A Detailed Analysis of the OpenOffice - Research Paper Example

?OPEN OFFICE Open Office Affiliation Table of Contents Introduction 3 OpenOffice 3 License 4 Application 4 Goals 5 Features 6 Miscellaneous Features 7 Conclusion 8 References 9 Beal, V. (2008, September 29). What is Open Source Software? Retrieved March 23, 2012, from http://www.webopedia.com/DidYouKnow/Computer_Science/2005/open_source.asp 9 9 Introduction Open source refers to a software application or program in which the source code is made available to the wide-ranging public use that can be reused or modified from its genuine design free of charge. In this scenario, the source code is an actual code of a program written in a programming language. Basically, the open source code is normally developed as a shared effort in which programmers collectively work on the code and share the modification among the community. The fundamental principle of this group of applications is that a large community of programmers which is not connected with proprietary possession or economic gain will generate a more practical and bug-free application for everyone to utilize. In addition, the idea depends on peer review to discover and get rid of bugs in the program code, a procedure that commercially built and packaged programs do not utilize (Stallman, 2003; Beal, 2008). This paper presents an overview of the open source application. For this research I have chosen OpenOffice. This paper will present a detailed analysis of the OpenOffice. OpenOffice OpenOffice is an open source software application. Its fundamental objective is to develop a superlative office suite, which is accessible to all. In addition, everybody is free to redistribute this application developed on the basis of open source license rules. Additionally, OpenOffice application could be redistributed either for free or at a profit. Moreover, the source code of OpenOffice software is made available for everyone to open access. Hence, it could be modified by other programmers to make improvements. Furthermore, OpenOffice source code could be used later on by the programmers to create derived works (OpenOffice, 2010). License Currently, OpenOffice is working under the license of LGPL/SISSL. In this scenario, the LGPL is a new kind of Lesser General Public License. On the other hand SISSL is the Sun Industry Standard License. In addition, the twin licensing system outlines that we are permitted to select either license. Moreover, both the LGPL and SISSL are OSI accepted as open source system licenses (OpenOffice1, 2012; OpenOffice, 2010). Application Similar to all other open source software applications, OpenOffice can be used as a commercial tool. In fact, as compared to other freeware applications, open source software is not restricted to only educational or personal use. In addition, there is no limit on where or how we utilize this software. Additionally, there are numerous applications of OpenOffice software. In this scenario, one of the key applications is Word processor application for creating documents. It also includes Spreadsheet based application that is similar to MS Excel. Moreover, it also contains a Presentation Package for the creation of presentations. Furthermore, similar to MS Access, OpenOffice also offers database management system capability. As well, one of the most popular tools that OpenOffice contains is drawing tool that is missing in traditional MS Office Package (OpenOffice1, 2012; OpenOffice, 2010). Goals OpenOffice.org is going to launch a 3rd version of the OpenOffice in the market, which is the result of over 20 years' software engineering. Intended from the initiate as a single element of software, it has reliability other products cannot compete. In addition, a totally open development procedure outlines that anybody is able to report bugs, can add new and innovative features, or improve the software. Moreover, OpenOffice.org version 3 offers everything that we need from our office software to carry out, the way we want to use it (OpenOffice1, 2012; OpenOffice, 2010). In addition, OpenOffice software is easy to learn, understand and use, if anyone is already making use of other office application, they will get to OpenOffice.org immediately. As well, OpenOffice international native-language community outlines that OpenOffice.org is almost certainly can be made available in our own language. Moreover, if we already have files built using any other version or office package, OpenOffice.org will almost certainly read them with no complexity (OpenOffice1, 2012; OpenOffice, 2010). Above all, OpenOffice.org is available free of charge and can be downloaded without paying license fees or any extra charges. However, OpenOffice comes under LGPL license, which means we can utilize it as a commercial, domestic, public administration and educational tool. In addition, it can be installed and used on as