Converting to and From Other Applications

You can make OpenOffice.org files into Microsoft files and vice versa, as outlined in the following procedures.

Specifying Settings for Opening Other Word Processing Documents

Formatting definitions are not always the same in all word processing programs. Define here for example, if you want your Writer documents to be compatible with the MS Word application. The settings defined in this are only valid for the current document and can only be defined separately for each document. These checkboxes are therefore, only active if a text document has been opened.

1. Choose Tools > Options > Text Document > General, as shown in Figure 5-64.

   Figure 5-64. Specifying how to interpret other text documents

   

2. Add spacing between paragraphs and tables in the current document. In Writer paragraph spacing is defined differently than in Microsoft Word documents.

   If between two paragraphs you have defined spacing above and below each paragraph, the spacing is added in MS Word documents while Writer uses only the larger of the two spaces.

   If the spacing between paragraphs and between tables are to be added in Writer, then mark the field.

   • Add paragraph and table spacing to start of pages If this box is checked, the paragraph spacing to the top will also be effective at the beginning of a page or column if the paragraph is positioned on the first page of the document. The same applies for a page break.

     If you import a Microsoft Word document, the spaces are automatically added during the conversion.

   • Aligning tab positions If this field is marked, centered and right-aligned paragraphs containing tabs are formatted as a whole in the center or aligned to the right. If this field is not marked , only the text to the right of the last tab, for example, is aligned to the right, while the text to the left remains where it is.

Converting Microsoft Office and StarOffice 5.2 Documents

Note

You can't import password protected MS Office files. Microsoft does not specify how they protect their files, so converting or reading the files isn't possible. Any protected MS files you attempt to import just aren't imported.

The easiest way to convert a single Microsoft Word, Excel, or PowerPoint document to OpenOffice.org format is simply to open it and save it as a Writer, Calc, or Impress document. You can even get tricky and, for example, open a Word 97 document in Writer and save it as a Word XP document.

While the program can also open documents created in many other applications, it has an automated tool called the AutoPilot for converting Microsoft Word, Excel, and PowerPoint documents and templates to OpenOffice.org documents and templates. One of the most powerful AutoPilot features is that it can convert entire folders of Microsoft Office documents and templates to OpenOffice.org documents and templates in one shot.

The batch converter leaves your Microsoft documents intact, creating converted copies.

Note

After converting Microsoft Office documents, you'll see one of the many delights of switching from Microsoftplummeting file sizes.

1. Select File > AutoPilot > Document Converter. Figure 5-65 appears.

   Figure 5-65. Document Converter, first window

   

2. Select Microsoft files to convert, then the types of Microsoft files.

3. Click Next. Figure 5-66 appears.

   Figure 5-66. Document Converter, second window

   

4. Choose to convert templates, documents, or both, then specify the source and destination directories, as shown in Figure 5-66.

5. Click Next. You'll get an additional window like the one in Figure 5-66 for every type of document you chose to convert in Figure 5-65. If you're converting Word, PowerPoint, and Excel files, you'll get two more windows prompting you for conversion settings.

6. A confirmation window like the one shown in Figure 5-67 will appear.

   Figure 5-67. Final window of the Microsoft Office Import AutoPilot

   

7. Click Convert to convert the files. Messages will appear in the Document Converter window, monitoring the conversion process. Click Finished when the process is done to close the window.

Automatically Saving in StarOffice 5.2 or Microsoft Office Formats

If you work with others who need documents in StarOffice 5.2 or Microsoft Office formats, you can always just choose File > Save As and save in that format. However, if you do this a lot, it's easier to make the default format the one you need anyway.

Choose Tools > Options > Load/Save > General, as shown in Figure 5-68.

Figure 5-68. Setting default save format for each type of document