OpenOffice.Org 1.0 Resource Kit

Description

• Copyright 2003
• Dimensions: 7" x 9-1/4"
• Pages: 1048
• Edition: 1st

• Book
• ISBN-10: 0-13-140745-7
• ISBN-13: 978-0-13-140745-9

Everything you need for OpenOffice.org, the best-selling StarOffice" Companion, adapted for OpenOffice.org

Includes the OpenOffice.org CD: OpenOffice.org official distribution, including great extras like macros and the Mac®OS beta distribution

For Windows, Linux, and Solaris platforms

Covers Writer, Web, Calc, Impress, Draw, databases and forms, and more

This practical, user-friendly insider's guide contains everything you need to install and learn OpenOffice.org today! With the OpenOffice.org Companion, you get the best-selling StarOffice"! Companion, adapted and updated for OpenOffice.org, plus the official OpenOffice.org CD, which includes software for all platforms and great extras!

Imagine an office productivity suite that's powerful, easy to use, has great extras (like a drawing program and database connectivity), and is absolutely free! The OpenOffice.org Open Source Project's partnership with Sun Microsystems makes this a reality for millions of Linux®, Solaris®, and Windows® users.

Learn OpenOffice.org for the first time, or explore the great new features in this release. OpenOffice.org Companion also incorporates solutions to questions from hundreds of OpenOffice.org users, both beginners and pros, making this the most practical, task-based book available. It delivers clear, step-by-step instructions on what you need to do to get your job done.

You'll find comprehensive coverage of all this and more:

Great information across applications:

Conversion to and from Microsoft® and StarOffice 5.2 file formats

Installation and setup tips:

How to install for either single users or network installations, for all platforms, with detailed instructions and key trouble-shooting tips Migration tips for StarOffice 5.2 users

Power-user tips, including:

How to print spreadsheet headings on multiple pages, modify XML to edit the files or customize OpenOffice.org, and importing text files into spreadsheets

Quick Start tutorials:

Learn the key features of each application, plus procedures on customizing OpenOffice.org to make using it simple and productive

Comprehensive coverage of each application:

• Writer—Editing, formatting, mail merge, printing to postscript and PDF, long documents, version control, and comparing documents
• Web—Creating Web pages with AutoPilot, hotlinks, viewing and editing source- animated GIFs, and scrolling text marquees
• Calc—Formatting, data entry and calculations in spreadsheets (including the function AutoPilot), scenarios, Goal Seek, exporting to HTML, and inserting spreadsheets in other documents
• Impress—Creating, designing, and delivering presentations, including custom presentations and animation
• Drawing and image-editing features—Using the vast array of drawing tools including 3D, connector lines for technical diagrams, editing raster graphics like photos, and exporting to formats like GIF, EPS, and SVG
• Connecting to data sources—Setting up data-source connections to spreadsheets, Access, Oracle® and other databases via JDBC and other standard access methods. Plus creating mail merges documents and labels with the user-friendly AutoPilot

Want to learn how to get things done with OpenOffice.org? OpenOffice.org Companion is the practical, direct, expert guide you've been searching for, with all the software you need.

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Sample Content

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Table of Contents

Preface

I. GETTING STARTED.

1. Introduction to OpenOffice.org 1.0.

One-Minute Guide to OpenOffice.org. Printing to PostScript and PDF. Faxing. Font Substitution. Page Layout Setup Options. Specifying Print Settings for Bitmaps, Transparency, and Color/Grayscale. Printing Brochures. Commercial Print Setup. Print Warning Setup. OpenOffice.org. Program Essentials. Switching From Microsoft Office. What's New. The OpenOffice.org CD.

2. Installation.

Quick Start. Preparing to Install. Installing the Software. Troubleshooting. Getting Started.

3. Migrating From StarOffice 5.2 to OpenOffice.org 1.0.

Quick Migration Overview. Removing StarOffice 6.0 Beta Software Before Migrating. Migrating 5.2 Personal Data and Setup Options. Migrating Mail, Address Book, and Newsgroups. Exporting StarOffice Schedule Data. Converting 5.2 Files to the Current Release and Reading 5.2 Files. Converting UNIX 5.2 Printers. Macros. Migrating Data and Databases.

4. Printer Setup and Printing.

Creating UNIX Printers and Faxes. Basic Printing. Printing Mail Merges and Other Documents Based on Data Sources.

5. Setup and Tips.

Setting Up OpenOffice.org. Getting Help. Setting Up and Managing the Menus and Interface. Setting Up Font Substitution. Enabling and Setting Up Asian Fonts and Formatting. Specifying Zoom and Measurement Unit. Using and Setting Up Graphics and Colors. Controlling Text Changes and AutoCompletion. Turning Off Annoying Features. Working With Directories. Setting Up and Using Internet Features. Setting Undos and Number of Recent Documents You Can Open. Fun With XML. Setting Up Security. Preventing OpenOffice.org From Opening MS Office and HTML Files. Setting Up and Viewing Document Characteristics. Converting to and From Other Applications. Printing Setup and Printing. OpenOffice.org Templates.

II. WRITER.

6. Getting Started With Writer.

Quick Start. Writer Setup Options. Keyboard Shortcuts. Creating a New Document. Working With Non-Writer Documents. Controlling Measurement and Ruler Display. Creating and Inserting AutoText. Selecting Text. Quotation Marks™, Symbols, Inline Text, and Word Counts. Spellchecking and Hyphenation. Useful Tips.

7. Formatting Documents.

Asian Language Setup and Use. Quick Character Formatting. Using the Character Formatting Window. Quick Paragraph Formatting. Using the Paragraph Format Window. Numbering, Bullets, and Outlining. Formatting Footnotes. Using Headers and Footers in Basic Documents. Page Layout. Specifying Page Orientation. Using Frames for Advanced Page Layout. Adding Vertical and Diagonal Text to Documents. Example: Creating a Complex Page Layout. Power Formatting With Styles. Removing Formatting. Using Templates.

8. Adding Objects and Links to Documents.

Graphics and Object Memory Setup. Hyperlinking Text to a File or URL. Drawing in Writer. Inserting Graphics. Tables. Charts. Spreadsheets. Converting a Spreadsheet to a Writer Table. Doing Spreadsheet Calculations in Writer Tables and Text. Inserting Frames and Floating Frames. Inserting an Object Created in Any Application. Mathematical Formulas. Documents. Scanning Images Into Documents. Tips for Adjusting Inserted Objects and Fixing Broken Links. Adding Controls and Buttons. Lining Up Objects on a Grid. Inserting Captions.

9. Books and Longer Documents.

Overview. Managing and Moving Around in Files Using Navigator. Outline Numbering, for Chapter, Figure, and Cross-Reference Numbering. Headers and Footers in Books. Page Numbering. Creating Books (Master Documents). Cross-Referencing. Creating a Table of Contents. Creating an Index. Creating Lists of Figures and Other Lists. Bibliographies. Spacing Before a Section, Index, or Table.

10. Mail Merges, Business Cards, and More.

Getting Started With Mail Merges, Business Cards, and More. Setting Up Data to Use in Mail Merge Documents and Business Cards. Creating Mail Merge Letters and Faxes With Data Sources Using AutoPilots. Creating Your Own Mail Merge Documents. Envelopes. Creating Business Cards and Labels Using Fixed Data. Printing.

11. Creating and Controlling Different Document Versions.

The Two Ways of Controlling Versions of Documents. Document Version Control With Editing and Version Tools. Using Sections to Create Multiple Versions of the Same Document. Using the Automated Editing Tools. Using Notes. Top Ten Reasons to Use.

12. Printing in Writer.

Printing Procedures. Basic Printing. Writer Printing Options. Printing Notes. Printing Multiple Pages With Page Preview.

III. WEB.

13. Web Setup.

Program-Wide HTML and Internet Setup Options. Controlling What Application Opens Documents. HTML Document Options. Displaying the Hyperlink Bar.

14. Browsing and Searching.

Bringing Up a Web Page. Using Web's Search Connection. Using FTP and Netscape to Upload Files.

15. Creating Web Pages.

Quick Start. Creating New HTML Files. What to Do If You Can't Edit a File. Creating and Modifying Styles and Templates. Using Sections. Creating Tables. Inserting Notes. Viewing and Editing HTML Source. Adding and Formatting Text. Adding and Formatting Graphics. Page Formatting. Setting and Viewing Document Properties.

16. Enhancing Web Pages.

Adding Hyperlinks to Documents. Inserting Spreadsheets and Other Objects. Using Animated GIFs and Animated Text. Creating Image Maps. Adding Applets and Plugins. Using Macros, Scripts, and Events.

17. Printing in Web.

Printing Procedures. Basic Printing. Web Printing Options.

IV. CALC.

18. Getting Started With Calc.

Quick Start. Calc Setup Options. Keyboard Shortcuts. Creating a New Document. Opening Another Document in Calc. Simple Procedures for Bringing Data Sources Into Spreadsheets. Exporting Calc Spreadsheets to Other Formats. Using Navigator to Move Within and Between Documents. Searching and Replacing.

19. Data Entry and Formatting.

Entering Text and Numbers. Filling. AutoInputting Text. Using and Creating Value Lists. Changing Enter Key Direction. Working With Columns and Rows. Jazzing Up Spreadsheets With AutoFormat. Quick Cell Formatting. Applying Formatting and Security Using the Cell Attributes Window. Page Setup. Controlling Spreadsheet Layout and Scrolling. Power Formatting With Styles and Templates.

