tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-26397133463957188242024-03-13T23:10:10.838-07:00OfficeBuzzCor & OfficeBuzzhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13875945109269396639noreply@blogger.comBlogger55125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2639713346395718824.post-87100206996752219942018-10-05T07:38:00.000-07:002018-10-05T08:14:58.638-07:00Fruit basketYears and years ago I was visiting the region of Lyon - of course by bike. At one morning I entered a little village early and visited the local market to get me some nice fruit and vegs.
One of the stalls was a bit strange. The man had really wide baskets, but with only a little bit of fruit in them. I could think of some boites hidden at another place for more, but wondered why that was so.
<br><br>So I asked the man just if he liked to show his fruits with so much space.
The man friendly explained to me that is was a matter of education. For him, when you see an abundance of fruits, it may seem that it's all so easy, comes at little cost. But for the grower that was not at all the case. He summed to me all things he had to spend time and money on before he could go to market with the results of his hard work, with selling fruit. Items as keeping the paths in good state, preparing compost and covering soil with it, pruning trees, repairing the roof of the grange, buying clothes to work in, getting help in picking, petrol and repair for the machines, and so on.
<br><br>For me, the man concluded, all that are costs I have to make on the fruit. So if you see a basket filled to top with fruit, don't be misled and remember how much has to be done before it can be presented..
<br>Happily I bought me a bunch of fresh figs. But from then on, for me a market never has been the same.
Cor & OfficeBuzzhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13875945109269396639noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2639713346395718824.post-70438234500381806252017-08-25T08:25:00.000-07:002017-08-25T08:25:27.715-07:00LibreOffice at Tilburg University Orientation ProgramAt the beginning of the new year, the Tilburg University organizes the Tilburg Orientation Program (TOP) presenting all kind of interesting and cool stuff for the new students.
So at August 22, a nice and sunny day, there was a huge event in a park with lots of plays and booths and music and beer. And: three people from the Dutch LibreOffice team were there!
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-XuGFzfJU75U/WZ7t7tYSoCI/AAAAAAAAAT8/AoFhOpAgyMwHR29cl4PANbqBy693UeX5wCLcBGAs/s1600/20170822_TOP_Tilburg_LibreOfficeBooth_04_sml.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-XuGFzfJU75U/WZ7t7tYSoCI/AAAAAAAAAT8/AoFhOpAgyMwHR29cl4PANbqBy693UeX5wCLcBGAs/s320/20170822_TOP_Tilburg_LibreOfficeBooth_04_sml.jpg" width="320" height="240" data-original-width="800" data-original-height="600" /></a></div>
We had a nice booth and prepared both flyers and small cards. Especially the cards were handsome to reach out to people: "want a free card for free software" is a short and appealing message. Thus we handed out a six to seven hundred of the cards. Of course we had good talks too: dozens of individuals and groups wanted more information. And there are people that know and use open source. Or were just in need for a good office-suite for their new bought Mac book ;)<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-sht-MG1gMys/WZ7v98hsKVI/AAAAAAAAAUQ/E15PToQvZuclFvrW6PqO6V4gS5N5361cQCLcBGAs/s1600/libreoffice_flyer_bothsides.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-sht-MG1gMys/WZ7v98hsKVI/AAAAAAAAAUQ/E15PToQvZuclFvrW6PqO6V4gS5N5361cQCLcBGAs/s320/libreoffice_flyer_bothsides.jpg" width="254" height="320" data-original-width="401" data-original-height="506" /></a></div>
It's always interesting to see how people react. For example if you tell that Microsoft doesn't really loves students, when they offer software very cheap, but that they just want to make you very well used to it, so that they can charge high prices when you've finished your study.. And compare that to LibreOffice: free always, at school, home, office. And of course free choice for donations or paid support if desired!
<a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-DxY7qn0VL50/WZ7wElpoDbI/AAAAAAAAAUU/s4VhqCQ-ORMbr-hL1PiMozcabpQgk47SQCLcBGAs/s1600/libreoffice_card_bothsides.jpg" imageanchor="1" ><img border="0" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-DxY7qn0VL50/WZ7wElpoDbI/AAAAAAAAAUU/s4VhqCQ-ORMbr-hL1PiMozcabpQgk47SQCLcBGAs/s320/libreoffice_card_bothsides.jpg" width="320" height="136" data-original-width="669" data-original-height="285" /></a>
Was fun to hear some of the students call the way Microsoft does this "the drugs dealer method" ;)
Anyways: Pieter Kristensen, Freek de Kruijf and me had great fun with the people and the music and showing LibreOffice.
To be continued next years, as far as I'm concerned.. :) Not the least since universities are an excellent place to support the importance of ODF as sustainable and durable document standard.
<a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-cTzb36ygLEo/WZ7wODOSEcI/AAAAAAAAAUY/QfGsIvI_inMwRjgM_S3K27Q_kXRltp3YgCLcBGAs/s1600/20170822_TOP_Tilburg_LibreOfficeBooth_06_sml.jpg" imageanchor="1" ><img border="0" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-cTzb36ygLEo/WZ7wODOSEcI/AAAAAAAAAUY/QfGsIvI_inMwRjgM_S3K27Q_kXRltp3YgCLcBGAs/s320/20170822_TOP_Tilburg_LibreOfficeBooth_06_sml.jpg" width="320" height="240" data-original-width="800" data-original-height="600" /></a>Cor & OfficeBuzzhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13875945109269396639noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2639713346395718824.post-14429676761926800052016-12-12T10:02:00.002-08:002016-12-12T10:02:44.815-08:00LibreOffice off course offers alternatives for users of all Microsoft user interfacesOne of the big advantages of <b>LibreOffice</b> has been, for a long time, that it offers the well known menu based user interface to its users. Less known, is that LibreOffice also has solutions for the group users that is quite well used to different interfaces: the Notebookbar!
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Over time LibreOffice worked on the concept of the Notebookbar, and that got supported by the working with Glade-designer for the user interface. With it's tabbed view, it looks as a notebook ;)
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The <b>Notebookbar</b> itself also has multiple forms: Tabbed, Contextual Single and Contextual Groups. It can easily be seen in the next 5.3 release, if experimental features are turned on. The official 5.3-release is end of January.
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-1JV71NEJmFA/WEg73hYv3ZI/AAAAAAAAATg/MSFYPe4GPb89gOYfUEKiYzsSdUHdJHBMwCLcB/s1600/Notebookbar_LibreOffice-53-beta1_Notebookbar-tabbed.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="232" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-1JV71NEJmFA/WEg73hYv3ZI/AAAAAAAAATg/MSFYPe4GPb89gOYfUEKiYzsSdUHdJHBMwCLcB/s640/Notebookbar_LibreOffice-53-beta1_Notebookbar-tabbed.png" width="640" /></a></div>
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<b>LibreOffice</b> offers an ideal solution for people that prefer to work with either a menu, or with a side bar, or with a more block-like interfaces!
