After a great deal of testing and numerous release candidates, the day we have been waiting for has finally arrived – OpenOffice 3.2 is now available to the public!

You will be able to download the new version via the OOo Website – http://download.openoffice.org. Also, for those of you following along, here are our posts as part of our Countdown to OpenOffice 3.2:

Part One – The Countdown Begins
Part Two – Writer
Part Three – Calc
Part Four – Impress and Draw
Part Five – Base

Also, be sure to check out the Features page on OpenOffice.org.

The OOo team has touted this version as one with better compatiability with proprietary software, faster load times and improved security. For our part, we’ve already downloaded our copy and will provide a full review next Wednesday.

Until then, download away! And, of course, if you have any questions, please feel free to contact us.

With 2010 in full swing, one thing that won’t be carrying over long into the New Year is the 2.x version of OpenOffice.org. With version 3.0 being released in late 2008, and with the upcoming public release of OOo 3.2, the 2.x version, with its last release being 2.4.3, has achieved legacy status.

In its “end-of-life” state, OpenOffice 2.x will, at least from a community standpoint, cease to be maintained. That means support no more bug fixes or security releases. Translation? If you have a 2.x version, you’re pretty much on your own from this point forward.

That’s not to say that all users with older versions of OOo 2.x are completely out in the cold. As with most legacy software, there are numerous resources available online. In the case of OpenOffice, the community itself will be your best bet to answer questions about your older versions.

Also, if you happen to be running a system that came with the older version installed, you may also be able to get technical support through them.

Meanwhile, the long, winding journey that has been OpenOffice 3.2 is slowly, but surely, reaching its send. Since December, there have been numerous Release Candidates available, the most recent being today’s availability of Release Candidate 4.

And while we spent most of the end of last year in our Countdown to OpenOffice 3.2 series discussing the new features, OpenOffice.org has gone on step further, postineven more information about OOo 3.2′s new features on the OpenOffice Web site.

With news like this, users can be confident that a public release is just around the corner.

Note: This is the fifth in a multi-part series on OpenOffice Wednesday that will focus on some of the new and upgraded features that will appear in OpenOffice.org 3.2, which is slated to be released December 14, 2009.

Part One – The Countdown Begins
Part Two – Writer
Part Three – Calc
Part Four – Impress and Draw

The development team for OpenOffice.org certainly had a field day with the database program, Base, the open-source counterpart to Microsoft Access. In fact, the number of changes and additions to Base far outstrip those of the other OOo programs.

• View/Zoom Menu Item - With Base, all documents within the database could be zoomed by using the View/Zoom menu item, with the exception of forms. That restriction has been lifted, and you will be able to manipulate the view of all your database items.
• Sun Report Builder - The report builder within Base will feature three items that will allow the removal of excess space. The top shrink and bottom shrink removes top and bottom spaces, respectively, while the Shrink command removes space from both directions
• First Line as Column Names – When rich-text format and HTML pages are copied to a database, there was no ability to allow for the first column of the copied material to be used for column names. With OOo 3.2, that capability has been added to Case with the click of a checkbox.
• Multi-line Text Controls – Multiple cut-and-pastes should be easier with the addition of the multi-text controls. That means the formatting will go with the text when it is copied.
• Form Property Browser – With 3.2, more information will be displayed in the property browser, including font name/style/size, plus the ability to change the positioning, size and anchor, which is very useful in the event you wish to modify multiple shapes.

Next week: OpenOffice 3.2 is available, and we will present a special Monday edition of OpenOffice Wednesday to review everything!

Note: This is the fourth in a multi-part series on OpenOffice Wednesday that will focus on some of the new and upgraded features that will appear in OpenOffice.org 3.2, which is slated to be released December 14, 2009.

Part One – The Countdown Begins
Part Two – Writer
Part Three – Calc

Of each of the OpenOffice. org programs, Impress, OOo’s answer to Microsoft PowerPoint, will have the least amount of new and modified features that will be available in version 3.2. Also noteworthy is the the new features for Impress are the same as Draw, OpenOffice.org’s graphics component.

• Page Count - Previous editions of Impress and Draw did not allow for the page count to be added as a text field, even though is has been available for Writer. OpenOffice 3.2 has fixed that issue, carrying the Writer feature into Impress and Draw, giving users the ability to finally add a page count.
• Collaboration - Like most productivity software, OpenOffice.org has long been used by multiple users to collaborate on various projects. The problem has been, though, that with Impress and Draw, users were unable to add comments into the document for others to see.For OOo 3.2, users will now have two options to add comments. First, comments can be added from the Menu bar (It will be located at Menu>Insert>Comments). Alternatively, the OOo team has created a new Comments toolbar that can be activated and utilized in collaborations.

Next week: We will take a look at the new features in Base.

Note: This is the third in a multi-part series on OpenOffice Wednesday that will focus on some of the new and upgraded features that will appear in OpenOffice.org 3.2, which is slated to be released December 14, 2009.

Part One – The Countdown Begins
Part Two – Writer

For this week’s edition, we are taking a look at some of the modifications that have been made to Calc, the OpenOffice spreadsheet that rivals Microsoft Excel. For Calc, changes have been made to some of the ways that cells can be edited, plus the addition of new chart styles that have been Excel staples but until OOo 3.2, were not options.

• Merged Cells - Copying and pasting one set of merged cells from the Clipboard to Calc used to be an issue, usually creating an error message. That has been fixed, and merged cells will now properly be inserted into your spreadsheet. Also, you will be able to insert and delete columns or rows into and from the middle of merged cells. Again, with previous editions, trying this function would result in an error message.
• Sorting with Formatting - The latest version of OOo modifies the Sort Ascending/Descending button on the toolbar so that the cell’s format is sorted along with the data, which was not previously possible.
• Bubble Charts Available – Similar to the standard XY chart, bubble charts are structured so that data points are emphasized by dots or bubbles. This chart will now be available for Calc, and will include a parameter to increase or decrease the size of the bubble.
• Data Label Rotation – When using Calc’s charts, modifying data labels so they would rotate wasn’t an option. It has now been built into OOo 3.2, so that rotation and text direction can be altered.
• AutoFill Numbers – Calc’s AutoFill function has now been changed so that if the starting cell contains a number at the start and the end, and there’s no space after the first number, the number at the end is now incremented.

Next week: We will take a look at the new features in Impress.

Note: This is the second in a multi-part series on OpenOffice Wednesday that will focus on some of the new and upgraded features that will appear in OpenOffice.org 3.2.

Part One – The Countdown Begins

First, a little housekeeping. As we mentioned at the start of the Countdown, OpenOffice.org 3.2 will be publicly available sometime in December. According to the OOo Wiki page, that date will be December 14, 2009. That should give us plenty of time to get through all the OOo components.

This week, of course, we start with the Writer program, which, of course, is the OpenOffice counterpart to Microsoft Word.
Much of the enhancements to Writer, unlike many of the other programs, are for the more advanced users of the word processor. Nonetheless, the changes for OOo 3.2 should prove to be very useful.

• Word Correct-Auto Complete - In previous versions of Writer, there was a checkbox that read, “When closing a document, save the list for later use in other documents.” However, users found this to be misleading, as it was not about saving the list but to remove those words collected for the document.As a result, the feature has been changed, with the checkbox now reading, “When closing a document, remove the words collected from it from the list” and its function has been changed so that when users start a new document, the word list has been deleted so that no auto-completion shall occur.
• Alternative Text for Writer Objects – One of the features of the Open Document Format (ODF) was that objects embedded into OOo documents would have alternative text, including titles and descriptions. Until now, Writer did not have this capabilities. OpenOffice 3.2 changes this, and now support for alternative text has now been implemented.
• Apply Style Shortcut – Traditionally, the Apply Style function required the user to root through the Menu items either through the keyboard or a mouse. With OOo 3.2, users will now only have to press Ctrl-F11, and the Apply Style combo box will appear.

Next week: We will take a look at the new features in Calc.

After months of working on the bugs and issues from versions 3.0 and 3.1, OpenOffice.org is almost ready to release version 3.2 to the public. If you are brave enough, feel free to go ahead and download the beta version right now, though, even as OOo says, they can’t guarantee stability.

For the rest of us, the stable version of 3.2 will be upon us in December. Starting now and until the release, our OpenOffice Wednesdays will break down the changes that you may find useful for each component of the suite.

Here’s how we’ve got it schedule so far:

• Part One: Writer
• Part Two: Calc
• Part Three: Impress/Draw
• Part Four: Base
• Part Five: Math

Depending upon the exact release date, some of these may be subject to change. Also, there are plenty of other features and enhancements that we will mention along the way. If we have time, we may even be able to dedicate and entire Wednesday to some of the new global changes.

But, for now, here are a couple that will be available on the new version of OpenOffice.org:

1. Password-protected Microsoft Office XML Files
   Though OOo 3.0 featured the addition of the ability to read MS Office 2007 files, the issue arose that any files that were password-protected were not part of that feature. Version 3.2 goes ahead and fixes that problem so now all Office 2007 files can be used in OpenOffice.
2. New ODF Version
   Like many other productivity suites, OpenOffice has been evolving its OpenDocument Format (ODF) since its inception nine years ago. With Version 3.2, OOo will introduce to users to ODF 1.2, bringing with it some additional features that include digital signature support, RDF-based metadata and additional accessibility features.

