Microsoft Office to OpenOffice Migration Guide
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Saving files

Default file format

OpenOffice.org saves files in the OpenDocument format by default unless told otherwise. This default can be changed, for example if you always want to save as Microsoft Office files. To change the default file formats:

Go to Tools > Options > Load/Save > General. (See Figure 4.)

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In the Standard File Format section of this page, choose a document type (for example, “Text document”) and a file format from the Always save as list.

Repeat for each document type as necessary.

Click OK to save your changes.

Notes

If the option “Warn when not saving in OpenDocument or default format” is checked on the Options – Load/Save – General dialog (Figure 4), a warning dialog about potential loss of formatting may be displayed. In most cases, no loss of formatting will occur, so you may find this warning annoying and choose to disable it.

The Java Runtime Environment is required to use the mobile device filters for AportisDoc (Palm), Pocket Word and Pocket Excel.

Export to PDF and XHTML

Each application has the ability to directly export to PDF (Portable Document Format). This industry-standard format for universal file compression and viewing is ideal for sending the file to anyone else to view using Acrobat Reader or any other PDF display program on any operating system.

You can export directly to PDF using the button on the toolbar next to the Printer icon, or by choosing File > Export as PDF, which allows you to select some detailed options.

To export as XHTML, use File > Export and for File format choose XHTML In the dropdown box.

Saving files in other formats

To save files in different formats, use File > Save As and select a format from the File Type dropdown box (Figure 2).

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Writer can save to these file formats

In addition to its native formats, Writer can save in these formats:

OpenOffice.org Writer 1.x (.sxw, .stw)

Microsoft Word 97/2000/XP (.doc)

Microsoft Word 95 (.doc)

Microsoft Word 6.0 (.doc)

Microsoft Word 2003 XML (.xml)

Microsoft Pocket Word (.psw)

DocBook (.xml)

Aportis Doc (Palm) (.pdb)

Rich Text Format (.rtf)

StarWriter 5.0 (.sdw)

StarWriter Template (.vor)

StarWriter 4.0 (.sdw)

StarWriter 4.0 Template (.vor)

StarWriter 3.0 (.sdw)

StarWriter Template 3.0 (.vor)

Text (.txt)

Text Encoded (.txt)

HTML (.html; .htm)

Note

The .rtf format is commonly used for transferring text files between applications, but you are likely to experience loss of formatting and images when the file is opened by Microsoft Office. The best way to pass a file in Writer to a Microsoft Word user is to save it as Microsoft Word 97/2000/XP (.doc).

Calc can save to these file formats

In addition to its native formats, Calc can save in these formats:

OpenOffice.org Calc 1.x (.sxc, .stc)

Microsoft Excel 97/2000/XP (.xls; .xlw)

Microsoft Excel 97/2000/XP Template (.xlt)

Microsoft Excel 95 (.xls; .xlw)

Microsoft Pocket Excel (.pxl)

Microsoft Excel 2003 XML (.xml)

Data Interchange Format (.dif)

dBase (.dbf)

SYLK (.slk)

Text CSV (.csv; .txt)

StarCalc formats (.sdc, .vor)

HTM and HTML files

Impress can save to these file formats

In addition to its native formats, Impress can save in these formats:

Microsoft PowerPoint 97/2000/XP (.ppt; .pps)

Microsoft PowerPoint 97/2000/XP Template (.pot)

StarDraw, StarImpress (.sda, .sdd, .vor)

Impress can also export to MacroMedia Flash (.swf) and any of the graphics formats as listed below for Draw.

Draw can save to these file formats

Draw can only save in its native and StarDraw formats, but it can export to:

BMP

EMF

EPS

GIF

JPEG

MET

PBM

PCT

PGM

PNG

PPM

RAS

SVG

SVM

TIFF

WMF

XPM

The HTML writer can save in these formats

HTML Document (.html; .htm)

OpenOffice.org 1.0 HTML Template (.stw)

OpenOffice.org 2.0 HTML Template (.oth)

StarWriter/Web 5.0 and 4.0 (.vor)

Text (OpenOffice.org Writer/Web) (.txt)

Text Encoded (OpenOffice.org Writer/Web) (.txt)

Microsoft Office to OpenOffice Migration Guide

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