OpenOffice.org, commonly referred to as simply OpenOffice is a free and open-source office suite software developed by Oracle and Apache Software Foundation. It was first released in 2001 and has become one of the most widely used office suites available. In 2011, Oracle decided to discontinue support for Open Office; however, you can still use OpenOffice if you have an older version installed on your computer. The features offered by OpenOffice include a word processor, spreadsheet program, presentation manager, database management system and more.
How is OpenOffice free?
OpenOffice is free to download and use for both personal and commercial purposes. The source code for OpenOffice is available under the Apache 2.0 license, which means that anyone can modify and redistribute the software as long as they abide by the terms of the license.
This open-source model makes it easy for users around the world to access OpenOffice for free. OpenOffice not only provides free access to a full range of office software, but it also offers a variety of features and tools that make it an appealing option for many users. From its spreadsheet tools to its word processing capabilities, OpenOffice is packed with features that can help you get work done faster.
So how exactly does OpenOffice make money? Well, they don’t, at least not directly.
Since it’s an open-source, free software suite, it does not generate revenue from sales or subscription fees. However, OpenOffice has several partners that provide support services to users of the software, and this can be a source of income. Additionally, some companies may choose to donate money to OpenOffice to show their appreciation for its use of open-source code and its commitment to providing free office applications to all.
History of OpenOffice
OpenOffice.org began in October of 2001 as an open-source office suite created by Sun Microsystems. Initially, the project was a joint effort between Sun and other organisations such as Red Hat and IBM. The software quickly gained traction in the tech community due to its compatibility with Microsoft Office applications and its free price tag. During this time, Microsoft Office pretty much had a monopoly on office suites, so many users saw the rise of OpenOffice as a refreshing, free alternative.
By 2008, OpenOffice had become one of the most popular office suites available, boasting more than 100 million downloads worldwide. That same year, Oracle Corporation acquired Sun Microsystems, thus taking ownership of OpenOffice along with it.
In 2011, Oracle announced that it had decided to discontinue development on OpenOffice, instead focusing on its own suite of productivity applications called Oracle Cloud Office. In response to the decision of Oracle, a group of independent developers created LibreOffice, which is now maintained by The Document Foundation. To this day, LibreOffice remains one of the most popular open-source office suites available. It continues to provide users with a free alternative to Microsoft Office.
All in all, OpenOffice has come a long way since its inception in 2000 and is now an integral part of the open-source software landscape. It has been downloaded millions of times and continues to provide users around the world with a free office suite that rivals even the most expensive applications available.
Despite Oracle’s decision to discontinue the development of OpenOffice, it remains popular as the basic features of the office suites are still intact.
Important updates in the OpenOffice journey
OpenOffice.org has had a long and successful history, with numerous versions released since its initial launch in 2001. The first version, 1.0, was released in October of 2001 and featured many improvements over the then-standard StarOffice 5.2, including support for HTML editing, spreadsheet data analysis tools and better interoperability with other Microsoft Office applications such as Word, Excel and PowerPoint.
Version 2.0 was released in 2005 and added a number of new features, such as improved graphics capabilities, enhanced charting options, native PDF export and an integrated language dictionary system.
Version 3.0, the final official version of the office suite, was released in October 2008, which saw significant improvements to OpenOffice’s user interface along with an extended range of features and functionalities, such as support for the OpenDocument Format (ODF).
The tech behind OpenOffice
OpenOffice is powered by the open-source software suite Apache OpenOffice, which is based on the code of StarOffice. The Apache OpenOffice source code is available for anyone to view and use under its own open-source license. The strings of code comprise the software’s office components, including the word processor (Writer), spreadsheet (Calc), database management system (Base) and presentation software (Impress).
Later on, developers from around the world created an equation editor, vector graphics drawing program (Draw) and a charting application (Math). Additionally, Apache OpenOffice can be extended with plugins to provide additional features. These add-ons are available from third-party vendors on the Internet or using local disk installation methods.
OpenOffice also includes an open-source scripting language, which is called the OpenOffice Basic (OOoBASIC) macro processor. This allows users to extend the functionality of Apache OpenOffice with powerful macros, which can automate many common tasks such as data sorting or automated report generation.
OOoBASIC is based on Microsoft’s VisualBasic and provides a number of useful features, including its own set of commands, user-defined functions and subroutines, variables and other programming elements. Additionally, Apache OpenOffice supports plugins written in Java, making it easier to develop complex applications using this platform.
Overview of OpenOffice features
OpenOffice.org provides users with a comprehensive set of tools to create documents, spreadsheets, presentations, graphics and databases. These are the features you get access to when you download OpenOffice:
Word Processor
OpenOffice.org Writer has a straightforward interface for creating letters, reports and other documents. It includes advanced text formatting capabilities such as spell-checking and grammar-checking. The program also supports importing of Microsoft Word documents, HTML files or PDFs.
Spreadsheet Program
OpenOffice.org Calc helps you organise and analyse data with an array of formulas and functions. It allows for flexible data sorting and printing options, which make it useful for budgeting, forecasting or statistical analysis tasks.
Presentation Program
OpenOffice.org provides professional-looking presentations with its range of tools for creating slides, text and graphics. It can be used to create dynamic slide shows, which can include multiple animations and sound files.
Database Manager
OpenOffice.org Base lets you store, organise and manage data in an easy way with its built-in database system. It supports the most popular relational databases such as MySQL, Oracle and PostgreSQL.
Math Tool
OpenOffice.org provides a tool for creating and editing mathematical formulas akin to Microsoft Equation Editor. These formulas can be embedded within other OpenOffice.org documents, such as those created by Writer. This makes it easy to write complex equations and include them in your documents with ease.
Drawing Tool
OpenOffice.org Draw allows users to create basic vector drawings and diagrams quickly and easily through its intuitive drag-and-drop interface. It also includes support for importing bitmap images from other applications as well as exporting them in a variety of formats.
OpenOffice.org also offers support for a wide range of other features, such as multi-language translation, mail merger and web publishing. In addition, it includes its own scripting language (Star Basic), which can be used to extend the program’s capabilities or automate tasks. The program is available in over 50 languages and runs on Windows, Mac OS X and Linux operating systems.
Which file formats are supported in OpenOffice?
OpenOffice supports a variety of file formats, including the native “OpenDocument Format” (ODF), Microsoft Office formats such as DOCX, XLSX and PPTX, Rich Text Format (RTF), HTML documents, media files such as JPEG and PNG images, as well as Adobe PDF documents.
It can also open older versions of Microsoft Word and Excel files.
Additionally, OpenOffice is compatible with StarOffice 6/7/8 Viewer documents (.svi). Support for other file types can be added through extensions available in the Apache OpenOffice extension repository.
OpenOffice can also read and write documents from other common office software packages. Additionally, the program includes a macro recorder which helps automate tasks.
How does OpenOffice compare to Microsoft Office?
OpenOffice offers a number of features comparable to those found in Microsoft Office, including word processing, spreadsheet and presentation software. While OpenOffice does not offer the same level of integration with other services as Microsoft Office does, it is more than capable of the basic document and data management requirements. Additionally, OpenOffice’s lack of licensing fees makes it an attractive option for individuals and businesses alike who need a low-cost alternative to Microsoft Office.
In terms of compatibility, some documents created in OpenOffice may not be compatible with Microsoft Office, depending on the version used; however, there are also tools available to help bridge this gap if necessary.
Ultimately, which office suite you choose depends on your individual needs and preferences. OpenOffice provides a number of features at no cost, making it an attractive option for those who need basic office productivity tools without the extra cost. However, if you require more comprehensive integrations with other services or specific features that are not offered in OpenOffice, then Microsoft Office may be the better choice.
How does OpenOffice compare to Google Drive?
OpenOffice and Google Drive both offer reliable online document creation, editing and sharing options. However, when it comes to features, they differ slightly.
Google Drive offers a wide variety of tools, including real-time collaboration capabilities, commenting and file versioning. In addition, users can access their documents from anywhere with an internet connection – even offline.
OpenOffice has some basic features that are similar to those offered by Google Drive but lacks the robustness of the latter platform. It does not support real-time collaboration or automatic cloud backup services as Google Drive does.
Ultimately, while both OpenOffice and Google Drive offer similar functionality, Google Drive is the better choice for businesses that need to make sure their documents are safely stored and accessible from anywhere.
What was the market share of OpenOffice.org in its prime?
In its prime, OpenOffice.org had a market share of approximately 7-10% worldwide, but this has since dropped to around 0.7%. The software remains popular in some regions, including Russia, where it maintains a 5-10% market share and is estimated to be the second most used office suite after Microsoft Office. However, in other parts of the world, such as the United States and Europe, Microsoft Office continues to be dominant with a ~90% market share.
Despite the current low market share compared to Microsoft Office, OpenOffice continues to be an attractive choice for many users, given its free and open-source nature. It has been praised for its usability, compatibility with Microsoft Office formats, and the availability of a wide range of extensions to customise its functionality. OpenOffice is also available in more than a hundred languages, making it suitable for many global users.
What are the alternatives to OpenOffice?
As OpenOffice is no longer supported and updated regularly, many users are choosing to opt-in for alternatives. Office suites such as Libre Office or Apache OpenOffice offer similar features as what was available with OpenOffice. In addition, you can find several other office suite programs available for free or at a low cost from other third-party providers.
Whatever you choose to work with, make sure you have the necessary system requirements and compatible software before installing it. Finally, remember that since OpenOffice is no longer actively supported by Oracle, it may not be suitable for all users, depending on their needs.