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<h4>
<b>Settings</b>
</h4>
<br />
<li><span style="color: #666666;">Tools > Options > LibreOffice General > Advanced … check Experimental features</span></li>
<li><span style="color: #666666;">View > Toolbar Layout > Default/Single toolbar/Sidebar/Notebookbar</span></li>
<li><span style="color: #666666;">View > Notebookbar > Tabbed/Contextual Single/Contextual Groups</span>
</li>
<span style="color: #666666;"> <i>(activate from the setting Tabs the Menubar via the LibreOffice-icon top left)</i></span>
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*) Info <a href="https://glade.gnome.org/">Glade-designer</a>
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*) Download <a href="http://dev-builds.libreoffice.org/pre-releases/">LibreOffice 5.3 bèta 1</a>
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<br />Cor & OfficeBuzzhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13875945109269396639noreply@blogger.com26tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2639713346395718824.post-49183483821056508152016-10-12T04:01:00.000-07:002016-10-12T04:03:20.511-07:00Dutch parliament votes to make open standards mandatoryIt has been a bit quiet. On this blog. And apparently also at the Dutch government with regard open standards. If that would be the case at all, then now there is some very good news. In the attendance discussing the "Actieplan Open Overheid" ("Plan for action on open government") the parliament adopted a resolution to make the use of open standards mandatory. Mandatory for the countries government and the regional/local administrations. By law. This, finally, will put an end to the halfheartedly policy in this area.
An excellent example is easy to spot at the parliament's website: the resolution is published in an old proprietary format.. <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-gN7tl4TevPg/V_30UryL34I/AAAAAAAAATQ/Irg7lKRrXOsPUiDnfIpxNRRlIoFNxHXBgCLcB/s1600/OpenStandaarden_AstridOosenbrug_motie%2Btvv32802nr31.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-gN7tl4TevPg/V_30UryL34I/AAAAAAAAATQ/Irg7lKRrXOsPUiDnfIpxNRRlIoFNxHXBgCLcB/s320/OpenStandaarden_AstridOosenbrug_motie%2Btvv32802nr31.png" width="320" height="137" /></a></div>
<br>In any case: excellent news. And thanks to MP Astrid Oosenbrug for her competent and tireless work for a saner approach for the countries ICT. And of course to all other MP's that understand the importance of this.
<br><a href="https://www.tweedekamer.nl/kamerstukken/stemmingsuitslagen/detail?id=2016P15243">The resolution</a> also asks the government to improve sharing the knowledge they have on open source software. Very useful, since there is a lot of knowledge in this area at the various services/offices. My compliments!Cor & OfficeBuzzhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13875945109269396639noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2639713346395718824.post-88600725946486028902015-08-21T05:12:00.000-07:002015-08-21T05:12:07.179-07:00Microsoft uses controversial publication to promote Office 365The giant from Redmond must be desperate since it has to use a controversial story from a relatively small Italian city to combat open source software, as in the mean time many larger deployments also in Italy are happy with LibreOffice and the numbers produced by Provincia di Perugia prove the opposite of the Microsoft-publication.
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Microsoft writes about the switch of the city of Pesaro from OpenOffice to Office 365. There are however many questions around the publication that should provide backing for the switch. Yet <a href="http://www.winbeta.org/news/microsofts-office-365-wins-back-italian-municipality-costly-open-source-switch">Microsoft uses</a> that publication on it's website for promotion goals.<br>
There are several facts that make the publication controversial. It mentions, for example, the sum of € 300.000 for migration and training costs and extra phone costs of € 85 a year without any data to back that. Sonia Motegiove, an Italian IT consultant, <a href="http://www.techeconomy.it/2015/06/27/microsoft-office-software-libero-5-domande-comune-pesaro/">comments</a> that an extensive training for 600 people would cost € 25.000 maximum.<br>
The publication also claims that the interface would cause problems, but apparently the new 365 environment is not considered to cause users any problems.. When a lack of compatibility of OpenOffice is mentioned, Motegiove asks why Pesaro didn't choose for LibreOffice, with a much improved exchange of documents.<br>
In another <a href="http://www.techeconomy.it/2015/07/01/matteo-ricci-aka-mr-smart-un-ottimo-candidato/">publication</a> Italo Vignoli from LibreOffice-Italy points to the fact that Pesaro ignores facts such as the security issues that come with the use of Microsoft Office but in stead chooses wording to explain the migration that read as Microsoft propaganda.<br>
All questions to the city of Pesaro or the project manager however, have remained unanswered.<br>
Sources around Pesaro tell that the whole migration project was broken. First the involved IT company could not finish the project, and also half way there was a new IT-director with less focus on the project.
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All this does not prevent Microsoft from using a 'study' to make false claims. <br>
This situation looks similar to what happened with a Microsoft sponsored HP publication regarding the city of Munich, that works with Linux and LibreOffice. The HP publication 'proved' high costs in Munich coming with the open source solution. Yet <a href="http://cor4office.blogspot.nl/2014/06/are-germans-so-smart-or-we-dutch-that.html">the reality is</a> that during the migration alone, 13 million was saved. That apart from the million or more license fees that ware saved every year since 2013. Savings that are partly spend to support the development of the open source software that Munich uses, and that also stimulate local/regional IT-firms.
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Does these actions from Microsoft look so desperate because now also it's office-business faces serious competition?Cor & OfficeBuzzhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13875945109269396639noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2639713346395718824.post-79986438055747195932015-06-04T15:28:00.000-07:002015-06-04T15:34:50.861-07:00Looking back and forthLibreOffice is entering the <a href="http://blog.documentfoundation.org/2015/05/28/the-document-foundation-announces-libreoffice-viewer-for-android/">mobile</a> and <a href="https://libreoffice-from-collabora.com/icewarp-and-collabora-are-working-on-libreoffice-online-document-editing-an-open-source-alternative-to-google-apps-office-365/">on-line</a> space, and we'll see full open source private cloud solutions soon. Great!
Still sometimes I'm forced to look back. Simply because the name "Open Office" is known by many people, based on its great history. I have to explain regularly what LibreOffice is and what makes it so much different.<br>
To put some more weight on the latter, my colleague Barend and me worked on comparison of the features of LibreOffice and Apache OpenOffice. Read it <a href="http://www.nouenoff.nl/downloads/LibreOffice_AOO_CompetitiveFeatureMatrix_20150318.pdf">here</a>. Be warned: it's a nearly 60 page document. It focuses on areas as feasibility, smart use, quality and improvements, localization and more. It lists hundreds of smaller and larger improvements in LibreOffice, and only few in Apache OpenOffice.<br><br>
There is a notable difference between this information and many comparisons of LibreOffice with Apache OpenOffice found in articles on the internet. Journalists often seem to lack time for a better analysis of the vast amount of features a productivity suite offers. We hope that our document does offer that comparison in a comprehensive and structured manner.<br>
In my opinion now is the moment for all to let OpenOffice be just what it is: an important part of history. More than enough work ahead for LibreOffice, I would say - see the introduction of this article. It is my hope and wish that people will be able to focus on that and find joy and satisfaction in the development and use of LibreOffice.
Cor & OfficeBuzzhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13875945109269396639noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2639713346395718824.post-43997423559733556642015-03-25T09:23:00.000-07:002015-03-25T09:23:37.541-07:00your most beautiful work with LibreOffice WriterWhat brings more joy then publishing a guide on <a href="https://documentfreedom.org/index.html">Document Freedom Day</a> to help scholars making beautiful work with a free open document standard? Therefore today the Dutch Language LibreOffice-community made available the publication "Maak je mooiste werkstuk met LibreOffice Writer" ("Create your most beautiful work with LibreOffice Writer").
The guide is for scholars in the age of 11 and older.
