Translations by Joel Goguen

Office

There are a wide variety of office applications available for Xubuntu that allow you to create documents, spreadsheets, presentations, graphics, and even to design publications.

Some of these applications are included by default in Xubuntu while others can be easily installed using <application>Synaptic</application>.

GNOME Office

The default office suite in Xubuntu is <application>GNOME Office</application>. The applications in this suite are generally lighter and faster than the programs in the <application>OpenOffice.org suite</application>, and have fewer features as a result. But this may be exactly what you want. The suite has excellent compatibility with other major Office suites, such as Microsoft Office.

A word processor (<application>Abiword</application>);

Two graphics applications (<application>Inkscape</application> for vector graphics and illustrations and <application>The GIMP</application> for photo editing and graphics); and

A project management application (<application>Planner</application>).

Only a subset of these applications are installed in Xubuntu by default, but the rest can easily be installed separately using <application>Synaptic</application>. Currently <application>Abiword</application>, <application>Gnumeric</application> and <application>The GIMP</application> are installed by default in Xubuntu. To use the other applications you will need to install them manually (see <link linkend="add-applications">Add Applications</link>).

To install applications within the <application>GNOME Office suite</application>:

The following packages from the <quote>Universe</quote> repository are part of the <application>GNOME Office</application> suite (see <link linkend="add-applications">Add Applications</link>). You may choose to install all of them for the full office suite, or choose only the ones you need.

abiword

gnumeric

gimp

dia-gnome

planner

inkscape

gnucash

The Office applications can then be found in the menu at <menuchoice><guimenu>Applications</guimenu><guisubmenu>Office</guisubmenu></menuchoice>, and the Graphics applications can be found at <menuchoice><guimenu>Applications</guimenu><guisubmenu>Graphics</guisubmenu></menuchoice>.

OpenOffice.org Suite

Also available in Xubuntu is the <application>OpenOffice.org</application> office suite. Compatible with other major office suites including Microsoft Windows, OpenOffice.org is free to download, use, and distribute. This office suite is not installed by default in Xubuntu. It can easily be installed though using <application>Synaptic</application>. See <link linkend="add-applications">Add Applications</link> for instructions on how to do this.

Writer – a word processor you can use for anything from writing a quick letter to producing an entire book. It can be started with <menuchoice><guimenu>Applications</guimenu><guisubmenu>Office</guisubmenu><guimenuitem>OpenOffice.org Word Processor</guimenuitem></menuchoice>.

Spreadsheet – a powerful spreadsheet with all the tools you need to calculate, analyse, and present your data in numerical reports or sizzling graphics. It can be started with <menuchoice><guimenu>Applications</guimenu><guisubmenu>Office</guisubmenu><guimenuitem>OpenOffice.org Spreadsheet</guimenuitem></menuchoice>

Presentation – the fastest, most powerful way to create effective multimedia presentations. It can be started with <menuchoice><guimenu>Applications</guimenu><guisubmenu>Office</guisubmenu><guimenuitem>OpenOffice.org Presentation</guimenuitem></menuchoice>

Database – lets you manipulate databases seamlessly. Create and modify tables, forms, queries, and reports, all from within OpenOffice.org. It can be started with <menuchoice><guimenu>Applications</guimenu><guisubmenu>Office</guisubmenu><guimenuitem>OpenOffice.org Database</guimenuitem></menuchoice>

Mathematical function creator – lets you create mathematical equations with a graphic user interface or by directly typing your formulas into the equation editor. It can be started from inside another Openoffice.org program.

<application>GnuCash</application> is a program to manage your personal or business finances. <application>GnuCash</application> lets you track bank accounts, stocks, income and expenses. As quick and intuitive as a checkbook register, it is based on professional accounting principles to ensure balanced books and accurate reports.

For more information visit the <ulink url="http://gnucash.org/">GnuCash Web site</ulink>

Install the <application>gnucash</application> package from the <quote>Universe</quote> repository (see <link linkend="add-applications">Add Applications</link>).

To start <application>GnuCash</application>, choose <menuchoice><guimenu>Applications</guimenu><guisubmenu>Office</guisubmenu><guimenuitem>GnuCash Finance Management</guimenuitem></menuchoice>.

<application>Scribus</application> is a professional desktop publishing program. For more information, see the <ulink url="http://www.scribus.net/">Scribus website</ulink>.

To start <application>Scribus</application>, choose <menuchoice><guimenu>Applications</guimenu><guisubmenu>Office</guisubmenu><guimenuitem>Scribus</guimenuitem></menuchoice>.

By saving your file in a different format, the way the document looks could be changed slightly. This is due to small differences between the way different programs read file formats. You may receive a warning message about this when trying to save a document in another format; it should be safe to press <guibutton>Yes</guibutton>, which will save the file in the new format you chose.

The instructions for <application>OpenOffice.org</application> are as follows:

Press <menuchoice><guimenu>File</guimenu><guimenuitem>Save As...</guimenuitem></menuchoice> and then press <guilabel>File type</guilabel>. A list of available file types should appear.

Select an appropriate file type. For example, if you are sending your file to a user of <application>Microsoft Word</application>, the file type <guilabel>Microsoft Word 97/2000/XP</guilabel> is a sensible choice.

Select a location to save the file in, then press <guibutton>Save</guibutton>.

Send the file as normal, for example by attaching it to an email by pressing <menuchoice><guimenuitem>File</guimenuitem><guimenuitem>Send</guimenuitem><guimenuitem>Document as E-mail...</guimenuitem></menuchoice>.

A quick way of sending your document by email and in the <application>Microsoft Word</application> format from the <application>OpenOffice.org Word Processor</application> is to press <menuchoice><guimenuitem>File</guimenuitem><guimenuitem>Send</guimenuitem><guimenuitem>E-mail as Microsoft Word...</guimenuitem></menuchoice>. Equivalent commands are available for the other applications in the <application>OpenOffice.org</application> suite, such as <guilabel>E-mail as Microsoft Excel...</guilabel> in <application>OpenOffice.org Spreadsheet</application>.

Instructions for <application>Abiword</application> and <application>Gnumeric</application> (<application>GNOME Office</application> word processor and spreadsheet):

Open the document you wish to send using <application>Abiword</application> (documents) or <application>Gnumeric</application> (spreadsheets).

Choose <menuchoice><guimenu>File</guimenu><guimenuitem>Save As...</guimenuitem></menuchoice>. Then select an appropriate file type from the list marked <guilabel>Save file as type</guilabel>.

You can now share the new file with users of other office products.

A piece of clipart is a picture or drawing used to illustrate a document. Follow the instructions below to install and use a selection of clipart in <application>OpenOffice.org</application>:

Install the <application>openclipart-openoffice.org</application> package from the <quote>Universe</quote> repository (see <ulink url="../add-applications/add-applications.xml">Add Applications</ulink>).

The <application>openclipart-openoffice.org</application> package is very large, so it could take a long time to download and install.

Open an <application>OpenOffice.org</application> application and press <menuchoice><guimenuitem>Tools</guimenuitem><guimenuitem>Gallery</guimenuitem></menuchoice>. A list of available clipart should appear.

Browse the clipart until you find an item that you would like to use. To insert the item, either drag it into the document or right-click the item and press <menuchoice><guimenuitem>Insert</guimenuitem><guimenuitem>Copy</guimenuitem></menuchoice>.

<application>Abiword</application> can also include clipart and other images in documents. To do this follow these instructions:

From the menu bar select <menuchoice><guimenu>Insert</guimenu><guimenuitem>Picture</guimenuitem></menuchoice>