OpenOffice Writer

1
OpenOffice Writer

• Basics for Distance Education Students

Paul McKimmy, Ed.D University of Hawaii-Manoa,
College of Education Distribute and re-use freely
with attribution
2
Download openoffice.org
3
In this Session, You will

• Open a MS Office file and save it in ODF
• Create an .odt file and send it as .doc
• Customize Oo toolbars to suit your preference
• Use the thesaurus tool to find synonyms
• Insert and manipulate a table
• Insert and manipulate a photo
• Demonstrate Reviewing tools
• (notes, insertions, deletions, accept / reject
  changes)

4
Activity Convert .doc to ODF

• Download this sample file
• Laulima ETEC 501 Resources writer.doc
• Open with Oo Writer or
• Open the writer.doc file
• File Open ltbrowse to the filegt
• Save as ODF
• File Save as Select type ODF Text
• Send as ODF
• File Send Email as Email as ODF Text

5
Activity Create .odt and Send

• Launch Oo Writer
• File New Text Document
• Type a 1-paragraph bio for yourself
• Experiment with formatting icons

6
Perfect Translation?

• No, but extremely close
• How Close? (Pauls experience)
• 98, minor formatting differences
• So?
• Recommend saving in archive-worthy format
• Ie. use ODF, convert as required to .doc

7
Toolbars

• View Toolbars Check any combination
• Each Toolbar
• Drop-down arrow (right side) chooses buttons
• Hover over (mouseover) buttons reveals label
• Drag left edge to relocate
• Docked position at top, bottom, sides
• Un-docked shows toolbar label, ie Formatting

8
Activity Add the following toolbars to Oo Writer
9

• Dock your toolbars
• Rearrange to suit your preferences
• Find a redundant button
• Ie. Bullets on/off on Formatting toolbar
• Remove it with Visible Buttons (down arrow)

10
Great Features

• Most important button Undo!
• Format paintbrush
• Export directly as PDF
• Footnotes (or Endnotes) and anchors
• Insert Footnote
• Numbering options Tools Footnotes

11
Thesaurus

• Tools Language Thesaurus, or
• CTRLF7, or
• Activity Try it on the word design
• Select a word
• Start the thesaurus
• Select a meaning
• Select a synonym
• Replace the word

12
Tables

• Insert Table edit options OK, or
• Table icon click and drag, row/column s
• Icons on Table Toolbar activate
• Formatting - selected cells only
• Activity Experiment with these
• Insert Row, Insert Column
• Delete Row, Delete Column
• Borders (and line style, line color)
• Background Color

13
Photos

• Download this sample file
• Laulima ETEC 501 Resources cats.jpg
• Insert Picture From file (select sample), or
• Drawing toolbar From File icon
• Click on photo for resizing handles
• Hold SHIFT key to maintain proportions

14

• Double click on the photo for option tabs
• Crop tab (or Format Picture Crop tab)
• Adjust settings, watch the sample photo
• Picture tab
• Flip Horizontal or Vertical
• Graphics Mode (dropdown selection)
• BW, Greyscale, Watermark
• Filter icon (wand)
• Sharpen, smooth, various effects

15
Reviewing Tools

• Appear in MS Office reviewing tools
• Insert Note
• Anchored following selection
• Edit Changes
• Record (toggle) - shows additions, deletions
• Show (toggle) changes marked vs. changes
  applied
• Protect Records disallows others changes
  without recording them
• Password protection
• Accept or Reject walk thru, approve/deny each
• Merge Versions
• Use to combine others revisions with your
  original
• Follow with Edit Changes Accept or Reject

16
Implications for Teachers?

• Common denominator for entire classes
• MS Office XP vs 2003 vs 2007 vs 2008, etc.
• No purchases required
• Re-distribution allowed
• Zero cost for school implementation
• Other