<br>Currently the publication is Dutch only, but will be available in other languages soon thanks to the ODF Authors-community.
<br>There will also be a version for scholars in the age of 9-11 year.
<br><a href="http://nl.libreoffice.org/ondersteuning/documentatie/">Download here</a>.
<br>And read the <a href="http://www.mail-archive.com/announce@nl.libreoffice.org/msg00073.html">full announcement here</a>.
Cor & OfficeBuzzhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13875945109269396639noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2639713346395718824.post-81665275894543928172014-12-31T04:24:00.004-08:002014-12-31T04:24:38.950-08:00New years wish - lessons from "AutoCorrect"During trainings in LibreOffice Writer, that we give at customers offices or in the <a href="http://www.libreoffice-trainingcenter.nl/">LibreOffice-Trainingcenter</a>, a standard part is how to handle AutoCorrect.
As long as people don't know what happens, AutoCorrect is a source of annoyance and errors. Once they've learned how it works, this changes drastically.
<br><br>Recently during a training for a regional office if the Dutch Refugee Council there was attention for the example "aanrijken" that is replaced by "aanreiken" through the AutoCorrect function.
<br><i>(Since we know AutoCorrect is language dependent, it's time for a little help in this English version of the original Dutch blogpost.
<br>The correct word "aanreiken" means: hand over, give something to someone else. The wrong word "aanrijken" has the part "rijk" what means rich. So, now back to the plot of the story ;) )</i>
<br>During the training I gave the next, free, explanation for the example: we see enough of the 'aanrijken': people, places where there already is a lot, the opportunities to grow that 'prosperity' are, be it knowingly or not, seldom left untouched.. Now how wonderful would it be if that behavior, that habit so often, is replaced more and more by 'aanreiken': giving, sharing.
Beautiful though so short after Christmas, don't you think?
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-czCXqbpUYeU/VKPdRo2VyvI/AAAAAAAAASc/d_GE6XH5WVc/s1600/20141222_KantoorKerst_5.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-czCXqbpUYeU/VKPdRo2VyvI/AAAAAAAAASc/d_GE6XH5WVc/s320/20141222_KantoorKerst_5.jpg" /></a></div>
<br>Thinking of the new year, I have added the following AutoCorrect: "2014" replaced by "2014-closed" and "2015" replaced by "2015-open". You see...
<br>In the new year we at Nou&Off will be again acting in the front line of open source, at the route to more freedom in choice for also your IT applications.
<br>I wish you all a blessed, successful and happy "2015-open"!
Cor & OfficeBuzzhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13875945109269396639noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2639713346395718824.post-84695350980123703442014-10-02T07:52:00.001-07:002014-10-02T07:53:55.448-07:00Hamburg gets inspired by the Munich successLet me start with the second part of the head line of this article. Munich is a success. And not a little one too. <li>Already during the 9 year long migration to LiMux (looking for a reason why Microsoft can't count 9 ;) ) the saved money counts to 11 Mln Euro.
<li>From the money spent to consultancy, nearly 50% has benefited (regional) SMB.
<li>The user satisfaction has clearly increased - though there are still items in which improving is possible.
<li>More then 14.000 of the 15.000 systems have been migrated. A larger number then was set as target.
<li>De savings on licenses will count, year after year, millions.</li>
(Also see <a href="http://www.nouenoff.nl/libreoffice-symposium.php">Symposium LibrOffice in de Praktijk</a>)
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Now is this news? Not really. But it is something we cannot repeat enough - brief and clear.
<br>There only needs to be one Microsoft-partner driven 'investigation' (<a href="http://jan.wildeboer.net/2013/01/that-hpmicrosoft-study-on-the-linux-migration-in-munich-hm/">see..</a> and <a href="http://www.zdnet.com/no-microsoft-open-source-software-really-is-cheaper-insists-munich-7000010918/">this..</a>) or one new major who recently has been doing business with Microsoft (<a href="http://www.zeit.de/politik/deutschland/2013-11/reiter-muenchen-spd/komplettansicht">see..</a>) and there are new headlines seeding wrong impressions. FUD. Let's just mention all it is.
<br><br>Then now the news :) One would of course say: such a huge success, where are all the others? Well, those are here (<a href="https://joinup.ec.europa.eu/community/osor/og_page/osor-case-studies">see..</a>) but less visible. Munich simply is a real huge project that goes beyond just implementing LibreOffice.
<br>But this October there will be an IT-top gathering from the German government in Hamburg and one <a href="http://www.gruene-fraktion-hamburg.de/medien-netzpolitik/30-09-2014/hamburg-und-deutschland-muessen-unabhaengiger-werden-von-den-it">open IT-Top</a> gathering from Open Source Business Alliance and the party the Greens. "The use of open source in science and administration isn't just handy, but also offers an ocean of opportunities for innovation and security." "Hamburg and Germany must gain independence from the IT giants".
<br>So it is. And it can be done!
Cor & OfficeBuzzhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13875945109269396639noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2639713346395718824.post-66346704548617773932014-09-24T11:57:00.001-07:002014-09-24T12:29:54.201-07:00a picture says a thousand words<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-7bFC1JIgfZw/VCMS49opcOI/AAAAAAAAASA/Px4dDB6mMNk/s1600/OPEN%2BLIBRE-OFFICE-s.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-7bFC1JIgfZw/VCMS49opcOI/AAAAAAAAASA/Px4dDB6mMNk/s400/OPEN%2BLIBRE-OFFICE-s.jpg" /></a></div>
Now and then people ask me about LibreOffice or OpenOffice.
Usually I point to the statistics about number of developers and such.
And to the large difference in new functions. And of course the fixed old bugs.
After explaining that to an artist, he came up with a nice drawing that
I don't want to hide for you.<br><br>
A nice and funny drawing. On the other hand it's of course
possible that such a split in a - originally single - project has
negative impact on peoples joy in work and ambitions. And might that be the case -
it's something that I always regret - I do hope that time will have a healing influence. As it usually does.Cor & OfficeBuzzhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13875945109269396639noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2639713346395718824.post-483734135657193562014-06-13T05:39:00.001-07:002014-06-13T05:39:53.749-07:00Are Germans so smart or we Dutch that dumbNo, this has nothing to do with a possible match during the soccer worldcup. It is about open source.
<br>Look at the German city Munich, where they started in 2005 to migrate to open source. In 2013 the project was finished successful. A <a href="https://joinup.ec.europa.eu/community/osor/news/city-munich-migration-sustainable-desktop-completed-successfully">migration</a> that resulted in 14.000 of the 15.000 seats running among others Linux at the desktop and LibreOffice.
<br>Significant investments have been made, but already now there are savings of <a href="http://www.itworld.com/operating-systems/321474/switching-linux-saves-munich-over-11-million">11 million Euro</a>. The money that has been spent, of course will benefit the regional economy to a large extend. Smart!
<br>There is by the way also a report that says that Munich loses money on the project, but that reports makes <a href="http://www.h-online.com/open/news/item/LinuxTag-LiMux-firmly-established-in-Munich-1867920.html">wrong assumptions</a> and is - what a coincidence - written on request of Microsoft by its partner HP, that gives <a href="http://webwereld.nl/open-source/373-de-kostenstrijd-over-linux-in-munchen-">no underlying info</a>.
