Useful additions to OpenOffice.org suite

The following links may be useful to the many users of OpenOffice.org, the free, open source Office Productivity Suite. To say more about the suite itself would be an exercise in futility. I urge interested readers to visit and to explore the huge openoffice site to find out more about OpenOffice.org.

One of my favorite places for openoffice.org stuff is the following: Lingucomponent. This is where you can download several dictionary, hyphenation and thesaurus files for several languages. Another such interesting site is this one with extensions to improve the functionality of the Openoffice.org suite.

To install these extensions (which come as single .oxt files), we open OpenOffice, select the Tools menu, then select Extension Manager (see image below).

We will get a new window showing two entries: MyExtentions and OpenOffice.org Extensions. The important button is the Add which allows to import the extension of our choice into the system.

Here is a brief list of extensions I have already installed from the site:

1. pagination does what its name implies; it provides several methods for inputing page numbers by adding an extra entry under the Insert menu.
2. Set of templates for various purposes. According to the site, “… each template makes creating personalised and individual OpenOffice.org documents a breeze with built-in images and text styles”.
3. Writertools. I have written in the past about this extension. Here is another site for the same extension. The extension adds a new menu (next to the original Tools menu) and adds to the functionality of OpenOffice extensively.

While talking about extending the abilities of OpenOffice.org, it is important to mention that according to SUN, there will developmental builds for amd64 platforms starting very soon. Head over to GullFOSS for more information and news about openoffice.

I.

docx in openoffice revisited

From the pages of this blog, I wrote in the past about the ability of openoffice to open and save in the notorious docx (and xlsx and pptx) format the new MS Office 2007 introduced. My focus at the time was (and still is) how this can be done in various linux platforms. However, several people have asked about the possibility that Openoffice offers even for win32 platforms. So, here is, once again, a list of options (either web-based or platform-independent) for dealing with the mess that is docx (apparently, now an iso standard).

First, there are a couple of options that allow this translation from the web. You simply upload the file and get back the translated copy. I have not tried such options and I don’t know whether I would like to share with some other people personal files.

Zamzar online converter (all files). It allows for the translation of all types of files (docx, xlsx, pptx and more).

docx2doc online converter for docx2 files. Apparently, they offer a desktop conversion tool in partnership with Amazon. This tool can be found here: docXconverter, standalone, desktop conversion tool. Please be aware that this tool requires a fee.

Moving from web-choices to desktop ones, it should be said that the upcoming OpenOffice 3 will natively save (and open) docx, xlsx, pptx files. In the mean time, another option is to use Word 2003 viewer which can be downloaded from this site: word viewer. In order to use the new docx files, you will need this compatibility pack for older office versions and the job is done. Note, that you can install word viewer in linux under wine (why you would want to do this, though, is beyond me) Also note, that the compatibility pack is necessary for office 97, 2000 etc.

If someone is still bound and tied to the MS office platform, this odf converter translator add-in for MS Office will make it smart enough to save and open odf files produced by OpenOffice. Of course, the option to use OpenOffice.org under Windows is also viable and should be promoted, as it offers enhanced capabilities to the end user.

Another indirect way from docx to odf may be via this conversion tool: docx2rtf. Docx2Rtf is a freeware file converter for MS Word 2007 and OpenOffice Sxw and Odt files. According to the site: “Docx2Rtf does not require Office 2007 or OpenOffice installed in order to work. Word 2007 docx files and OpenOffice files will be converted with formatting, but no images.” Understandably, this may not be what many people have in mind.

In the oooninja site, there are instructions and downloads in order to do the translation from docx to odf both under windows and linux using a cli (command line interface).

The key in both cases is the installation of an oxt file (an openoffice extension), which can be installed under the tools -> Extensions Manager. There are a couple of places where this oxt file can be downloaded from. First, from Novell or from go-oo.org.

A couple of interesting notes: Novell also produces its own version of open office, which incorporates this extension. Go-oo.org offer their own version of openOffice, with “… new features in development and [...] functionality not yet accepted up-stream (from their website).

One last thing: If you get a docx, xlsx, pptx file via email, do what I do: return it to the sender and ask them to send you a check for so many $$ in order for you to buy a copy of MS Office. Also, inform them of the ability of OpenOffice and last, as a courtesy, ask them to be kind enough to use the File -> Save As choice and save their work as doc/xls/ppt files.

I.
PS. If this list is incomplete (and it most likely is), please let me know and I will add what’s missing.

The perennial question: Emacs or … ?

One of the oldest (if not the oldest) flame wars in newsgroups back in the glory day of rn and command lines was: Emacs v. vi. Who was the best editor, what editor real programmers used and so on. Apparently, this war has been settled once and for all through the amazingly smart and funny and sarcastic webcomic of xkcd.

Here it is in all its glory the definitive answer to the question of Emacs superiority …

Of course, xkcd is absolutely right in praising the virtues of Emacs, the only programming environment you will ever need. Once you get hooked by its appeal, there’s no escape, no going back

If you want to enjoy more xkcd webcomics, just click to the link above.

Enjoy,

I.

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Moleskine-like journal

I was out shopping in my local computer shop when I spotted this moleskine-like hardcover journal.

To the uninitiated, it may look like a moleskine.  After all, it has the elastic band, the bookmark ribbon, even the backpocket (as you can see from the photos).

Of course, the color is off and the feel of the paper is nothing like that of a moleskine.  And did I mention that lack of plastic shrinkwrap?  Some more clues about its true identity appear in the back.

Rachael Hale is the name and a visit to that particular site reveals a variety of pretty looking animals and other assorted journals, stationery, gifts, cards etc.  Still, I went ahead and bought it as it was ridiculously cheap for around 3 euros (as compared to the 15+ euros for a regular moleskine hardcover notebook.

I.

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microsoft ofice will not support older microsoft office formats

The article in Wired was pretty much clear: Microsoft OFfice 2003 service pack 3 will drop support for older microsoft office formats.  In other words, when the service pack 3 is installed, older files such as powerpoint before office 97, lotus and quattro files, word and excel files will not open by default and access to these files will be denied on account of security risks and concerns. 

This is half the truth.  The other half is that these files will open if the user rolls up his/her sleeves, signs a written affidavit that he/she has nothing better to do than waste precious productive time and did not curse several expletive towards Pacific Northwest corporation headquarters of microsoft, delves into the pc registry and manually hacks the registry values to allow for such files to open.  Now, of course, converters may do the trick, but large corporations and academic institutions with large libraries of legacy files may run into trouble.

Of course, OpenOffice.org has no problem opening these older files and newer ones, too.  Yes, I am referring to the newer marketing stint from microsoft with the docx and xlsx files which do not open with older versions of office, say office xp.

Happy New Year Open Office and Free Software.   (No, I am not one of the many who anticipate that this will definitely be the year of linux and open source and free software. For me, this year came several years ago when I made the switch from proprietary to open source and never looked back).

I.

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from the old to the new while riding the train

While almost everyone I know was resting on Christmas day after a hearty meal, I took a brief excursion from Kalamata to Zevgolatio. On the way back, I shot some pretty pictures and I plan to write more about them in future posts. For the time being, here is a preview of things to come:

I tried to keep an eye on the track and the surround scenery, but the bombardier railbus cockpit is pretty fascinating when compared to older pilot cabins

Just outside Kalamata, passing by the local yard/repair shop, a picture of three generations of Greek trains:

from right to left:
1) the older AK 640.02 De Dietrich which carried the bulk of passenger traffic in the Peloponnese for more than 30 years since the 50s.
2) IC Man 6502. In addition to the red-white coloring scheme, 6502 is covered with graffiti.
3) Railbus bombardier (no numbering visible) in the far left.

A little bit further two more veterans of the rail network:

Esslingen Ferrostahl slowly dying with 3 Mitsubishi locos used for switching and brief journeys locally.

More pictures and a detailed log will appear shortly.

I.