Next week: Countdown to OpenOffice 3.2 continues with new Writer features and enhancements.

Whether you are an author, an editor or just someone who’s company needs to have a proposal set up, it is practically a given that your document will need a table of contents.

However, you may run into one issue. If you set up a Table of Contents using Microsoft Word, then you open the same document up in OpenOffice.org Writer, you will find that your TOC is gone. Understandably, this could be very frustrating and can really through you for a loop!

But, not to worry. If you haven’t edited a Word Table of Contents in OOo yet, here is the way to go about it. Best of all, while you’ll be able to use the new TOC you’ve created in OOo without having to worry about doing it all over again!

As you can see when you open your Word file in Writer, there is a gray box where your entire Table of Contents used to be.  However, the table’s format is still in the file, which you can see by right-clicking and selecting Edit Index/Table.

Once you get to the dialog box, you’ll notice that unless you are looking to have the hyperlink embedded into the font, you will want to remove the hyperlink, which you will do by clicking on the Hyperlink button (| F), and pressing Delete.

Next, go to the chapter title you wish to use.

When you get the highlight chapter, pull down the highlighted drop-down and select Heading 1. You will need to change the font and paragraph style, which you can do by right-clicking and selecting Edit Paragraph Style.

Once you’ve finished re-formatting your chapter title, go ahead an go back to the Table of Contents, right-click on the gray section and select Update Index/Table, and here’s the end product:

After you have the first section to your liking, you can go ahead and repeat it with the rest of your chapters. And, again, don’t forget your new Table of Contents will work in Word as well!

Even in some of its earliest incarnations, the basis of the appeal of OpenOffice.org was the ability to convert files from any of their programs into space-saving PDFs that could be viewed by anyone with Adobe Acrobat. While this function remains today, it has been, of course, been duplicated by Microsoft, who made the PDF conversion possible in their Office 2007 suite.

However, one thing they haven’t been able to duplicate is the ability to edit PDFs, which OpenOffice, with the help of one handy extension, can do.

Created by Sun Microsystems, the PDF Import Extension, which is now available in its full, non-beta edition, allows anyone who has OOo installed to import and edit PDF files and save them back in that format.

While those users who have Windows will find this extension a viable alternative to the more-expensive Adobe Acrobat, Linux users, who don’t have Adobe products available to them at all in a non-Wine environment, this should be considered a godsend.

How does it work? After downloading the extension, users can open OpenOffice Draw and simply open the PDF they wish to edit. This is especially useful for simple changes and additions to text, which will maintain the text attributes inherent in the PDF.

A word of warning, however. The extension has been known to have problems importing PDFs created by professional desktop publishing programs that utilize special fonts or complex vector graphics. Also, be careful with PDFs that are more than 20 pages, as it may cause some performance and stability issues.

Other than that, give the Sun PDF Import Extension a try. As with countless other extensions, it’s free and ready to download from the OpenOffice.org Web site. You won’t be sorry!

Occasionally, I get rather irate tweets from the OpenOfficeGuy Twitter account about the overall usability (or lack thereof) of OpenOffice.org. Three weeks ago, I was sent a tweet opining about one user’s issue with using OOo for Macintosh and how their version froze and other problems.

This user is, undoubtedly, not alone. However, with the recent release of Version 3.1.1, perhaps clearing up some of those bugs. There is, of course, one other question to be asked:

If you have a Mac, what version are yourunning? The answer, in the end, may clear up some confusion as to their OOo installation.

First, and most importantly, if you own a Mac and are looking to use OpenOffice as you productivity suite, it’s important that you visit the OpenOffice for Mac OS page. At the moment, OOo is available for older versions of Mac OS (X11) and new versions (Aqua). Please note that the X11 edition is suited primarily for Macs running Mac OS 10.3 or earlier.

For the rest of Mac Users, when visiting the Aqua page, it is equally critical that you choose the right format. Most of you will be selecting the Intel edition, as Apple made the switch in 2006 from their PowerPC format. Obviously, those who still own the PowerPC Mac will opt for that version of Aqua.

Nonetheless, OpenOffice Aqua must be the version you are running on your Mac. Downloading and installing the OOo version directly from the main site is the Windows edition, and will likely be unusable to you.

Oh, and I must remind you that TOG Solutions, while a supporter of OpenOffice.org, to which we provide training, and other open-source software, is in no way, shape or form affiliated with the OpenOffice Project.

Malcolm Pearson of the Tech4Law site, submitted this question via Twitter:

Why are the updates with OpenOffice such a mission? Is there tight integration with any legal software vendors?

