Bitten by a few OpenOffice.org quirks

[Thetargos]

Well... I know I have been a bit apologetic about some FLOSS programs, OOo in particular... Now I' ve been bitten by a few quirks that didn't used to happen. First and foremost printing... I had never had problems while printing from OOo, until yes, I really needed to (Murphy's law?) :rolleyes:, I couldn't help but to laugh quite hard. The other problem is actually more a concern as it directly affects some one of the strongest points of the Open Document Format... I'm working on this fairly complex document (lots of objects and embedded images, tables, lists and what not). It's a document that was originally written in FC5's OOo 2.0.1 (I think). At any rate, I'm reviewing it and updating the thing, and the first shock came when opening the file in F8's OOo 2.3, the document was all mingled, and to my shock with the format all messed up. This is really bad, as one of the supposed strengths of the format was to ensure forward and backwards compatibility. Not only that, but upon spending a few hours putting it all back together, I had to go out and work on another F7 machine. Trying to open the file there, to my shock was again all mingled and with its format all messed up.

I know I may be pushing OOo too hard with this document in particular, as it is, like I said, fairly complex, but the very fact that the the format isn't holding up across different revisions of the same major version of the suite is quite indicative of severe deficiencies in how OOo really handles the format.

I'm not complaining as such, nor criticizing this indeed amazing application, but I can see why it is not recommended for anything than domestic use. I know, it is free software and you shouldn't expect professional grade compliance, support, yadda, yadda, yadda. The fact is OOo is for productivity applications what Linux for Operating Systems, a milestone. Hopefully by version 3.0 and beyond these problems won't occur and it will be fully ODF compliant in that it could be possible to open (and hopefully edit) documents produced in any ODF compliant productivity suite like IBM's Lotus Notes, StarOffice, WordPerfect, etc.

[Jman]

Mangled how? If you can show a screenshot that might help.

Also might try other ODF tools such as abiword or koffice.

[Thetargos]

Mangled in the way that "objects" (frames or images, for instance) would be completely out of place, page number would greatly vary from one version of OOo to another. For example, the document amounts 73 pages in OOo 2.3, while takes almost 85 pages in OOo 2.2. I have not tested with other older versions of OOo.

When I have the opportunity I'll take some screenshots.

Abiword is actually worse than OOo in that regard, it is much more difficult to get the objects to properly align, not to mention that it is SLOW rendering embedded images and other "features" of the document. I must confess I have not tested KOffice yet (last version I tried was way back in Red Hat 8 or 9), will have to give it a try, I guess.

Because an image speaks a thousand words... That's not the document in question, but another complex one I was working on back in the day of FC5 (was trying to write a brief "manual")

[Dan]

I always keep a copy of Star Office 7 (OOo 1.1.5) installed on one drive just for that reason.

[PatMcLJr]

I'm no expert or that knowlagable.
Here is some stuff for bairn storming

fonts?
memory settings?
object/image directories if called by reference?
printer settings, especially if you used a setting that refered to it for formating?
I don't think this would matter but, user privlages?
java version?

and finally, the Ooo forum
http://user.services.openoffice.org/en/forum/
or the old community forum
http://www.oooforum.org/

Hope you get it figured out.
Best of Luck,
Pat Jr.

[techmatt]

How are you anchoring the images. I always switch it to character to get best results between :( Word and Open Office. The same may be true in your case as well.

[Thetargos]

I always keep a copy of Star Office 7 (OOo 1.1.5) installed on one drive just for that reason.
What really gets me is that I am a true OOo beliver (yeah, you can say I like drama). I've been advocating it for the longest time and I'm really surprised this is the case with the documents and the ODF... What's worse is that stuff like this may be what turns the tides towards OOXML instead (God forbid!), but if the ODF can't hold up between several revisions and versions of its highest profile proponents (OpenOffice), that is certainly not good. Not good at all. I still have a copy of StarOffice 6.0 (OOo 1.1.0 I believe), but I'm not sure how will it react on these documents.

@techmatt:

I usually leave the objects to be wrapped by text (setting that apparently Abiword doesn't support for ODF documents). The only exception to this rule tend to be text frames. I'm currently booted into the F8 LiveCD checking a few feedback reports from friends and relatives about the distro and what not, but as soon as I get back to my install of F8 I'll check and let you know.

@ PatMcLJr:

I'm actually subscribed to the OOo forums, and even though I have been an assiduous reader of them, I seldom have posted there. I'm hesitant, though, to post there, as all I know is that these documents are "mangled" across several versions of OOo, but other than that I cannot say why or exactly point my finger at how am I formatting the documents. I guess once I have all the "evidence" summed up, I'll file a "report"... I'm not sure that any of the other factors have anything to do with the "problem" other than proper format handling across several versions of OOo. Like I said, once I get back to my normal install I'll be able to check exactly what format does every object, both in the document that I have the most problems with and this other "manual" document have and summarize this to properly report this on the OOo forums.

[stevea]

Goto OO "tools->options" and open the menu "OpenOffice.org Writer" open the "compatibility" option.
You can click your way throught the OO1.1 settings as well as I.

Have you scanned the ooffice forums at Sun ? There is a lot if info and specifics there.

[Thetargos]

Thanks stevea. I'm actually not too concerned about my issues, but as the perception in general that these problems might have in the adoption in the long term of Open technologies like the Open Document Format and Open Office in particular. Again, not for me, but for other users, mainly new users who may find these kinds of problems as deal makers or breakers. That's why I posted this in the Linux Chat forum, rather than the Software support forum ;)

At any rate, I guess I wanted to further discuss the discrepancies and degree of support of ODF in several applications, which are allegedly ODF "compliant".

[Thetargos]

Just for completeness sake, here's another screenshot of the same document as before on OOo 2.3 on F7, the very same document displays perfectly on OOo 2.3 on F8, though :rolleyes: