Suggestion - file format

[Shmuel Wolfson <sh...@gmail.com>]

I have a suggestion for OpenOffice that I think will help it become more 
popular.

Most users are not very computer savvy. They are afraid of 
incompatibility so they stick to Word which most people have. Therefore 
I think the default option when installing OpenOffic should be to save 
files in MS Office formats.

You could have a dialog box asking the user to select whether they want 
the default file format to be:

o Files compatible with Microsoft Office (Word, Excel, PowerPoint, etc.) 
- recommended for users who want compatibility with Microsoft Office

o Files compatible with the open standard - recommended for advanced users

The default should be compatible with Microsoft Office so when the 
average user just clicks Next, that's what they will get. I know that 
there is an option to change the default format, but the average user 
doesn't know that and isn't interested in having to do that step.

-- 
Regards,
Shmuel

Re: Suggestion - file format

[Shmuel Wolfson <sh...@gmail.com>]

I hear your point. How about having the installer (at the end of the 
installation) take the user to a webpage with a video explaining how to 
save files in Office formats.

I think that would help OpenOffice catch on more.

Regards,
Shmuel Wolfson
052-763-7133

On 10-Jul-12 4:23 PM, RGB ES wrote:
> 2012/7/10 Shmuel Wolfson <sh...@gmail.com>:
>> I have a suggestion for OpenOffice that I think will help it become more
>> popular.
>>
>> Most users are not very computer savvy. They are afraid of incompatibility
>> so they stick to Word which most people have. Therefore I think the default
>> option when installing OpenOffic should be to save files in MS Office
>> formats.
> Sorry, but that's a no go: while import/export filters could be an
> useful tools on some circumstances they are not and never will be
> perfect. And the reason is simple: AOO is NOT a clon of MSOffice. Both
> products work on different ways. Take for example Writer vs. Word:
> Writer use page styles, something that Word do not know about so every
> time you open a Word file you need to translate whatever Word do with
> pages to the "page style paradigm", and then back from page style to
> what Word use... even on simple documents this is a formatting
> nightmare but if you go to something more complex you are calling for
> trouble.
>
> Being able to import/export from/to MSOffice formats is a useful plus,
> nothing more and nothing less.
>
> The general rule, applicable not only to AOO but to any software
> product is: Always work on native formats, your life will be a lot
> easier.
>
> Just my 2¢
>
> Regards
> Ricardo
>

Re: Suggestion - file format

[RGB ES <rg...@gmail.com>]

2012/7/10 Shmuel Wolfson <sh...@gmail.com>:
> I have a suggestion for OpenOffice that I think will help it become more
> popular.
>
> Most users are not very computer savvy. They are afraid of incompatibility
> so they stick to Word which most people have. Therefore I think the default
> option when installing OpenOffic should be to save files in MS Office
> formats.

Sorry, but that's a no go: while import/export filters could be an
useful tools on some circumstances they are not and never will be
perfect. And the reason is simple: AOO is NOT a clon of MSOffice. Both
products work on different ways. Take for example Writer vs. Word:
Writer use page styles, something that Word do not know about so every
time you open a Word file you need to translate whatever Word do with
pages to the "page style paradigm", and then back from page style to
what Word use... even on simple documents this is a formatting
nightmare but if you go to something more complex you are calling for
trouble.

Being able to import/export from/to MSOffice formats is a useful plus,
nothing more and nothing less.

The general rule, applicable not only to AOO but to any software
product is: Always work on native formats, your life will be a lot
easier.

Just my 2¢

Regards
Ricardo