The daily blah blah

With the new release of the OpenOffice.org free application suite, the use of extensions enhancing the capabilities of the suite is easier than ever.

As a matter of fact, the use of extensions is almost required in version 3.0 as the dictionaries and other linguistic aspects of the suite are handled via extensions. By default, you will go under the Tools menu, select the Extension manager and you will see a few (locked) extensions pre-installed.

openoffice extension manager

The english, french and spanish language files are pre-installed and apparently locked in the version I downloaded from the Openoffice.org servers (I assume these files are locked in other flavours of openoffice). I like to fiddle with my installation so I downloaded a series of tools/extensions. Here they are with few bits of information about each one:

1. Pagination. This extension adds a simple “insert page number” menu under Insert and facilitates the application of page numbers, styles etc. Perhaps its usefulness lies with its simplicity.

2. PDF Import. This extension allows users to import pdf files in openoffice Draw and complete simple editing (as images). Nothing fancy, but if you want to simple clean up a couple of things (typos etc) and sources are not available, this extension may do the trick.

3. Template Pack by Sun. This is an English language version, although there are packages for other languages, including french, italian etc. It allows for the creation of specialized and professionally looking files, documents, letters, presentations etc.

4. Report Builder also by Sun. This extension provides tools for customized reports drawn from the openoffice.org database files.

5. Writer tools. This extension creates a separate Writer’s Tools top-level menu (next to the native Tools menu) and offers various tools and tips for writers using OpenOffice.org’s writer. Very nifty!!!

6. Writer to LaTeX. This extension takes a writer (odt) file and transforms it into the proper LaTeX file to be typeset by the finest typesetting system available (LaTeX of course).

It also offers an additional extension to translate the writer file to xHTML files.

Finally, the last extension of the list is the Greek hyphenation/thesaurus/spelling dictionary file (it’s all Greek to you, I know ).

What I also like is the update button which allows for periodic checkups and updates for each and every extension. Some extensions require you to scroll through their license agreement, but that’s acceptable, I guess.

Do you have any extensions that you use and you recommend? Post a comment

I.

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By now, most of the world knows that the new version of Openoffice.org, the free office application suite, is out.

Earlier, servers at openoffice.org were busy serving the various choices for win, linux, and Mac OS X (and at some point, they were so slow with incoming traffic). This is the first openoffice version which runs natively in Mac OS X. OpenOffice starts with a splash screen and then a central menu appears which allows the user to select from a variety of tasks.

openoffice version 3 start screen

In addition, it offers a variety of new goodies,
but I am going to mention only the following two:

First, it allows the import (natively) of .docx files, as well as .xlsx and .pptx files. These are the files in Microsoft’s new ooxml format that apparently even MS will no longer support I have written extensively in the past about the docx saga and I have noted that the best choice maybe the odf converter (at version 1.1.7 as of this moment). However, with the native import filters, this extension is no longer functional and the system will respond with error messages if you try to install it. However, the functionality is there and you can open the docx/xlsx/pptx files, although you cannot save them in this format, too. Maybe that’s a nice (and not-so-intrusive) way of saying to your co-workers who use MS Office 2007 to use a format that the majority of users can also apply.

Second, it offers a much easier way to deal with multiple language dictionaries and spelling support. In previous versions (notably in versions 2.x), users had to install dictionaries via some semi-automatic scripts or manually by tweaking the dictionary.lst file and adding the appropriate hyphenation, spelling and thesaurus files. Now, things happen differently.

All we have to do is select the extensions manager and install the proper files which are conveniently located at the extensions server. By default, english language files and additional files are pre-installed, but you can add your choice of languages. A close-and-open-again trick is needed in order to apply the proper files.

extensions in openoffice

While you are at it, you may also want to give a few more extensions a try. Download the beta pdf import tool which allows partial pdf file editing. And of course, Dmitri’s writer tools, a wonder set of choices which creates a special “writer tools” menu next to the default tools menu in openoffice.

Openoffice 3 is a great improvement and definitely worth trying for serious work. What is your reaction and opinion regarding this new release? Post a comment and digg it if you like it.

I.

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I have seen an increase in spam comments recently that is almost unprecedented. I have been inundated by “xqwefasd sdfiewprsadf dafasfd” one-line comments which appear in specific posts in this blog (basically, the most popular posts). Although akismet does an outstanding job of killing these comments, some do make it through and appear, even temporarily, as comments before I zap them.

Do you know of any good antispam method in addition to the akismet filter? Please let me know.

I.

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Testing wordpress for iPhone. Blogging on the go!!! Update #1:

With post-editing capabilities, too.

Update #2 (using the macbook, not the iphone): Nice, but still you need some extra post-processing in order to add more stuff in any posting, such as related articles, more than the occasional photo etc.  Otherwise, a solid product.

I.

On August 22nd, the iphone made it to this corner of the world officially (that would be Greece). Vodafone Hellas is the official telecom carrier for Greece offering a variety of programs especially for the iphone. Following the news about its relase in other countries, vodafone had set up a notification scheme to let us know of the availability of the handset, pricing, and plans. My problem: I was not a vodafone customer at the time but did want to keep the number from the previous phone carrier. Although, we did not experience the waiting lines and the hour-long queues for getting and activating the iphone, there was quite a feeling of excitement about the new device. I did my homework and checked the available plans, so the only question was the transfer of the old phone number.

“Portability, sir”, the very helpful customer rep told me. You can ask to have the number transfered to the vodafone system. Which I did (actually, vodafone did it on my behalf). So, after 20 minutes or so, I had a brand new 16GB black iphone with a new (inactive) SIM card. I was told that the SIM would be activated on or about sep 11 (9/11). I was also told that it would not be wise to initiate and activate the iphone with another phone carrier SIM card, although others told me it was quite safe to do so. As you can imagine, I opted for … the non safe route. The itunes activation was done in no time, after which I had a fully (sort of) functioning iphone working through another carrier (and of course without the 3G capability, since I had no such plan with the previous carrier).

iphone 16G with box

Because several posts had mentioned that the iphone battery life is horrible (especially in 3G or wifi mode), I followed the instructions by Guy Kawasaki and fine tuned the iphone settings hoping to improve its battery life. Basically, I deactivated location services, 3G, wifi (although I turn on wifi only when I needed it).

First impressions even without the “official carrier”:
1. Elegant mobile. Thin even if little “square”, specifically if you do not use the white earphones.
2. If you don’t like the tangled white earphones, the iphone will work fine with any bluetooth earphone (I paired it with a Samsung WEP200 set and worked just fine).
3. It does not offer a way to send a text message in Greek, that’s a major letdown, although i can read just fine incoming text messages. Unfortunately, the 2.1 update did not fix this and we still cannot type in Greek.
4. The same limitation applies to the internal phone list. “Contacts” imported my older addressbook but will not let me add Greek names. All of my contacts were imported in the right alphabetical order but were classified under the # symbol (in bulk).
5. Very soft and functional touch screen. A BEAUTY.
6. Excellent wifi locator. I may say that it is even better than my macbook’s airport.
7. I like the fact that I can connect to the app store directly through wifi and don’t have to go through a mac or pc and itunes.
8. The app store and its wide range of applications. Several diamonds for free.
9. It is a fabulous ipod.
10. Safari (no need to explain)

The vodafone switch
On the day that vodafone told me that the transfer would occur, I deactivated my iphone, ejected the old SIM card, inserted the new SIM card, switched it on and voila!!! Vodafone GR with 3G.

I was very happily surprised with google maps. Although I have to input Greek addresses using the english keyboard, I get absolutely accurate instructions (I compared them with my mio pda and destinator gps).

Next big hurdle, the 2.1 firmware update. Would there be a problem since this device changed carriers? Not a chance! The update worked like a charm and I also downloaded a couple of gtd, note-taking apps not to mention othello, dactyl, tap tap etc.

Yes, the iphone has limitations and it’s a disappointment that there is no Greek input, no video call, or mms. But, I don’t really care for either video calls or mms. It does what I want it to do and that’s good for me!!!

I.

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This week saw the release of Google chrome, the new browser developed at Google labs. Touted as fast (faster than other browsers), convenient etc, the browser has already staked out a sizable chunk of the web market. As for this corner of cyberspace (and cyber market), here are the stats as reported from statcounter.com

browses share for this blog

It is obvious that firefox has been the browser of choice for viewers of this blog. As a matter of fact, the numbers may not portray an accurate picture of the browser share since they break down browser percentages by release version. Still,firefox rules supreme across operating systems. Also note, the tiny percentage of k-meleon browser share Nice to know all the alternatives out there.

What kind of browsers do you use when reading this blog? Leave a comment and let me know

I.

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Image via Wikipedia

From the pages of this blog I have written about how to open a docx (office 2007) file in openoffice. This happens frequently with a client, a customer, a colleague who just updated (or was forced to update) to the newest version of Microsoft’s Office suite. And many readers have commented that often they received (as have I) docx files as attachments and don’t know what to do with them.

(Begin diversion)
I recently received such a file, an invitation to join a social club. I returned it with a polite note asking to receive it in doc, pdf or txt.
(End diversion)

But, what happens if someone (you, perhaps) started sending odf files to all those MS Office users? How, could the recipient(s) of such a file work with it, open it, edit it and then save it back as odf?

There are many possibilities, all free (isn’t it funny that you can work in an expensive, proprietary world with free software?):

1. The SUN ODF plugin for Office. This is a SUN product which allows users of Office (versions 2000, XP, 2003, 2007 SP1) to read, edit and save an odf file.
2. The Open XML/Odf Converter for Office. This is a sourceforge project with similar capabilities to the previous plugin. A command-line translator is also available for batch processing jobs.
3. Microsoft Corp. According to this press release, the upcoming SP2 for Office 2007 will offer the ability to work with many additional formats including odf.
4. OpenOffice.org. Educate the person who received the file that there is a free alternative to the MS Office way that does what MS Office and more…

If you know of additional methods of working or educating people who receive odf file in an Office environment, please let me know. What has your experience been in this area?

I.
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After a long period of inactivity, we are back in force with some changes, cosmetic and content-related ones.

First, a new look for this blog.  The 3-column digg-like seems better than the more austere two-column (one sidebar) contempt used before.  The picture above is from the town of Kalamata and was taken in late April 2008.

Second, there is an addition to the permanent pages of this blog.  Using the tab labeled docx/xlsx above you can get a quick link to previous posts about how to deal with docx/xlsx files in openoffice.org or earlier versions of MS Office.

Third, a generous re-organization of the content presentation in the hopes of making this blog more accessible and easier to navigate.

Please let me know what else you’d like to see.

I.

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A while ago, blackcover started a series of posts in order to find the best alternative to our favorite moleskine cahier, journal, notebook.

The site has moved to a new domain, although links remain in place. Because of this, and because Rhodia has come with a new notebook, they (blackcover) run a contest to win the Rhodia product.  More details at the blackcover site.

I.

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Tomorrow Tuesday June 17th, the 3rd version of Firefox will be available to the web.  Firefox, the browser that was reborn from the ashes of Netscape and came to occupy a significant portion of market share (there is no doubt that Internet Explorer has the largest share) has reached a major milestone.

The 3rd edition, which had been circulating in beta and release candidate versions for some time now, is better than all previous versions and packs many extras.  The Mozilla Foundation, which is responsible for Firefox, has called a worldwide collective effort to download Firefox in record volumes so that it can achieve Guinness book of records status. What must we do? What will I do at least?  Simply, I will go to the site of Firefox and get the latest version of Firefox for all the platforms I use.

I.

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