<b>So all municipalities: do take good notice of this</b>, for in case <a href="http://eindhoven.notudoc.nl/cgi-bin/showdoc.cgi/action=view/id=736875/type=pdf/Open_Source__Toezegging_wethouder_Depla_combi_FB_RV__29-10-2013.pdf">someone</a> uses that manipulated report to give a negative advise on open source!
<br><br>So fine, a significant use of open source does make sense. Do the people in Germany act so much smarter then in The Netherlands? Or is Munich an exception, that did not accept the <a href="http://www.techrepublic.com/article/how-munich-rejected-steve-ballmer-and-kicked-microsoft-out-of-the-city">special offerings</a>?
<br><br>For those municipalities that want to learn more: the Munich story will be explained on the <a href="http://www.nouenoff.nl/libreoffice-symposium.php">LibreOffice-symposium</a> (June 26 at Ede) by the project lead Peter Hofmann. With of course the focus on LibreOffice, to which the city switched in 2013.
<br>The symposium also brings contributions from among others the municipalities of Ede and Neerijnen (the new Dutch Munich ;) ?)
<br><br>Can in The Netherlands be done on a larger scale what already happens in Germany?
<br><br><i>The LibreOffice-symposium is organised by the municipality of Ede and my company Nou&Off. It is organised especially for staff of the administrations that want a better look on starting with LibreOffice.</i>
Cor & OfficeBuzzhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13875945109269396639noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2639713346395718824.post-53355035342734997512014-05-11T14:03:00.001-07:002014-05-12T14:19:15.438-07:00A stream of new and improved functions passes - LibreOffice at the Ubuntu release partyYesterday there was a great <a href="http://www.ubuntuparty.nl/node/3625">Ubuntu release party</a> in Apeldoorn where at least four members of the Dutch language LibreOffice community joined. And since our friend Luc had to leave early, I was asked to present about LibreOffice.
<br>My audience appreciates a little explanation about the history of LibreOffice. So via an explanation on making LibreOffice an attractive and active open source project, easy to build, fast delivering contributions and with a great amount of developers and hackers - which all is achieved - and modernising and improving the huge code base - which is well on it's way - I ask if people know the release schedule with two main releases every year. Many do not. So I explain that, the relation with the schedule of other main free software projects, and end up counting releases for our 4.2 series, of which only last week the 4.2.4.2 was released. And from the very first alpha of this series, around 16 versions have been released in six months time. Indeed an impressing machinery of builds, commits, checks, automated tests etc.
All to deliver more functions on an ever improving code base. And a machinery that is there for and because of all people helping out with code, translations, testing, user support and so forth!
<br><br>Then when people ask what has been improved in LibreOffice compared to OpenOffice, I find it a bit difficult mostly due to the huge amount off different things, to give a brief, simple answer.
<br>Of course there is <a href="http://de.libreoffice.org/features/why-libreoffice/?SubsiteID=3">this page</a> (two releases behind in the mean time... and that soon should be found at the <a href="https://wiki.documentfoundation.org/Marketing/Why_Libreoffice">wiki here</a> ..) summarising only (what some people consider) the most important LibreOffice improvement over OpenOffice.
<br>But when people ask.. Of course, better interoperability, more, important, file types that can be opened, nicer clearer interface. But a simple answer..
<br>Well really funny this turns, when I start answering questions about functions, and when during that a stream of changed and improved functions show on the screen: color of non-printing characters, preview of formatting in list Select Style, Template manager, Format > Title page, more Excell like functions, integration of CMIS and other 'server'-protocols, easier handling of headers and footers, and so forth :)
<br>All in all an interesting afternoon in Apeldoorn and I'm really glad that we were invited to share our enthusiasm and inspiration for this great free software project with the visitors of the event. Thanks :)Cor & OfficeBuzzhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13875945109269396639noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2639713346395718824.post-45046031196846605662014-04-17T08:18:00.000-07:002014-04-17T08:19:29.202-07:0010 years business support for the alternative for 'that one of Microsoft' - for free office-software19.999 days young, and still celebrate the second lustrum .. <a href="https://twitter.com/cor4office/status/455733052057321472">how can that be possible</a>?
<br>It's possible when you are me and started your company on April 16 2004 :)
<br>It's a very busy time the last months at <a href="http://www.nouenoff.nl/index.php">Nou&Off</a>, but wishing not to let pass this joyous moment unnoticed, it was decided at the last moment to do a little party in a smaller circle. To pay attention to it in wider circles, later this year a symposium will be organized around the use of open source office-software in Dutch administrations, institutions and companies.
<br> <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-vdknUPvKcog/U0_uPrwwC_I/AAAAAAAAARo/jVU1d4ilseE/s1600/LibreOffice-TrainingCenter-gereed-2.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-vdknUPvKcog/U0_uPrwwC_I/AAAAAAAAARo/jVU1d4ilseE/s200/LibreOffice-TrainingCenter-gereed-2.png" /></a></div>
At the same time as the 10 years anniversary of Nou&Off, there was the official opening of the <a href="http://www.libreoffice-trainingcenter.nl/">LibreOffice-Trainingcenter</a>. That was expected earlier, but due to the high workload on projects, it slipped. Luckily, sooner or later, all will be fine ;)Cor & OfficeBuzzhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13875945109269396639noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2639713346395718824.post-56093829751944578282013-12-19T14:25:00.000-08:002013-12-19T14:31:55.106-08:00Graphics in HTML mail merge - new in LibreOffice 4.2.0One of the great tools from LibreOffice that I use regularly, it the mail merge function from Writer.
Preparing a text, adding field of your data source, and via the neat Python-coded wizard you can send all those document via e-mail. Personalised. The same can be done with HTML formatting and even PDF files that will be handled as attachment.
<br> </br>
Until recent however, there was a nasty limitation with the use of HTML formatting for sending the emails: images were not embedded. So no use of good pictures and graphics in the mails..
<br>
After this, you understand that I'm really delighted to see that in the upcoming LibreOffice 4.2.0 the embedding of graphics in HTML-mail will be possible. <br>
This thanks to Edmond Ciorba and Andras Timar. Kudoos guys :)
<br> </br>
Rough information on these, and other features for LibreOffice 4.2.0 is <a href="https://wiki.documentfoundation.org/ReleaseNotes/4.2">on the wiki</a>.
<br> </br>
Note that beta 2 for the 4.2.0 <a href="http://libreoffice.org/download/pre-releases/">is available</a> and that very soon the first release candidate will be spread. Pls download this (mind <a href="https://wiki.documentfoundation.org/Installing_in_parallel">parallel</a> installation) and do your testing of existing and new features!
<br> </br>
Finaly a nice picture of one of the improvements in the (Windows) user interface.
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-8Xd9YwrdqrA/UrNvTF4s4XI/AAAAAAAAAQ0/OP5rzUC40PY/s1600/Windows-taskbar-group.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-8Xd9YwrdqrA/UrNvTF4s4XI/AAAAAAAAAQ0/OP5rzUC40PY/s320/Windows-taskbar-group.png" /></a></div>
<br>
Enjoy :)
<br>Cor & OfficeBuzzhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13875945109269396639noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2639713346395718824.post-7146558619655910592013-12-09T13:58:00.000-08:002013-12-09T13:58:20.913-08:00Report on the LibreOffice 4.2.0 BugHunt SessionAround last weekend we had the LibreOffice 4.2.0 <a href="https://wiki.documentfoundation.org/BugHunting_Session_4.2.0 ">BugHunt Session</a>.
