[opensuse] OpenOffice.org - Microsoft Office interoperability
I am doing my little bit for Linux evangelism (ho ho!) by introducing it in a certain Church Office where I am the closest thing they have to an IT expert. I have discovered that when supporting a Linux desktop in a working environment, reliability is more important than having the latest bleeding edge software. Naturally I am using SUSE. :-) I have also discovered that in a working environment, people are interested in good interoperability between open source and Microsoft products. It's an unfair world, but the failure of OpenOffice.org to read/write Microsoft Office files with complete accuracy is perceived as the fault of "that Linux computer" and the secretary who uses it. How I wish that the people with these erroneous beliefs would join this mailing list, to have contumely and vituperation poured upon their heads, but somehow I don't think they will. My question is this. Is the Microsoft XML filter that comes with the SUSE 10.2 version of OpenOffice.org more accurate in conversion than the DOC filter? If files were exchanged in (MS) XML format would the conversion be 100% accurate? If so, then we could respond to criticism by saying that the problem is not the Linux computer but the fact that they are using out-of-date Microsoft products, and propose that they purchase an upgrade to Office 2003. Or install OOo, of course. :-) Mike -- Michael Leuty Nottingham, UK -- To unsubscribe, e-mail: opensuse+unsubscribe@opensuse.org For additional commands, e-mail: opensuse+help@opensuse.org
On Wednesday 27 December 2006 11:41 am, Michael Leuty wrote:
If so, then we could respond to criticism by saying that the problem is not the Linux computer but the fact that they are using out-of-date Microsoft products, and propose that they purchase an upgrade to Office 2003. Or install OOo, of course. :-)
I am in a similar situation, except that for what do with calc, ~can't~ be done with excel. Too many limitations. When there are problems, I mention that it is because M$ isn't as capable, and for what I do, it is true. I also like to ask them if they 'own' their data. (documents) They will always say yes, and it isn't true. I explain that as long as it is saved in M$ format, the data belongs to M$, and they can charge what they want to let you access it. I then mention the Mass. open document situation. Therefore, if it isn't something that Ooo can do, then it probably is fluff and their is another ~easier~ way to do it. Makes saving as M$ files, that show errors when converting to their proprietary format, more tolerable. B-) -- To unsubscribe, e-mail: opensuse+unsubscribe@opensuse.org For additional commands, e-mail: opensuse+help@opensuse.org
On Wed, 2006-12-27 at 18:41 +0000, Michael Leuty wrote:
My question is this. Is the Microsoft XML filter that comes with the SUSE 10.2 version of OpenOffice.org more accurate in conversion than the DOC filter? If files were exchanged in (MS) XML format would the conversion be 100% accurate?
I would suggest using .RTF as the interchange format if .DOC isn't working. There's obviously something wrong with MS Office if it can't read and write RTF properly :) HTH, Dave -- To unsubscribe, e-mail: opensuse+unsubscribe@opensuse.org For additional commands, e-mail: opensuse+help@opensuse.org
On Wed, 2006-12-27 at 20:20 +0000, Dave Howorth wrote:
I would suggest using .RTF as the interchange format if .DOC isn't working. There's obviously something wrong with MS Office if it can't read and write RTF properly :)
It can't! Try this: Take wordpad, make a complex .rtf document (well, as complex as it gets with .rtf in wordpad), save it, and open it with MS Word. Chances are it will come out skewed. Now, as if this is not bad enough, wordpad in later versions of windows *is* MS Word (version 2.0). Unfortunately, .rtf doesn't cope with the stuff a lot of people do in Word these days. Hans -- To unsubscribe, e-mail: opensuse+unsubscribe@opensuse.org For additional commands, e-mail: opensuse+help@opensuse.org
I am doing my little bit for Linux evangelism (ho ho!) by introducing it in a certain Church Office where I am the closest thing they have to an IT expert. [...] My question is this. Is the Microsoft XML filter that comes with the SUSE 10.2 version of OpenOffice.org more accurate in conversion than the DOC filter? If files were exchanged in (MS) XML format would the conversion be 100% accurate? =========== See if they can convince the church to spend $3-500 for a MS Office
If so, then we could respond to criticism by saying that the problem is not the Linux computer but the fact that they are using out-of-date Microsoft products, and propose that they purchase an upgrade to Office 2003. Or install OOo, of course. :-)
Mike
-- Michael Leuty Nottingham, UK ============ Certainly the problem is not the Linux computer, but one has to point a finger at the user of that Linux computer somewhat. There are a number of sites dedicated to OOo with tutorials and FAQs! I found some really good ones last evening. Also, show them how to use the "help" in OOo, as it's invaluable. See what her/his objections are and sort them out with some solutions. Overcome their fears of using a different OS &
On Wednesday 27 December 2006 13:41, Michael Leuty wrote: package, then point out that most of the problems they are having come from the MS package, not wanting to follow any standards. Secondly, I don't think the XML filter has been created yet and it's not included with 10.2 OOo. That's to come later, sadly. MS should be urged strongly to support the open document format instead. There is in fact a patch/filter available for MS Office to save in that format, by the way. Usually you'll find the only reason something doesn't convert well from .doc to OOo is because the user of MS Office is using lots of tables or macros within their document or just don't know how to use their program. Those have been the biggest problems I've seen at least. I doubt there will ever be a perfect conversion for everything, since even different versions of MS Office can't do that! program. Don't try to battle with them, just listen, explain and resolve. By the way, what version of OOo are you using as I've found the 2.x builds to be quite capable. bye, Lee -- To unsubscribe, e-mail: opensuse+unsubscribe@opensuse.org For additional commands, e-mail: opensuse+help@opensuse.org
participants (5)
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BandiPat -
Brad Bourn -
Dave Howorth -
Hans du Plooy -
Michael Leuty