Open office tech help please

by 10 replies
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Hi
I've just bought some software which produces various reports and outputs to word docs and excel sheets.
I do not have ms office on my laptop but have been using open office. As a result the s/w isn't working properly. Is there a simple way I can make the software think open office is MS Office?
Hope this makes sense and thanks if you have any pointers.
all the best,
paul
#programming #office #open #tech
  • Unless there's some whacky MSOffice specific code in the docs that your program is creating, you should just be able to open OpenOffice, and click OPEN FILE, and then there should be a drop down box that says something like FILE TYPE, and pick .doc or .xls, then go find your file and open it.

    OpenOffice is like 99% compatible with MS Office docs.... maybe not the new Office 2007 format (.docx), but I can't imagine your software is outputting that format.... usually people code down to MS Office 2003 doc standards (.doc)
  • Have you tried uninstalling OpenOffice, loading the new software, then reloading OO? You could also try installing a trial version of Office.
  • Hi Paul,

    Sure, you need to tell Windows to associate OO with doc and xls files.

    I'm using XP, the specifics might be a bit different on other versions of Windows.

    Start menu, Run, Explorer, or Windows key-E, to get the Windows Explorer.
    In that new window that just opened:
    Tools menu, Folder Options, File Types.
    Wait a moment for the list to fill up.
    Scroll down to DOC in alphabetical order.
    In the bottom part of the window, "Details for DOC extension/Opens with:", click Change.
    When the list of programs open, click Browse.
    Browse to c:\program files\OpenOffice\program\and double click swriter.com, then click OK.
    "Opens with" should now show swriter.
    Now go through the alphabetical list to XLS, and this time you'll click scalc instead of swriter.

    Now, whenever you double click on a doc file, Windows will use Open Office Writer to load it, and xls files will be loaded with Open Office Calc.

    Regards,
    Allen
    • [ 1 ] Thanks
    • [3] replies

    • Thanks everyone for their replies.
      Yes it is software that writes to word. I can open the files with org but not create them from the software.
      I therefore think I need to make the program think open office is word ( but I'm no techie). So Allen I'll give your method a try.
      Thanks again to you all.
      all the best, Paul
    • Oh man.

      Everyone LOVES to complain about VISTA...

      but setting default programs in VISTA is SOOOOOO easy compared to this.

      And...you can see ALL of the filetypes that a program could open by default, and selectively choose them.

      It's been a while since I've been on XP.

      Cheers!

      Angie Rammer
      Word Maven and sometime techie
    • Have you tried uninstalling OpenOffice, loading the new software, then reloading OO? if you don't try it then try. I think it will work.Best of luck
  • Angie, could you please write up the equivalent steps for people using Vista?

    Regards,
    Allen
    • [1] reply
    • Angie.
      that would be really useful
      Thanks again,
      Paul
  • The equivalent in Vista is the Default Programs utility found in the Control Panel:
    1. Click Start, then click Control Panel
    2. Click the Default Programs icon
    3. Choose "Associate a file type or protocol with a program"
    4. The Set Associations window will open and will build a list of the current associations
    5. Scroll down and select .doc
    6. Click the Change Program button
    7. Select Swriter.exe
    8. Repeat the process for .xls files.

    This should associate .doc and .xls files with Open Office.

    Bill
    • [1] reply
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    Open office tech help please

    Hi I've just bought some software which produces various reports and outputs to word docs and excel sheets. I do not have ms office on my laptop but have been using open office. As a result the s/w isn't working properly. Is there a simple way I can make the software think open office is MS Office?