During three days volunteers – either known or new – added some extra steps to test the Beta version of the <a href="http://wiki.documentfoundation.org/ReleaseNotes/4.2 ">next LibreOffice</a>.
Compared with the weeks before, around three times more bugs were filed against that version (46/15). Overall around 25% more bugs were filed (107/80).
<br></br>
Experienced QA volunteers worked hard to triage as many bugs as possible, but I would not be surprised if still some need to be checked, clarified...
<br>
Also on the <a href="https://wiki.documentfoundation.org/MozTrap ">MozTrap tool</a> people have been doing tests. This environment is especially easy for newcomers that want to do some good for their favourite office-suite ;)
I'm told that there will be new test series for the <a href="https://wiki.documentfoundation.org/ReleasePlan/4.2#4.2.0_release ">release candidate 1</a> (in one, two weeks).
So stay tuned there!
<br></br>
And last but not least: it was again really encouraging to see that several of the reported bugs have been repaired within hours or a day or so.
<br>
Thanks to the developers, thanks to all testers and other users!
Cor & OfficeBuzzhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13875945109269396639noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2639713346395718824.post-68245401152543823292013-09-29T20:20:00.000-07:002013-09-29T22:15:36.268-07:00Escaping from the claws of MicrosoftAt the LibreOffice conference in Milan, last week, there was a series of very interesting <a href="http://conference.libreoffice.org/2013/en/program">talks about migrations</a> to LibreOffice.
There I listened to someone talking about escaping from the claws of Microsoft.
<br>One would maybe expect such words to from one of the administrations represented, that may not be charmed by the fact that the NSA spies them.
Or by a NGO, whose work may be directly affected by the FBI reading their mails and documents. After all, it was Microsoft that first gave the NSA access to its software, and thus to all the work of people and organisations using it..
<br>But no 'escaping from the claws of Microsoft' was expressed by a business man. A large company searching hard for a way to get a bit of his freedom back in choosing office-software and freedom to pay for needs, and not for obligations. Clearly business, NGO's and administrations share more and more interest in quality office software that respects freedom and property.
<br><br>The LibreOffice conference again showed growth of the number of people and organizations backing the development. Looks as one of thé places to be for business, institutions and people in serving that goal of safety, respect and freedom in software.
Cor & OfficeBuzzhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13875945109269396639noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2639713346395718824.post-91126455132406426012013-09-02T15:47:00.001-07:002013-09-02T15:47:04.643-07:00Sidebar – avoiding it or improve it for using Styles?Since LibreOffice 4.1 there is the Sidebar as a experimental feature. While devs work on improvements and stabilising for future releases, I mostly avoid that Sidebar :) Meanwhile many people are positive about the nice looking feature... Well indeed it shows nice. And it shows huge...
<br>You may get the feeling here that I'm not so happy with the Sidebar? Indeed! I'll explain why. And of course will try to give a shot about a maybe possible improvement.
<br>Reasons why I'm not too happy is first because it eats space. Double: most of the formatting settings offered are directly available in the formatting toolbar already.
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-G2UK61nm0gs/UiUKYWLMJYI/AAAAAAAAAQQ/RK_vZ9QnzUQ/s1600/SideBar_DoubleSpaceTaken.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-G2UK61nm0gs/UiUKYWLMJYI/AAAAAAAAAQQ/RK_vZ9QnzUQ/s320/SideBar_DoubleSpaceTaken.png" /></a></div>
Furthermore, and that's much worse, the nice presentation of all kind of formatting settings, promotes <i>direct formatting</i>. And direct formatting, thus hassling around without using styles, is <i>one of the largest problems when exchanging documents</i> with people that pay for being licensed to use office-software. All this unstructured settings may give problems when working with documents over different programs. (Apart of course from the troublesome way in which Word handles pictures and numbering ;) – but that's a different story.)
<br> <br>
So for me, two reasons to dislike the Sidebar: for eating space and for promoting bad habits :(
<br>Now, before bringing a suggestion, as a side step, a way in which the Sidebar can bring some sort of fun: when opening the Navigator both apart and in the Sidebar, one with only headings shown and the other with all other content.
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-ZzyWYbtxs-Q/UiUKp0nQBHI/AAAAAAAAAQY/FJ5SFUyJ79A/s1600/SideBar_DoubleNav.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-ZzyWYbtxs-Q/UiUKp0nQBHI/AAAAAAAAAQY/FJ5SFUyJ79A/s320/SideBar_DoubleNav.png" /></a></div>
With only headings shown, the view in the Navigator (the one left in the screen shot) nicely follows the position in the document.
<br> <br>Then for a maybe possible improvement – I try to bring this careful, because ideas are often easily written down, and hard to realise ;)
<br>From my objections with the current implementation, it's clear that I would rather see support for the use of styles. So I mocked up a little version with various style categories shown at the same time. And maybe also something can be done with the presentation of the font, as is the cast in the list Select Style.
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-pFFa1YI-cG0/UiUK8CA4P8I/AAAAAAAAAQg/aYHIwquWGkU/s1600/SideBar_AllStyles.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-pFFa1YI-cG0/UiUK8CA4P8I/AAAAAAAAAQg/aYHIwquWGkU/s320/SideBar_AllStyles.png" /></a></div>
And to recover some space, I simply hided the Formatting toolbar. Only the list <i>Apply style</i> deserved a new place on the Standard toolbar.
<br>That's all that there is for now.
<br> <br>Cor & OfficeBuzzhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13875945109269396639noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2639713346395718824.post-30981228067613191422013-07-30T08:07:00.000-07:002013-07-30T00:00:35.459-07:00Version 4.1 pushes LibreOffice across the 500 border<b>Since LibreOffice 3.3 there are more then 500 new features and improvements listed on the pages that are published with the new releases.</b>
<br> </br>
With the preparations of a new release of LibreOffice of course there is the need to show the new function and improvements, extendings of existing features.
Every half year this nice tasks is repeated, and of course it covers a aspects of many different sides of the suite. To me it's always a little wonder when this is done. Thanks to the information given by the developers, people as for example Marc always are able to create a nice and accessible overview.
<br>
Now recently we decided to make <a href="http://www.libreoffice.org/features/why-libreoffice/">an overview of the most</a> important, unique possibilities in LibreOffice. And when looking through the published overviews of all the different releases, I started to count a bit and suddenly it stroke me that LibreOffice had passed the border of 500! (Here are the pages, so you can count them <em>
<a href="http://www.libreoffice.org/download/4-1-new-features-and-fixes/">4.1</a> /
<a href="http://www.libreoffice.org/download/4-0-new-features-and-fixes/">4.0</a> /
<a href="http://www.libreoffice.org/download/3-6-new-features-and-fixes/">3.6</a> /
<a href="http://www.libreoffice.org/download/3-5-new-features-and-fixes/">3.5</a> /
<a href="http://www.libreoffice.org/download/3-4-new-features-and-fixes/">3.4</a> /
<a href="http://www.libreoffice.org/download/3-3-new-features-and-fixes/">3.3</a>)</em>
<br> </br>
Of course not every function or improvement is a huge one. There is a large amount of smaller but indeed useful items. Also there are features simply not listed, because a developer implemented but then forgot to add it or because it was not easy to explain. Or we have the functions that are listed more than once. Which is completely in line with an open source development style, where new stuff is made available rapidly and extended in smaller step. But when counting the improvements, regularly I counted listed items as "numerous improvements on MsOOXML Import en Export", or "Number of new functions in Calc" as one. Had I counted those each separately, I would have ended on a much larger number.