many computers as we want. Moreover, we can make as many copies of this tool and send them away to friends, family, employees, students anybody we want (OpenOffice1, 2012; OpenOffice, 2010). Features This section outlines some of the important features of OpenOffice software. One of the most important features of this application is its support for the Mac-OS X. This application also incorporates the feature of ODF 1.2 Support. Another main feature that is offered by OpenOffice software is in the form of its support for the characteristics of the future version 1.2 of the ISO customary OpenDocument Format (ODF). In this scenario, ODF 1.2 is based on a large formula language and a refined metadata model based on W3C principles RDF and OWL. Additionally, at the present ODF is authorized and accepted in a growing number of nations (OpenOffice1, 2012; OpenOffice, 2010; OpenOffice2). Another main feature that OpenOffice offers is in the form of its support for the Microsoft Office 2007 Import Filters. For instance, we can import Microsoft Office 2007 files directly open without requiring installation of additional software. OpenOffice at the present as well integrates a solver component that allows its users to deal with optimization issues and problems where the best value of any spreadsheet cell has to be based on restrictions offered in other cells. In addition, the new OpenOffice software offers some excellent chart enhancements feature. Through this we can draw better charts and diagrams for better visualizing facts and figures (OpenOffice1, 2012; OpenOffice, 2010; OpenOffice2). In addition, the majority of OpenOffice users look for support demonstrating custom error bars and regression equations. In this scenario, the OpenOffice developer society comprising Sun listened to these clients and incorporated these extremely preferred characteristics to OpenOffice applications. Additionally, the new OpenOffice software offers a great deal of support for spreadsheet collaboration in the course of Workbook Sharing. This innovative characteristic in OpenOffice allows the people to collaborate on spreadsheets with a lot of other users. With this facility other users could be able to simply include their data to the spreadsheet. Moreover, the new OpenOffice also offers PDF support (OpenOffice1, 2012; OpenOffice, 2010; OpenOffice2). Furthermore, the OpenOffice also offers VBA support. In this scenario, OpenOffice can be executed a lot of VBA macros unmodified because of its built-in and partial VBA support. In addition, the language selector in a writer toolbar facility in OpenOffice is a great capability for improving the overall performance of system and presenting much better support for application handling and management. The language selector tool makes assigning diverse languages to dissimilar paragraphs extremely simple (OpenOffice1, 2012; OpenOffice, 2010; OpenOffice2). Miscellaneous Features I have presented below a number of additional features of OpenOffice software: (OpenOffice1, 2012; OpenOffice, 2010; OpenOffice2) Named ranges in validity lists in Calais Easy-To-Use Print Dialog in Calc Block selection in Writer Language auto detected in paragraphs in Writer Custom Animation Paths in Impress Playing a Sound File During a Full Slide Show in Impress Microsoft Vista Support Columns and Rows in Spreadsheets Can Be Moved via Drag and Drop Auto sum button for cell ranges in Calc Improved HTML Export for Spreadsheets Offers excellent support for Access 2007 ".accdb" Files Improved Pivot Table Support Auto kerning support by default Preview in navigator for all modules Online update for OOo and extensions Java installer under Linux "Queries within Queries" Feature for Base Conclusion Open source refers to a software application or program in which the source code is made available to the wide-ranging public use that can be reused or modified from its genuine design free of charge. This paper has presented a detailed analysis of open source software “OpenOffice”. This paper has discussed numerous useful functions and features of this innovative tool. This is free of cost and can be modified by the programmers in order to improve its functionality. References Beal, V. (2008, September 29). What is Open Source Software? Retrieved March 23, 2012, from http://www.webopedia.com/DidYouKnow/Computer_Science/2005/open_source.asp OpenOffice. (2010). What is OpenOffice.org?: An introduction to the program, its features. Retrieved March 24, 2012, from http://www.openoffice.org/documentation/manuals/oooauthors/Intro.pdf OpenOffice1. (2012). Why OpenOffice.org. Retrieved March 23, 2012, from http://www.openoffice.org/why/ OpenOffice2. (n.d.). OpenOffice.org 3.0 New Features. Retrieved March 23, 2012, from 2012: http://www.openoffice.org/dev_docs/features/3.0/ Stallman, R. (2003). What is Open Source Software. 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