- installation:
cd /usr/local
tar -xvf StarOffice5.2.tgz
Substitute the filename "StarOffice5.2.tgz" with the name of the file you downloaded.
As root, run the setup program for a "local server" with the DOS-style /net switch:
cd /usr/local/OpenOffice641
./setup /net
[Without the "/net" or "-net" switch, OpenOffice will perform a personal installation (into your home directory!), and then only one user will be able to run it, plus your home directory will be clogged.]
After this "network" installation, each user has to perform her own installation to put some personal files into their "home" directories. This is done by running (as a user, without the /net switch):
cd /usr/local/OpenOffice641
./setup
To run any of the OpenOffice component from the command line (in X terminal), I could use:
ooffice& (word processor)
oowriter& (same as above)
oocalc& (spreadsheet)
oodraw& (vector drawing program)
ooimpress& (presentation program similar to MS PowerPoint)
oosetup& (installation program)
oopadmin& (printer administration utility)
oomath& (equation editor, it is not typical to run it stand-alone)
Hints. ooofice comes with a extensive, contex-sensitve help (press <F1>). Here, we are going to collect some quick reference on using oowriter (just started Nov.2002).
Consider using "styles" for formatting documents. Unless you are writing a very simple document, avoid "physical formatting". Press <F11> for a full style list. Inspect the drop box on the tool-bar (left-hand side) for a list of paragraph styles used in the current document.
The styles are divided into the following groups:
Character styles (applies to a letter or a group of letters)
Paragraph styles (a paragraph extends from <Enter> to <Enter>)
Frame styles (a frame a box containing text, graph, picture, etc.)
Page styles
Numbering styles (for bullet and numbered lists)
The most important are the paragraph styles. I use them to format chapter headings, captions, table headings, etc. To apply a style to a paragraph, I place the cursor in the paragraph to be modified, and then double-click on the name of the style in the "Stylelist". To modify a style (or create a new one), I use the menu "Format"-"Style-"Catalog".
For numbered chapter headings, I set the numbering system under the menu "Tools"-"Outline Numbering".
To insert a caption (for a table, figure, etc.), I position the cursor over the table (figure, etc) and use the menu "Insert"-"Caption". I can modify the caption numbering level with the button "Options" in the dialog box. It can also be modified later in the dialog box which appears when I click on the caption number.
To update all the fields (numbers for heading, captions, table of contents, etc.), I press <Ctrl>a and then <F9>. This select the entire document and then updates the fields. Alternatively, I can use the menu "Tools"-"Update"-"Update All".
To display an outline of the document, I press <F5>.
To modify a default document template, make a "default" document and save it as "Default" ("File"-"Templates"-"Save").
To spell-as-you-type, enable it under menu "Tools"-SpellCheck"-"AutoSpellCheck". To spellcheck of a word, position a cursor over it and press <F7>.
For "type-ahead" autocompletion, I may press <Enter> to accept the selection when it appears.
Cells in tables can be split. (If you are coming from MS Word, you can now start using split cells again.)
Pressing <F2> produces a "formula bar". In tables, you can calculate results based on the numbers in other cells. The status bar shows the cell references. Outside of tables, one can use the formula bar to make simple "on-the-spot" calculations.
You can insert a