Let’s start with the second question first. While OpenOffice was originally the released code of the old StarOffice by Sun Microsystems, integration with a vendor like, say, Microsoft, has been a slow road, most recently with MS Office 2007, which uses file formats that couldn’t be opened in OOo until Version 3.0.

As for the update process, like many other software packages, improving OpenOffice is an ongoing process. And like other software packages, developing updates are done in different groups.

So, for example, when the OpenOffice team considers updating, it’s broken down into, among other projects, security, word processing, spreadsheet and graphics, which each group having a project lead.

Despite so many people involved in OOo, updated versions have been made available on within 3-6 months, with the newest version, 3.2, projected to be ready for public consumption in November.

More to the point, the process in which the OOo team goes about updating has allowed the package to be as functional a suite as MS Office. So, it would appear that the ability for OpenOffice to be a viable alternative is the primary reason why the process of updating is so complex.

As computer users start looking more and more towards new ways to save money on applications, it was only a matter of time before Microsoft itself would have to acquiesce and join the crowd. And last week, they made the leap, announcing that Web-based editions of Word, Excel, PowerPoint and OneNote would be free to use.

But does this announcement mean the beginning of the end for OpenOffice? No.

Clearly, it looks as if the primary competitor Microsoft is going up against is Google, who launched their Apps productivity suite a couple of years ago and announced, a week before Microsoft’s Office 2010 announcement, that they would launch Chrome OS, a direct Windows competitor, in the latter half of 2010.

However, both Microsoft and Google have built their future endeavors on the concept of cloud computing, which is to say that software resources will kept online, as opposed to directly on a person’s computer.

OpenOffice, on the other hand, does not appear to have any immediate plans to move in that same direction. For the moment, it seems that the priority is to expand OOo’s capabilities to bring it even more in line with that of MS Office.

In effect, OpenOffice may turn out to be the big winner in this prospective battle. First, the offline full-scale edition of Office 2010 will most certainlynot be free, while the online edition will be supported by advertising. The prospect of cloud computer may also be a bit daunting for some users. Plus, there will need to be a hard sell for current Google Apps users.

Meanwhile, users looking for a powerful open-source alternative that can be housed on their computers. And once again, OpenOffice will be there.

So, don’t look for OpenOffice to disappear off the planet. If anything, with a few more upgrades, OOo could grab even more market share.

You’ve read all the articles before about how rough things have gotten in the U.S. educational system. Cutbacks, layoffs and public requests for tax increases that have frequently been denied.

The idea of finding new ways to save a buck aren’t new. It’s just that most people working in K-12 aren’t generally looking in the direction of their technology options, particularly their productivity software.

And why would some of them? Microsoft Office is the safe option. It’s the same package that most school employees use at home, so why would there be a need to change things up?

However, as companies, as well as public entities such as city and state government, are looking at open source software, particularly OpenOffice.org, as a cost-cutting measure, so, too, should school systems. And not just for its employees.

For years, we’ve been hearing about the idea of getting students access to computers, to the point where there have been calls to put give each student a laptop.

But with a Windows-based machine and proprietary software, is it financially feasible? Of course not.

Realistically, exposing schoolchildren to other technology such as open-source software like OOo could do more than save school systems money. It can provide a window that could be key to bridging the technological divide that currently exists in the U.S.

Browsing the blogosphere, there is a growing call from educators to make this change. Despite currently being outside of the K-12 realm, I also join in this call. With OOo updates that make the package increasingly comparable to MS Office, the time is approaching where the only difference between the two will be cost.

And I think we all know who wins that battle.

Every Wednesday, the TOG Blog presents a topic related to OpenOffice.org. If you’d like to hear about a particular issue or have a question you’d like answered in an upcoming article, feel free to e-mail OpenOfficeGuy@togsolutions.com or follow on Twitter at http://twitter.com/OpenOfficeGuy.

As times get tighter, organizations are always looking for ways to save money. When it comes to software, more and more people are looking to open source for solutions.

When it comes to a rival to Microsoft Office, no package does better to duplicate all of Microsoft’s offerings than OpenOffice.org. And with the release of version 3.0.1 as a precursor to the much-anticipated 3.1 release, OpenOffice.org is becoming the increasing popular choice for companies who want to functionality of MS Office without the hefty price tag.

Of course, software conversions often come with a ton of questions, not the least of which being the question of similarlities and differences between the two packages.

That’s where we come in.

TOG Solutions has made it a mission to work with people to answer all of their OpenOffice questions, and, if they so choose, train with us. For now, though, we’re more than happy to help you out with the little stuff!

If you have an OpenOffice question that you’d like answered, you can always e-mail us at info@togsolutions.com. Or, you can catch us on Twitter, as we have created an account exclusively for OpenOffice questions, http://twitter.com/OpenOfficeGuy. We’ll get you the help you’re looking for!