OpenOffice Update

by davidp

Following up on the OSS Module activity by Group 6, I wanted to note that OpenOffice has posted its version 3.2beta today.

Apparently this version corrects many of the formatting issues with document interoperability that have been the barrier to entry for many, including me.

The blog post about the OO 3.2beta is here:

OpenOffice 3.2beta

I’m currently downloading this version to see whether it addresses my issues.  I would love to walk the “open” talk completely, but document formatting is an issue.  Let’s hope it’s good news.

8 comments


1 jennie wong { 10.29.09 at 6:42 pm }

David,

I used to be a corporate trainer and I’ve experienced open office in many different scenarios. I don’t see the formatting issues going away any time soon – this is based on past experience.

Like you had mentioned, let’s hope this round will be a good one and that more issues are resolved.

Jen


2 davidp { 10.29.09 at 9:36 pm }

I’ll report after I test a few docs.

d.


3 Ernest Pao { 10.29.09 at 10:13 pm }

David and Jen,

I’d love to know if there are any formatting errors as our new school teacher computers have OSS applications such as Open Office installed on them. A lot of teachers have complained about the poor transferability, including myself, since most of our documents have been processed in MS Office products. Thanks in advance.

Ernie


4 davidp { 10.29.09 at 10:17 pm }

It’s a fumble! No joy. The first document I opened was way off in terms of formatting.

Arghhhh.

d.


5 Annette Smith { 10.30.09 at 3:55 pm }

Are the formatting differences worse than opening a .docx file as a .doc in Office 2007?

Just curious, as I have had huge problems moving from one Office version to the other. Plus in order to be compatible with my colleagues I have to save everything as a .doc file anyway, which sort of negates the benefits to upgrading in the first place…

Annette


6 Ernest Pao { 10.30.09 at 5:42 pm }

Thanks for reporting back, David! I’ll stick with MS Word for now.


7 Jay Dixon { 11.01.09 at 7:44 am }

Open Office that easily meshes with MS Word may be the end of Word. I am sure Microsoft will not make it easy for Open Office to get to a point where formatting and transferring troubles are ironed out. Maybe some day 🙁


8 Barrie Carter { 11.01.09 at 8:57 am }

Hello Everyone:

Regarding OpenOffice, I know of some of the formatting issues.

However, I want to know if any one else has uploading issues with OpenOffice when used with a MAC. For example, for file conversions and uploads, it takes both my MacBook Pro and my MacBook some time… uploads and conversions are not in “nanoseconds” like Microsoft Office 2004 and 2008 for MAC. Does any one else have these issues?

Cheers,

You must log in to post a comment.