<br>
Does that matter? For me it doesn't: we count clearly more then 500 features and improvements , of which around 350 unique in LibreOffice. A mile stone!
<br> </br>
Mind that we do not talk about the ten thousands bugfixes in LibreOffice. I would estimate that of that number only a relative small amount is for old bugs from the time of OpenOffice. But that is fine too: with the enormous speed of new functions and cleaning up and improving the code base (you may want to <a href="https://people.gnome.org/~michael/blog/2013-06-13-under-the-hood.html">see this</a> one once more..) there are of course new bugs (or old hidden bugs become visible...) and it's only prefect that LibreOffice shows that it tackles those fast too.
<br> </br>
Cor & OfficeBuzzhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13875945109269396639noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2639713346395718824.post-53162528045501155492013-07-15T14:33:00.002-07:002013-07-15T14:43:04.998-07:00Cool and hot times - testing and localization LibreOffice 4.1<i><b>Why you will want to read <a href="https://people.gnome.org/~michael/blog/2013-06-13-under-the-hood.html">this article</a> soon...</i></b><br> <br>
So that were extremely busy weeks for all people active in LibreOffice localization and QA. Today the last translations – many up to 100% – have been pulled and the last triple reviewed code commits were done. And somewhere next week already we expect the release of LibreOffice 4.1.<br> <br>
Many volunteers doing the translations help a lot with testing too. That extremely important job is not something that happens every now and then... it is a continuous task. Beside the translations for the major releases, twice a year. Hard work, but being a part of the community that makes the best free office suite in the world makes it worth of course :)<br>
That was what I felt very strong when reading Michaels blog, some weeks ago, on all the hard work that that the developers are doing on code improvements. <a href="https://people.gnome.org/~michael/blog/2013-06-13-under-the-hood.html">Look here</a> for many details: <link > on cleaning, modern and faster code, easier building, automated tests, etc. etc.<br>
As a result enthusiast 'hackers' keep joining the project with a cute EasyHack in LibreOffice or some other task. That makes some extra testing really worth, doesn't it?<br>
Tip: watch out for the announcements that will come with the new LibreOffice. And don't forget then that about half of the good work is done <a href="https://people.gnome.org/~michael/blog/2013-06-13-under-the-hood.html">below the surface</a> ;) <br> <br>Cor & OfficeBuzzhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13875945109269396639noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2639713346395718824.post-84239429841051679152013-06-11T03:56:00.000-07:002013-06-11T03:56:05.786-07:00PhotoAlbum - new feature in LibreOffice 4.1 ImpressAnother nice feature in LibreOffice 4.1 (as promised in my <a href="http://cor4office.blogspot.nl/2013/05/libreoffice-becoming-prettier-all-time.html">previous blog</a>).. Creating a slide show with a series of photo's.
This works nice and smoothly<br>
In <i>Impress</i>, choose <b>Insert > Picture > Photo Album</b>.
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-io0WJaEkNJA/UbY-AqaKGJI/AAAAAAAAAPA/v-LYwohk5zo/s1600/410_Impress_PhotoAlbum_1.png" imageanchor="1" ><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand; ;width: 200px" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-io0WJaEkNJA/UbY-AqaKGJI/AAAAAAAAAPA/v-LYwohk5zo/s320/410_Impress_PhotoAlbum_1.png" /></a>
The dialog <b>Create Photo Album</b> opens.
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-jjF3ueh6yVk/UbZDKR0enLI/AAAAAAAAAPs/AshXS0EUwj4/s1600/410_Impress_PhotoAlbum_2a.png" imageanchor="1" ><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand; width: 280px" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-jjF3ueh6yVk/UbZDKR0enLI/AAAAAAAAAPs/AshXS0EUwj4/s320/410_Impress_PhotoAlbum_2a.png" /></a>
Note that when you open the file dialog to <b>Add</b> the photo's, you can select multiple pictures at once!
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-rZj7ddm1xrY/UbY-T6pROcI/AAAAAAAAAPc/mj8TU3YaCus/s1600/410_Impress_PhotoAlbum_2.png" imageanchor="1" ><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand; width: 260px" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-rZj7ddm1xrY/UbY-T6pROcI/AAAAAAAAAPc/mj8TU3YaCus/s320/410_Impress_PhotoAlbum_2.png" /></a>
In the dialog Create Photo Album you have choices to add more pictures per slide, fill the slide or keep ratio, set order..
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-1hq7bMiobVA/UbY-AtKRlBI/AAAAAAAAAPI/vI0RT8YiJBc/s1600/410_Impress_PhotoAlbum_3.png" imageanchor="1" ><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand; width: 260px" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-1hq7bMiobVA/UbY-AtKRlBI/AAAAAAAAAPI/vI0RT8YiJBc/s320/410_Impress_PhotoAlbum_3.png" /></a>
Fine with that, click <b>Insert</b> and see on the <b>Slide sorter</b> what nice result you have in a hand turn!
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-7s1OPA6cixY/UbZDympR_iI/AAAAAAAAAP0/PXpvsnj4oI4/s1600/410_Impress_PhotoAlbum_4a.png" imageanchor="1" ><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand; width: 320px" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-7s1OPA6cixY/UbZDympR_iI/AAAAAAAAAP0/PXpvsnj4oI4/s320/410_Impress_PhotoAlbum_4a.png" /></a>
Kudoos to <i>Gergő Mocsi</i> for adding this lovely feature to LibreOffice!<br> </br>
<i>LibreOffice 4.1 will have it's first release candidate around June 23, and the release at the end of July. See here the <a href="https://wiki.documentfoundation.org/ReleasePlan/4.1#4.1.0_release">full schedule</a> for the main releases and bugfix versions of LibreOffice. The beta version is already available on <a href="http://www.libreoffice.org/download/pre-releases/">pre-releases</a> page.
</i><br> </br>
Cor & OfficeBuzzhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13875945109269396639noreply@blogger.com11tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2639713346395718824.post-8798453869640813592013-05-30T15:11:00.000-07:002013-05-30T15:11:49.007-07:00LibreOffice becoming prettier all the time - a look at the beta of version 4.1While working with the beta version of LibreOffice 4.1 it strikes me that since 3.6 so much has been improved in the interface. It's a good time to mention some of those.<br>
Some time ago already the fat, overdone old borders from the past had been gone and now I see more and more dialogs that become more elegant, prettier to work with. Some screen shots, old and new.
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-YrNYWWrFG8k/UadzwsFsz6I/AAAAAAAAAOE/UC3e_kWVxpU/s1600/autoformat_36_41.png" imageanchor="1" ><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-YrNYWWrFG8k/UadzwsFsz6I/AAAAAAAAAOE/UC3e_kWVxpU/s320/autoformat_36_41.png" /></a>
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-JqKN8_w3SVs/Uadzwsx2FEI/AAAAAAAAAN8/KDTriqvUjhE/s1600/save_36_41.png" imageanchor="1" ><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-JqKN8_w3SVs/Uadzwsx2FEI/AAAAAAAAAN8/KDTriqvUjhE/s320/save_36_41.png" /></a>
So offering the same, uncluttered features, but better to work with.
