SUMMARY

Summary
OpenOffice.org suite consists of four major applications:
• Writer - word processor
• Calc - spreadsheet
• Impress - presentations
• Draw - graphics
Writer also operates as a web page (HTML) editor.
These applications were originally a single 'desktop' within StarOffice which has
now been separated into four applications. This gives them a high degree of
commonality (more so than MS-Office, which started life as separate packages
which have been blended together).
In addition, there are three utilities which operate across the major components:
• a mathematical formula editor
• macro / Basic programming language
• Data Access tools for working with SQL databases
OpenOffice.org does not contain:
• email / calendar tools
• a web browser
• a database (although dBase format tables can be used out of the box with
OpenOffice.org's Data Access tools)
Independent reviews rate OpenOffice.org as capable as its competitors in terms of
functionality
17
. However, it does lack some end-user 'extras' such as printed
manuals, templates, clip-art libraries, etc.
OpenOffice.org is available for the following platforms:
• Microsoft Windows (98, NT, ME, 2000 and XP)
• GNU/Linux
• Sun Solaris 8 Operating Environment
• Mac OS X Darwin PPC (within X)
Some of the newer features require installation of a Java Runtime Environment
(JRE).
OpenOffice.org is available in over 30 languages.
Distribution
OpenOffice.org can be downloaded free of charge from the OpenOffice.org website
or worldwide mirrors. Many Linux distributions now include OpenOffice.org,
although some have removed some functionality for licencing reasons. It is also
bundled by some hard/removable disk drive and PC manufacturers.
OpenOffice.org can also be obtained on CD in different forms in different markets: