As promised. There was a time when I was a true OpenOffice.org fanatic. I even helped actively promoting it by redesigning the homepage . Although I'm still a fan of opensource and open document
storage which ideally should lead to a world in which anyone can use
open software and exchange documents freely without any barriers. Still, I'm no longer typing this in opensource software. I'm typing this in Google -how evil- Docs (update may 2017: Google Docs has been replaced by Apple's notes and iAWriter / Notational Velocity, the latter being markdown based).
It's not that I'm a big fan of Google Docs, but it makes a difference that OpenOffice.org, and other Office systems for that matter, aren't able to make. Not stand alone, nor in a usable way in combination with a proper operating system:
- Relieving me from worrying about storage
- Boot insanely fast (…
OpenOffice.org pretty much
offers you everything you need in an office suite. And much more.
Recently I needed to print many addresses. Not personal addresses, but a
database of addresses. It was my first time using the database
application Base (offered as an alternative to Access), and a first time
printing labels. It was not easy, but these steps should help at least
me (if there will be a next time) to get me started immediately, instead
of spending hours frustrating myself with some of the awkward design
decisions made by the OpenOffice.org folks.Prerequisites:a filled OpenOffice.org database (.odb) of data you want to be
printed on the labels.sheets with labels (i used no name labels, its doable to adjust the
label configuration for any specific type of label)OpenOffice.org 3.1 (3.1 may not be neccessary, but that's the one I
used)So what are the required steps?Launch OpenOffice.org WriterMake sure OpenOffice.org Writer knows about this database, by
reg…
Sometimes you need an excuse for not doing the work you should be
working on. I should be working fulltime+ on my graduation project,
but I can't, my Excuse is the new OpenOffice.org website
I joined the guys at the dev@website.openoffice.org
mailinglist (well, never left them really, just started to reply again),
and it was clear that there was work to be done. The previous website,
which I had designed, was getting outdated. And not only
that… Although the previous site was a necessary step to make, it has never
been a great step. It was the result of endless debates between 'dev'ers'
and people, like me, who wanted to turn it more into a promotion
website. Anyhow, compromises never lead to great design… so it was
time for a new one. Also I never think of myself as a graphic designer, Ivan Miskovic is a much better graphic designer than I am. For now I'll leave you with the original posting at OOo news (always good for
your ego, isn't it?):
Led by M…