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-OHTmGb-eR7w/Uadzwv-S_xI/AAAAAAAAAOA/tMYv8NFgN90/s1600/table_36_41.png" imageanchor="1" ><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-OHTmGb-eR7w/Uadzwv-S_xI/AAAAAAAAAOA/tMYv8NFgN90/s320/table_36_41.png" /></a>
A nice improvement too is that the list Apply Styles give a good preview of the font of the styles.
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-mudmlyz5ww8/Uad2HyTR2nI/AAAAAAAAAOo/fJ1ay_ZY5rU/s1600/styles_41.png" imageanchor="1" ><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 180px;"src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-mudmlyz5ww8/Uad2HyTR2nI/AAAAAAAAAOo/fJ1ay_ZY5rU/s320/styles_41.png" /></a>
Completely new in 4.1 is a button that easily toggles comments in the margin on and off.
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-A2O9ZlXxdlY/Uad15SQuY-I/AAAAAAAAAOY/Wf3RclBIjGU/s1600/togglecomments_41.png" imageanchor="1" ><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 100px" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-A2O9ZlXxdlY/Uad15SQuY-I/AAAAAAAAAOY/Wf3RclBIjGU/s320/togglecomments_41.png" /></a>
Mostly the already mentioned work on the dialogs is important for the future steps of LibreOffice in a newer interface and onto new devises.<br>
As a colorful finisher, I love to mention the new default colors that are shipped.
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Vzqc_pZtwW0/Uad2CrF3HZI/AAAAAAAAAOg/m0nqytKbQSY/s1600/DefaultColors_41.png" imageanchor="1" ><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand; height: 290px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Vzqc_pZtwW0/Uad2CrF3HZI/AAAAAAAAAOg/m0nqytKbQSY/s320/DefaultColors_41.png" /></a>
Enjoy!
<br><i>(And I guess I should write some more about the new that 4.1. will offer soon...)</i>
Cor & OfficeBuzzhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13875945109269396639noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2639713346395718824.post-83129260222533418852013-04-29T00:51:00.000-07:002013-04-29T00:55:14.492-07:00Orange party for Libreoffice - PartyWriterIf you haven't yet noticed: tomorrow will be the crowning of the new Dutch King: Willem Alexander.
Inspired by some colourful posters, I decided to make a little funny extension for LibreOffice. Here is what it does:
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-6ojoIYPNpd8/UX4l9pz9trI/AAAAAAAAANY/cxUGROMkJoE/s1600/OranjeFeestje2.png" imageanchor="1" ><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-6ojoIYPNpd8/UX4l9pz9trI/AAAAAAAAANY/cxUGROMkJoE/s320/OranjeFeestje2.png" /></a>
<br>To put it simple: with each space you type, the character style changes so you get a chain of different formatted words.
Downloaden en documentation on <a href="http://www.nouenoff.nl/tips-en-trucs.php#partywriter">the Nou&Off site</a>.
<br>Though it's just fun, it's a good case to see what you can do with styles, macro's, extensions. And there might be some nice ideas that can be added for future parties?
Enjoy :-)
Cor & OfficeBuzzhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13875945109269396639noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2639713346395718824.post-72067401928986147682012-11-02T08:52:00.001-07:002012-11-02T08:52:40.264-07:00What Arabic, Turtle and Google have to do with each other<b>Time for my notes from the <a href="http://conference.libreoffice.org/">LibreOffice conference 2012</a>, in Berlin recently.</b>
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The week was well organised by our friends of the German LibreOffice community. The location was at a ministry, close to station Berlin Hauptbahnhof.
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And the weather was excellent, so the 10 minutes walk from the hotel to the conference venue could be done in a T-shirt. Mid October :-) So, what items do I really want to mention?
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First there was the positive <b>key-note</b> by Jeremy Allison from <b>Google</b>. Included in his presentation were two slides that make extremely clear what the value of open source is for Google ..
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-QZOUJymhhEo/UJPkR77UhLI/AAAAAAAAAKw/BhogsSUORAw/s1600/WhyOpenSource_GooglePresent-I.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear:left; float:none;margin-right:1em; margin-bottom:1em"><img border="0" height="242" width="320" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-QZOUJymhhEo/UJPkR77UhLI/AAAAAAAAAKw/BhogsSUORAw/s320/WhyOpenSource_GooglePresent-I.png" /></a></div>
<br>.. and for others too!<br>
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A beautiful project is the <b>localization</b> of LibreOffice <b>in Arabic</b>. Because of the language structure, that needs some more attention then just doing the translating. The support for languages with what 'we' call complex text layout (CTL-support – see Tools > Options > Language settings ..) has to be improved on various points.
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Various speakers and developers from Saudi Arabia were present to give explanation about the project and their work. Also about the way they contact schools and universities and about their future plans with LibreOffice. <a href="http://conference.libreoffice.org/program/wednesday-secondary-track/libreoffice-localization-project-at-kacst-in-saudi-arabia">A clear and inspiring contribution</a>!
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Quite intriguing I experienced the <a href="http://conference.libreoffice.org/program/wednesday-secondary-track/librelogo-2013-turtle-vector-graphics-for-everybody">presentation of LibreLogo</a> ( … turtle vector graphics for everybody) by László Németh, whom we know from among others spell-checking tools.
<b>LibreLogo</b> is fine combination of drawing, and learning to work with teh computer, commands and documents. And this all bundled in an extension that you can install easily in LibreOffice.
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Give it <a href="http://www.numbertext.org/logo">a try</a> - not only fun, but interesting too if you feel that education and marketing are important! And when you run in a problem trying it: no worry because for sure I'll write about it again shortly.
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Further I've seen interesting topics as continues improvements and developments with Calc, work for iMac and Android, collaborative editing via the internet, building and lots of tools for developers, and QA, EasyHacks. Stopping at this point, I'm sure I forget many that deserve credit and attention too.
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But we did have a pleasant event, cosy as we say, with people from all corners of the earth and topics of interest for all. So everyone that has a bit more with LibreOffice then just using: ... see you in 2013 :-)
<br> And before that, don't miss <a href="http://donate.libreoffice.org/">this one</a>!
Cor & OfficeBuzzhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13875945109269396639noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2639713346395718824.post-54089016050191216942012-09-11T08:55:00.001-07:002012-09-11T08:55:44.441-07:00Now politics must focus on results with open source software<b>Chances to save millions, but with talking alone you won't get that far</b>
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My previous two blogs pointed out that when public administrations make a combined investment in open source software, migrating will become easier, that they themselves profit as well as all other (government) users will do.
Governments from Germany and Switzerland already <a href="http://cor4office.blogspot.nl/2012/09/governments-invest-in-open-source.html">do so</a>.
<br>In The Netherlands municipalities can save <a href="http://cor4office.blogspot.nl/2012/09/netherlands-must-make-sound-investment.html">millions of Euro's</a> each year, with open source office software alone.