20. Calculating and Manipulating Data.

About Spreadsheet Calculations. Formula Basics Entering Formulas Manually. Using the Function AutoPilot. Using Cell References. Updating Calculations. Sorting Data. Filtering Data. Conditional Formatting. Controlling Content and Formatting When Pasting Data. Combining Cells. Combining Sheets and Linking to Other Spreadsheets. Using Form Controls to Enter Values. Tips for Using Spreadsheets. Troubleshooting Spreadsheets

21. Adding Objects to Spreadsheets.

Charts. Drop-Down Lists, Buttons, and Other Controls. Graphics and Drawings. Mathematical Formulas. Floating Frames. Updating Links to Graphics and Objects.

22. Useful Spreadsheet Tools.

Protecting Cells From Modification. Controlling Valid Entries. Using Scenarios. Using Goal Seek. Outlining. Naming Spreadsheet Areas. Pointing to Cell References and Errors. Value Highlighting. Conditional Formatting.

23. Version Control and Editing Tools.

Keeping Incremental Versions of Documents. Recording and Showing Changes. Using Notes.

24. Printing in Calc.

Printing a Spreadsheet. Things That Control Spreadsheet Printing. Printing a Mail Merge From Data in a Spreadsheet. Choosing What Sheets to Print. Repeating Spreadsheet Headings (Rows or Columns) on Each Page. Setting a Print Range. Selecting Spreadsheet Elements to Print. Page Size and Numbering. Keeping Specific Cells From Printing. Reducing or Increasing the Number of Pages the Spreadsheet Prints On. Printing to PostScript and PDF. Printer and Font Setup.

V. IMPRESS.

25. Creating Presentations.

Quick Start. Creating a New Presentation. Running a Presentation. Opening Existing Presentations. Setting Up Impress to Make Creating and Opening Presentations Easier. Creating and Modifying Templates. .Using Master Views, Foreground/Background Views, and Layers. Controlling Workspace Display.

26. Developing Presentations.

Using the Navigator to Move Among Slides. Organizing Presentations. Adding Text. Formatting Text. Text Effects. Creating Organizational Charts. Modifying Presentation Default Fonts. Using Text and Object Styles. Adding Charts, Pictures, and Objects. Presentation Backgrounds. Headers and Footers.

27. Advanced Presentation Tools.

Adding Movement, Sound, and Special Effects to Objects and Text in Slides. Making Objects or Text Move Along a Path. Making Effects Run on Two or More Objects Simultaneously. How Effects Are Applied to Text. Interaction Effects: Run Macros and More. Animated GIFs. Applying Slide Transition Effects. Creating Custom Presentations. Harmless Pranks.

28. Delivering and Printing Presentations.

Adding Notes and Creating Handouts. Timing Automatic Presentations. Delivering a Presentation. Changing Presentation File Format. Creating an HTML Version of Your Presentation. Printing in Impress.

VI. DRAWING AND IMAGE EDITING.

29. Creating Drawings.

Quick Start. Creating and Opening Draw Files. Page Setup. Templates and Styles. Graphics and Color Setup. Setting Up and Using Existing Shapes in Drawings. Creating and Formatting Basic Objects. Creating and Formatting Lines. Working With Text. Positioning and Resizing Objects. Rotating and Flipping Objects. Setting Drawing Scale and Unit of Measurement. Exporting Drawings to Other Formats.

30. Advanced Drawing Tools.

About Draw's Advanced Features. Creating Your Own Lines and Arrows. Creating and Categorizing Fills and Lines. Creating Technical Drawings With Dimension Lines and Connector. Working With Bezier Curves. Modifying and Creating Colors. Creating and Modifying Gradients, Hatches, and Bitmaps. Creating Three-Dimensional Objects. Adding Other Files or Objects to Drawings. Making Exact and Modified Copies. Distorting and Curving Text and Objects With the Effects Tools. Distorting and Curving Text Using FontWork. Converting Text to 3D and Applying Formatting. Morphing One Object Into Another Using Cross-Fading. Converting Objects to Different Types. Combining Shapes and Creating Lines From Objects.

31. Editing Images.

Changing Colors, Contrast, and Intensity. Deleting and Cropping an Image. Applying Effects to Modify Graphics' Appearance. Exporting to Other Raster Formats.

32. Printing Drawings and Images.

Finding Printing Procedures. Fitting the Content to the Page. Printing Options Setup. Selecting Options in Print Warning Dialog. Printing a Drawing.

VII. STORED DATA FIELDS, DATA SOURCES, AND FORMS.

33. Overview of Database Connection Features.

OpenOffice.org and Databases. The Databases You Can Connect To. All the Ways You Can Create Stored Data and Bring It Into Documents.

34. Setting Up Stored Data in Fields and AutoText.

Creating and Using Fields Creating and Inserting AutoText.

