tech Support

**fink** · #1 November 3rd, 2009, 09:55 PM

I'm by no means an Office power user. I just occasionally need to read and/or create basic Excel and Word docs. Is OpenOffice a decent substitute for MSoffice? It would be used on Windows 7.

NickC · #2 November 3rd, 2009, 11:12 PM

I use it - it's great! You have to get used to it if you've been using MS Office for a while, and it might lack some of the more sophisticated features, but this is a pretty good replacement. It even includes a Powerpoint-like software: Impress. Just wish there were an Outlook equivalent. Many Linux builds include Evolution, which is similar, but I haven't seen that for Windows.

Don't know if it will work for Windows 7, but I don't see why not.

Midknyte · #3 November 3rd, 2009, 11:52 PM

It's free, so you might as well try it. It's pretty darn close to Office 2003.

**photolady** · #4 November 4th, 2009, 12:00 AM

I use it fink. I like it in some ways. In others I would rather have Office. Functions in spreadsheets get messed up at times even when I save them. But the word part of it works fine.

**jerryctx** · #5 November 4th, 2009, 07:57 AM

If you avoid the bells and whistles, conversion between Office and OO formats shouldn't be a problem, so you can later go back to Office if OO isn't your cup of tea.

**fink** · #6 November 4th, 2009, 08:27 AM

Thanks, I'll give it a shot.

NickC · #7 November 4th, 2009, 10:23 AM

The latest versions of OpenOffice can read and save directly as the MS Office products, right? e.g., .doc, .xls, .ppt, etc.

Photolady - when you said your spreadsheets were getting messed up, was that when you saved in an MS Office format or even as the native OpenOffice format?

**photolady** · #8 November 4th, 2009, 10:54 AM

Open office can convert MS Office docs, xls, and ppt, and yes, can save as MS office products, if you change the settings within OO.

These spreadsheets were made with OO.