<br>Now tomorrow, September 12, we have national elections in the Netherlands. In relation to that the topic open source has, as far as I've noticed, been touched by the parties GroenLinks and SP. Besides that, also the party PvdA mentions it and of course it's important for the Piratenpartij. <a href="http://www.watzegtmijnpartij.nl/index.html#open%20source%20software">[1]</a>
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The past has shown that for the most parties open source software (and open standards) are important. But how useful is 'attention'? It would be really helpful if the new Tweede Kamer (parliament) would come to agreement rapidly for a strong approach, specific, for e.g. the open source desktop. That would be a strong follow-up for the talk- and information-programs that we had in the last decade, that, lets be honest, just were to weak to help creating a clear turn around. Just explaining will not easily create enough power to counterweight multinationals, that also have close connections to large national companies..
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A clear and strong approach – public bodies from Germany and Switzerland make a <a href="http://cor4office.blogspot.nl/2012/09/governments-invest-in-open-source.html">good example</a> – will help the existing situation to change a bit faster, to make more advantage of the benefits of open source. Also it will prepare the path for those municipalities and provinces that have a less progressive attitude. We do have those too in The Netherlands, as is shown in a <a href="http://www.computable.nl/artikel/nieuws/open_source/4558215/1277105/overheid-kiest-massaal-voor-storage-legacy.html">recent example</a> about governments that bind themselves too easy in expensive contracts. This while the costs for ICT in municipalities <a href=" http://www.computable.nl/artikel/nieuws/overheid/4559847/1277202/ictkosten-gemeenten-stijgen-15-procent.html">rise</a>.
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In the previous article I counted that in Dutch municipalities alone millions can be <a href="http://cor4office.blogspot.nl/2012/09/netherlands-must-make-sound-investment.html">saved</a> each year with open source office software. Which as bonus will free you from cumbersome relations with vendors that tend to change license contracts (read costs) in their own favor. Also expenses for changes and improvements to the software, will result in work in the region, which is quite different from sending checks to a large company in a distant country.
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Cooperation, bundling of forces, great software, paying what is needed and nothing more, freedom of choice – that is open source!Cor & OfficeBuzzhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13875945109269396639noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2639713346395718824.post-31855047569150439862012-09-10T07:49:00.001-07:002012-09-10T08:05:09.022-07:00Netherlands must make sound investment in open source desktop<b>Millions to be saved each year with the use of open source office-software</b>
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In the previous <a href="http://cor4office.blogspot.nl/2012/09/governments-invest-in-open-source.html">article</a> I wrote about administrations in Germany and Switzerland that invest in open source software. In a combined project they improve interoperability of LibreOffice and OpenOffice with the latest file formats of Microsoft Office. These administrations almost literally put their hands at work in the important field of open source software.
What can I write about the situation at Dutch administrations in this field? The use of open source software in Dutch municipalities can be seen in various parts. At the backside it is done in the form of servers and management systems for websites. And on the desktop one sees Firefox and <a href="http://www.automatiseringgids.nl/cases/2011/case-ede-verlost-van-mailergernissen">Zarafa</a>, that is increasingly gaining popularity as Exchange/Outlook replacer.
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The use of open source <i>office software</i> is not yet widely spread and it grows slowly. It's exactly this that I want to look at further. Because of my own profession in <a href="www.nouenoff.nl">Nou&Off</a>, my involvement with <a href="http://www.documentfoundation.org/">The Document Foundation</a>, the home of <a href="http://www.libreoffice.org/">LibreOffice</a>. And also because the previous article was just about that: open source <i>office software</i>, where big gains can be met in terms of freedom, control and cost savings.
This is again supported by the situation in <a href="http://joinup.ec.europa.eu/news/munichs-vendor-independent-desktop-saves-millions-and-more-robust">Munich</a>, where the large scale switch to an open source desktop has resulted in a more robust system and saves millions.
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In The Netherlands OpenOffice and LibreOffice are used for years in mostly some smaller municipalities. The number of municipalities is more then 400. With all together around 112.000 employees (7 per 1000). When the use of Ms Office costs € 100,- per person per year, then that's per year € 11.200.000 for licenses. Say 10 million every year.
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So here we have a large potential for savings. Now it would be stupid to suggest that the full 10 million can be saved. Be it alone for the fact that larger organizations are likely to have a support contract for LibreOffice, which can be paid with a part of the savings on licenses. And of course a migration also asks some effort. It's positive that nowadays about all larger applications for local administrations can work together very well with OpenOffice and LibreOffice. Thanks to the efforts of suppliers (and those pushing them a bit...) most of the issues that occurred in the past, have been solved. There will be smaller areas where a migration will cost unreasonable effort or money, for example because a specific application is not yet changed. So it's not possible to get rid of all licences right away. But the large majority of users can work happily and effectively with Open- or LibreOffice. That is demonstrated by the administrations already using it and those that are about to change soon. In other countries there's also a growing number of authorities that make the change to LibreOffice. Some recent announcements:
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<a href="https://joinup.ec.europa.eu/elibrary/case/mimo-working-group-french-ministries-certify-libreoffice-release-0 ">French administrations</a>,
<a href="http://davelargo.blogspot.com/2012/05/libreoffice-data-and-notes-let-computer.html">City of Largo</a>, the Spanish <a href="http://joinup.ec.europa.eu/news/spains-las-palmas-moves-1200-pcs-libreoffice">Las Palmas</a>,
de <a href="http://libreumbria.wordpress.com/">the Itallian region Umbria</a>, the Portuguese village <a href="http://www.cm-vminho.pt/index.php?oid=9871&op=all ">Vieira do Minho</a>, het <a href="https://joinup.ec.europa.eu/news/need-multiple-document-formats-lead-danish-ministry-libreoffice">Danish ministery</a> of transport, the <a href="https://joinup.ec.europa.eu/news/limerick-city-council-increasingly-turning-open-source">Irish Limerick</a>, the <a href="http://www.greeklug.gr/images/stories/drastiriotites/pressrelease-20120327-en-dim-libreoffice.pdf">Village Pillea-Hartiatis</a> in Greece.
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In my opinion its due time for a larger movement in The Netherlands. For years we have had the national projects OSOSS en NOiV, that made excellent information and education, but alas were not focused on concrete action. And of course that is needed: open source is about action. Even more, about <i>joining in action</i>.
To speed up a larger movement, a project of for example a number of municipalities could be great. Municipalities where the introduction of new office software is coming near and that can make enough room for that in the agendas. A project with a specific task, to improve the areas in which the migration to a new office software is not so easy yet. And this is something very worth investing in.
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You may remember from the previous article, that it was about an investment of € 140.000. With potential savings of many millions <i>every year</i> for the Dutch municipalities, in office software licenses only, amounts in this order are peanuts. Of course not for individual administrations. Maybe therefore the national authorities should step in to bundle the funding. In this way, wanted contributions to for example LibreOffice can be set up together, just as we have seen in the <a href="http://cor4office.blogspot.nl/2012/09/governments-invest-in-open-source.html">example</a> of the German and Swiss authorities.
This is what is made possible by a mutual project: a faster transition. But there are other benefits. Such as a clear point of contact for other software suppliers. And that partners can share information and know they do not stand alone.
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Much can be won in terms of freedom, durability and costs. Don't forget that for a smaller community savings of say € 15.000 to 20.000 a year are very relevant. With amounts in this magnitude for example many local activities and charities can be supported. You may know the examples in your own area.
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To summarize: if with bundled forces we can realize a faster transition to open source office software in The Netherlands too, it's possible to save a considerable amount of the yearly 10 million costs for the Microsoft office licenses, and more own ideas and control can be realized.Cor & OfficeBuzzhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13875945109269396639noreply@blogger.com0