35. Creating and Modifying Data Sources.

What to Do in This Chapter. Understanding Data Sources and Completing a Tutorial. Preparing to Create Data Sources. Creating Data Sources. Creating and Modifying Tables. Bringing New Data Into a New or Existing Table. Creating Queries. Sorting and Filtering Information in the Data Source Viewer. Exporting Data Sources to Another Format. Editing Data in Data Sources Using the Data Source Viewer.

36. Creating and Using Forms, Controls, and Events.

Getting Started With Forms. Creating a Form Using AutoPilot. Basics for Creating a Form on Your Own. Form Modification Basics. Adding and Replacing Controls. Using Forms to View Data. Using Forms for Data Entry.

Appendix: Macros.

What's in This Appendix. Finding Macros and Macro Information. Macro Basics. Migrating Macros. Guided Tour. Macro Setup Options. Organizing Your Macros. Running Macros. Opening and Editing Macros. Adding a Macro to a Document.

Index.

Preface

Preface

It used to be that the saying "You get what you pay for" ranked up there with suchindisputable truths as, "What goes up must come down," "Water is wet," and "I had torestart Windows today." But since OpenOffice.org is free, "you get what you pay for" isnot only disputable, but down there with "the board of directors said the accountingpractices were OK" and "hey, let's form an Internet startup."

OpenOffice.org, the open source product of Sun Microsystems' StarOffice, is a full-featured,remarkably good office suite. It matches Microsoft Office program for program,and goes a giant step further with a great graphics program, Draw. You get applications forworking with documents, spreadsheets, slide presentations, web sites, graphics, anddatabases--anywhere from Oracle to a simple text file.

Want to do a holiday newsletter as a mail merge, printing out a copy for each of the 135people on your address list? It's really easy. Put together a book? You've got all the toolsyou need. Do complex statistical or mathematical calculations in a spreadsheet? Ditto.Create a Web site start-to-finish (along with graphics, animations, and image maps). Openyour old WordStar files from college and your Lotus 1-2-3 files from your first job. Scrapeyour jaw on the ground when you see how small the file sizes are.

This release of OpenOffice.org also has a bunch of enhancements over StarOffice 5.2.We're satisfied and impressed that the developers incorporated lots of good feedback.

What goes up must come down. Water is wet. OpenOffice.org is free.

(And yes, I really did have to restart Windows today.)

The CD You Get With This Book

This is the only StarOffice or OpenOffice.org book you can currently get that has the CDalong with it. You get the software for every platform, plus a bunch of extras that theOpenOffice.org community has put together--templates, macros, examples, etc.

Plus you get the Mac OS X Developer version, an alpha build of the software that runs onthe love child of Steve Jobs and a UNIX kernel, the built-with-UNIX Mac operatingsystem.

For additional extras like templates, created by the authors, come to the authors' web sitehttp://www.getopenoffice.org

Microsoft Office Compatibility

OpenOffice.org is particularly strong in its ability to open Microsoft Office file formatsand save the documents back as Microsoft Office files. It even boasts an AutoPilot thatconverts directories of Word, Excel, and PowerPoint files to OpenOffice.org formats.

What It Runs On

OpenOffice.org runs on Windows, Linux, Lindows, and Solaris. The OpenOffice.orggroup is working on versions for Mac OSX, FreeBSD, and other platforms.

About This Book

This is a book that lets you find what you need quickly and get it done. This isn't a bookfor "dummies", with epic-length procedures for cutting and pasting. On the other hand, wedon't include extensive details on those sexy technical issues like mime types and LDAPWe wrote the book that we would want: all the important stuff, but nothing too basic ortechnically impractical for the intermediate user (and with a little humor along the way).We also talked to hundreds of new StarOffice and OpenOffice.org users, so we were ableto document what people really need to do.

Reading Is Fundamental

If you're like most intermediate users, you already know enough to be dangerous, whichmeans you'll probably just dive in and try to do things in OpenOffice.org without anyhelp. Sometimes that strategy works, other times it doesn't. If it doesn't, read the relevantsections in this book.

For instance, one of the most frequently asked questions is "How do I print spreadsheetheadings on every page?" The answer has been in this book all along. Go read RepeatingSpreadsheet Headings (Rows or Columns) on Each Page on page 626.

We also indexed the living daylights out of this book, so use the Index, too.

What Now?

You can get more info on OpenOffice.org in Chapter 1, Introduction to OpenOffice.org1.0, on page 3.

Go through Chapter 5, Setup and Tips, on page 95. It gives you an overview of the workenvironment and shows you lots of really useful tips that affect the whole program.

Use the Quick Start tutorials. We've included something for those of you who like toplunge in quickly and get your hands dirty.

Don't panic!

Index

Download the Index file related to this title.

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Updates

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