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new picasa for linux

The most recent word from the friendly folks at google is the new picasa 2.7 preview for linux. This version includes things that the 2.5 version did not. My preferred ones are: better raw support, better import capabilities and picasaweb album uploads.

Also noted this version (albeit a preview one) is available as a .deb file for those of us who live in the amd64 universe. In past postings from this blog, I had mentioned how I was able to install the .deb archive for the x86 architecture. It worked just fine, mind you, but it is always nice when a 64-bit version is available.

My two gripes so far are these:
1) I still cannot post an image and type some text in any other language but english (the usual ALT+SHIFT combo for switching between languages does not work).
2) Picasa will upload an image and create a post in blogger only

This is a recent image taken from inside my car. I have been following this IC train since it left Patras station and was waiting for it to cross the Papaflessa Street junction. In the back, you can see St. Andrew’s cathedral dome. Photo taken with a d80 with 18-135 mm lens.

I.

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shopping spree

I gave myself an early Christmas gift the other day. A bunch of new moleskines to keep me going. You can see them all in this picture:

Pictured, two large ruled notebooks (one with soft, the other with hard cover), a pocket, ruled notebook (soft cover),
a weekly planner (hard cover). Also, as a bonus I bought a Lamy studio fountain pen in black matte with an F nib.
I was missing this brand from my little collection, so I bought it as soon as I saw it—impulsive buyer, he he

More pictures of past (used and abused) and new moleskines and fountain pens in this album:

writing

It’s gonna be a very nice Christmas!

I.

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xlsx & openoffice

In an earlier posting, I wrote about a filter to open docx files in open office. Unfortunately, this is half the story in this world of digital, paperless office. What happens in the case of Excel 2007 files?

Now, these files have an extension of xlsx. Note the slight difference from the typical xls extension of previous versions of Excel. This may sound like a small deal, but it is not if you don’t have Office 2007. Mind you, office xp, 2k do not open naturally these files. More, Office 2007 saves files in xlsx (and docx), so easily the mistake can be made and presto, you have a file only you can open and read and share with yourself. Great move for productive minds!

I looked in the usual places for solutions.  There are a few online services, like zamzar and  docx2doc, which will convert your files from and to the new formats (if you want to share your files with someone else).   A  search for some perl scripts and modules gave quite a few answers  NOT for the lighthearted, though.

The method I tried and worked for me was to use the Excel 2003 viewer with the addition of the 2007 FileFormat Converter. Even this method is kludgy. You have to:

1. install the converter,
2. double click on the file (cannot open the file directly from within the viewer),
3. watch it being transformed),
4. select the sheet (or parts of it),
5. do the copy-paste trick to the earlier version of Excel or OpenOffice,
6. Optionally, curse and swear at the madness of Office 2007.

The funny part is that xlsx is supposedly an open format, an xml variation.  So, if you rename the file from filename.xlsx to filename.zip and unzip it, you will get a bunch of files and directories with encodings and content.  Then you can open the xml file that is at the heart of the xlsx spreadsheet and see its content.

Enjoy!

I.

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antivirus choices in open source

To put it simply: There are not as many virii (or viruses ?) in Linux as there are in the Windows world. Any Linux user knows this and can boast freely to his/her friend who’s stuck with Windows. Add to this the availability of clamav, an excellent, open source product for anti virus protection to complement the picture. Personally, I have been using clamav for several years now (both in my x86 and amd64 boxes, and I am a very happy customer).

Today, though, I read some even better news about the availability of another excellent product, AVG, for Linux boxes. The posting in howtoforge.com tells all about how to install AVG in Ubuntu if you want to try this product, too.

I am pleased to report that these excellent instructions apply to older Debian-based distributions, like my 6.06 LTS ubuntu. More, you can find instructions and installation files for other distributions if you follow the link. I can now say that the deb archive, although it is for 386 boxes can be installed in amd64 boxes, successfully with the magic of the –force-architecture flag, a nifty trick which I have written about in the past and have used it to install wine and acrobat on my amd64 box.

Download the avg file, install it, run it and have peace of mind (and a virus/worm/trojan -free) workstation.

I.

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