Free Office Software article discussion

Olinaemma

I can't find the best free office software on moneysaveingexpert.com. But the Kingsoft Office Suite free is really the best free office software.
Maybe we should Vs the Kingsoft Office and Open office.

fwor

I wouldn't consider using word processing software from a HK-based company that uses the following "English" on the "Company" section of their website:

"Kingsoft Office Corporation future will be aimed at breaking into all over the world". You don't have to look hard to find other similar examples.

If given the choice, I'd stick with LibreOffice/OpenOffice.

Jake'sGran

Olinaemma wrote: »

I can't find the best free office software on moneysaveingexpert.com. But the Kingsoft Office Suite free is really the best free office software.
Maybe we should Vs the Kingsoft Office and Open office.

I have just downloaded FreeOffice Wordpad, but there is so much on it that I do not know where to start. All I want is Word or something similar, which I don't have. I want to write letters to business people or friends and be able to use tabs, margins, spellcheck etc and at the same time get rid of the words that are at the top and bottom of the page when I use Notepad i.e. "Untitled" and "Page 1 etc" I know this is caused by the printer software. When I was wading through Open Office I did not know how to put a suitable example on the page ready for typing. Any help would be very much appreciated as I am in correspondence with the Financial Ombudsman and want my letters to look professional. If I bought WORD it would cost £33 and MS Office a whole lot more.

orrery

Jake'sGran wrote: »

I want to write letters to business people or friends and be able to use tabs, margins, spellcheck etc

Download either Open Office or Libre Office - the two are essentially the same. If you want 'Word' then 'Writer' in these products is extremely similar. I use both - Microsoft Office at work and Libre Office at home and can switch between the two easily. Open or Libre Office can even read and write the same file formats as Word.

The only reason for needing Microsoft Office or Word is if you need to convert documents with complicated formatting and know that they look exactly the same.

fwor

Jake'sGran wrote: »

When I was wading through Open Office I did not know how to put a suitable example on the page ready for typing.

Take a look through the Open Office template website:

http://templates.services.openoffice.org/

Loads of example letters and things that you can tweak to your own needs without having to start from scratch - and all free.

tubbee2

Hi

Does anyone know how to convert a time plan spreadsheet into a project format in excel? Alternatively has anyone used openproj?

I have used microsoft project in the past but resent paying for it again as I found it very unwieldy and expensive and I already have the data in a spreadsheet I just need to send it to colleagues in an 'accepted' project timeline basis (not excel apparently) I have some very Management colleagues!:D

Many thanks
tb

orrery

tubbee2 wrote: »

Hi
Does anyone know how to convert a time plan spreadsheet into a project format in excel?...

I can't specifically answer the questions you've asked, but GanttProject appears useful at a basic level and has import and export facilities.

http://sourceforge.net/projects/ganttproject/

"GanttProject is a project scheduling application written in Java and featuring gantt chart, resource management, calendaring, import/export (MS Project, HTML, PDF, spreadsheets)."

More recent version here:
http://www.ganttproject.biz/download

Somoto

I recently downloaded some software from a site called FilesFrog.com, it seems like a new site, but it had quick downloads.

rooo

In addition to PagePlus mentioned, Serif also do free versions of their other 6 titles too. I've used a few, and although some of the features are limited, they were quite advanced functions that I didn't really need to use. For 95% of people they'll do what they need.

artywriter67

I have Microsoft Office 2010 professional on my main PC, but only the starter package on my laptop so cannot share between both when working on my writing.
As I am officially retired and not particularly technically savvy, which free word programme would you recommend I download so I can switch between both PC and laptop, please? I have Microsoft 7 home edition on both.