Translations by Osama Khalid

<application>OpenOffice.org</application> is installed by default. It offers good compatibility with <application>Microsoft Office</application> and has many professional features.

OpenOffice.org

Getting help with OpenOffice

OpenOffice has many support options available.

Official Documentation website

Extremely comprehensive website which includes manuals, how-to guides, frequently asked questions and sample documents.

Frequently-Asked Questions

A collection of the most frequently asked questions about using OpenOffice.org.

<emphasis role="strong"><application>OpenOffice.org Draw</application></emphasis> lets you produce everything from simple diagrams to 3D illustrations.

<application>Draw</application> is installed by default, and is part of the <application>OpenOffice.org</application> office suite.

To start <application>Draw</application>, press <menuchoice><guimenu>Applications</guimenu><guimenuitem>Graphics</guimenuitem><guimenuitem>OpenOffice.org Draw</guimenuitem></menuchoice>.

A collection of templates are available for download from the OpenOffice.org <ulink url="http://documentation.openoffice.org/Samples_Templates/User/template/index.html">Samples and Templates website</ulink>, and also from the <ulink url="http://ooextras.sourceforge.net/">OOExtras website</ulink> and <ulink url="http://www.kde-files.org/index.php?xcontentmode=630x631x632x633x634">KDE-Files website</ulink>.

If you have sent a document to someone but they are unable to open the document, it is likely that they are using Microsoft Office. Microsoft Office cannot currently open documents created in the default OpenOffice format, which is called OpenDocument.

Open a document in OpenOffice

Open an OpenOffice application and press <menuchoice><guimenuitem>Tools</guimenuitem><guimenuitem>Options...</guimenuitem></menuchoice>

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>:

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

The procedure above will work in almost all programs on Ubuntu. In OpenOffice, however, the procedure is different:

Open your document in OpenOffice and press <menuchoice><guimenuitem>File</guimenuitem><guimenuitem>Export as PDF</guimenuitem></menuchoice>.

Ubuntu comes with a variety of software for performing office tasks such as word processing and publishing, spreadsheets, and presentations.

Office suites

Several office suites are available with Ubuntu. An office suite is a collection of office applications which can be used together to accomplish a variety of tasks.

<application>GNOME Office</application> is an optional office suite, with an emphasis on simplicity and ease of use.

<application>KOffice</application> is an office suite designed for KDE. It is very comprehensive and offers several novel features, including a high degree of integration between different applications in the suite.

Comparison of office suite features

Component

GNOME Office

KOffice

X

Spreadsheet

Presentation Editor

Drawing/Illustration Editor

Image Editor

Technical Diagram/Flowchart Editor

Project Planner

Formula Editor

Report Designer

An <placeholder-1/> denotes that the office suite has a particular feature.

Desktop publishing and drawing applications

<emphasis>Desktop publishing</emphasis> (DTP) applications allow you to produce publications such as newsletters and leaflets.

<emphasis role="strong"><application>Scribus</application></emphasis> 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><guimenuitem>Office</guimenuitem><guimenuitem>Scribus</guimenuitem></menuchoice>.

<emphasis role="strong"><application>Inkscape</application></emphasis> is an advanced illustration editor.

For more information, see the <ulink url="http://www.inkscape.org/">Inkscape website</ulink>.

To start <application>Inkscape</application>, choose <menuchoice><guimenu>Applications</guimenu><guimenuitem>Graphics</guimenuitem><guimenuitem>Inkscape SVG Vector Illustrator</guimenuitem></menuchoice>.

Finance applications

Finance applications allow you to track your spending and manage your bank accounts.

<emphasis role="strong"><application>GnuCash</application></emphasis> 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.