Putting office suites to the test
File Formats
Apache OpenOffice uses version 1.0 of the Open Document Format (ODF) standardized in 2006 as its default file format. The office suite supplies a decent number of conversion filters, as well: The Writer word processor can import and export all current Microsoft Word formats, in addition to simple text formats. However, in the practical test, OpenOffice fell short in this respect. Although the word processor did import sample documents in the older Microsoft Word format (.doc
extension), the outcome remained unsatisfactory, and the entire layout of the integrated images and graphics of each document was changed.
The font processor in OpenOffice is a further weak point. If certain fonts are not installed, the office suite replaces them with similar fonts, which can cause translocation of paragraphs and incorrect line breaks because of spacing differences. You are best advised to install the relevant fonts globally before loading the documents – assuming the fonts are known.
The free office suite also trips over tables when importing foreign formats. After processing a table, changed font sizes sometimes overwrite or displace columns and rows, making the entire table unreadable. You can resolve this problem by highlighting the sections and reducing the font size.
OpenOffice also encountered difficulty in the complex document test with the OfficeOpen XML format by Microsoft introduced in 2007 (.docx
extension). When importing a spreadsheet for a school class, it completely misplaced images, graphics, and grids, making the document virtually unusable (Figure 3).
Users of the old StarOffice, who still use documents in .sdc
, .sdd
, and .sdw
formats, can no longer read and write these files as of Apache OpenOffice 4.0. In this case, the solution is to install a "portable" older version of the office suite [10] that can still import and export these formats. You can install the portable version along with the current version on your local disk; however, you should note that the tar.gz
archives of the portable variants are not available for all hardware architectures on Linux.
Collaboration
Apache OpenOffice does not have trouble reading documents in non-native formats when the comments of several editors are integrated. It presents the comments very clearly on the right of the screen with a reference, the name of the respective author, and different color schemes. You can process each comment from a small selection menu.
Interfaces
Because of its cross-platform availability and widespread popularity, many special industry solutions support OpenOffice in custom interfaces. The free office suite easily integrates into the major league enterprise resource planning (ERP) solution by SAP through an interface with its in-house MaxDB database back end [11].
Actiware, which manages, analyzes, and exports Actiwatch data, offers an integration solution in the form of Awas-Actiware Active Server [12]. Its Office integration module cooperates with virtually every enterprise solution, irrespective of provider, guaranteeing the transfer of data between business software and the office program.
Buy this article as PDF
(incl. VAT)
Buy Linux Magazine
Direct Download
Read full article as PDF:
Price $2.95
Subscribe to our Linux Newsletters
Find Linux and Open Source Jobs
Subscribe to our ADMIN Newsletters
Find SysAdmin Jobs
News
-
Kubuntu Focus Announces XE Gen 2 Linux Laptop
Another Kubuntu-based laptop has arrived to be your next ultra-portable powerhouse with a Linux heart.
-
MNT Seeks Financial Backing for New Seven-Inch Linux Laptop
MNT Pocket Reform is a tiny laptop that is modular, upgradable, recyclable, reusable, and ships with Debian Linux.
-
Ubuntu Flatpak Remix Adds Flatpak Support Preinstalled
If you're looking for a version of Ubuntu that includes Flatpak support out of the box, there's one clear option.
-
Gnome 44 Release Candidate Now Available
The Gnome 44 release candidate has officially arrived and adds a few changes into the mix.
-
Flathub Vying to Become the Standard Linux App Store
If the Flathub team has any say in the matter, their product will become the default tool for installing Linux apps in 2023.
-
Debian 12 to Ship with KDE Plasma 5.27
The Debian development team has shifted to the latest version of KDE for their testing branch.
-
Planet Computers Launches ARM-based Linux Desktop PCs
The firm that originally released a line of mobile keyboards has taken a different direction and has developed a new line of out-of-the-box mini Linux desktop computers.
-
Ubuntu No Longer Shipping with Flatpak
In a move that probably won’t come as a shock to many, Ubuntu and all of its official spins will no longer ship with Flatpak installed.
-
openSUSE Leap 15.5 Beta Now Available
The final version of the Leap 15 series of openSUSE is available for beta testing and offers only new software versions.
-
Linux Kernel 6.2 Released with New Hardware Support
Find out what's new in the most recent release from Linus Torvalds and the Linux kernel team.