Open Office or ..?

[bk T]

Which Free Office suite is the most popular now?

Must be compatible with MS Office....


You views and recommendations, please.

[mzee]

The most common, and compatible one is Libre Office which is available in most versions of Linux, and Windows.
My favourite is Softmaker Free Office 2018, also available for Linux, and Windows.
I use Google Documents, and Google Sheets for working online.

[wainuitech]

Two Frees that I put on Customers Computers.

Softmaker Free Office --https://www.freeoffice.com/en/ While it is Free, you still need to get the Licence.

OnlyOffice-- https://www.onlyoffice.com/desktop.aspx

By Default, OnlyOffice saves in Microsoft Format .docx etc Softmaker you have to change other wise it saves in its own format.

Softmaker has several layout options.

Below is The Text (Word)

As well as both of above side by side (only Office on the left - Blue)

You can put both on and try them, the price is right

[piroska]

Wainui....give us a breakdown on them, pros and cons.
The 3 of them...

I have Libre, no issues with it at all, I save in .docx, xlsx etc...

[Agent_24]

I use LibreOffice, works great for me, though I don't do a huge variety with it. Mostly basic spreadsheets and text documents, sometimes with pictures/tables inserted etc. Sometimes I need more advanced things but it's always been capable.

Don't typically need to open or save other formats so I don't care if that doesn't work perfectly, but it's certainly very usable.

I don't think I'll ever use M$ or others again. Though I'll keep my Corel Office CD for nostalgia...

Best thing about LibreOffice, none of that ribbon garbage.

[wainuitech]

Wainui....give us a breakdown on them, pros and cons.
The 3 of them...

Good question -- I'll write something out later from my own experience ( and customers) Cant do it at the moment heading out to do a couple of jobs, but I'll post back as soon as I finish it.

[wainuitech]

1st thing to remember is all the Office programs will basically do the same things (with some exceptions)

The Average user just wants to be able to open a program and use it, some don't have a clue about how to “Save As” in a different format. Some of the Free programs save in non MS formats and others unless they have the same program cant open files. Keep in mind not referring to more experienced users.

The most common format is Microsofts.

The beauty of most of these free programs is they work on various OS’s, Windows linux and MAC.

The free programs, from own personal experiences going by what customers say:

Libre Office - Some simply don't like it the way its laid out, others think its fine.
I’ve installed it in the past and people have called for me to remove it and put something else in.

The default Save of Documents is .odt While the newer versions of MS word will open them fine many don't have a clue how on older versions.

Some documents dont display correctly in Libre office.

One of my job sheets that was created almost 17years ago, I use daily, in Libre office looks horrible, the text boxes are all out of alignment all the fonts are all over the place and wrong, where as the MS office (any version) and both OnlyOffice, FreeOffice, display perfectly. Had customers complain about the same thing, esp with older documents.

OnlyOffice — the interface is clean, not cluttered, the Default Saves are the same as MS usage, basically everything I’ve tried has opened fine with it. It keeps the formatting if a document was created in Any version of MS Office, and the Help section is well laid out and graphical, easy to follow.

The Cons - Apart from some of the options are not displayed by default ( average user wouldn't use anyway), cant really find anything. Keep in mind only been using it for a month or so and may not have found anything I dont like yet

Free Office - So far apart from running Macros, it does everything that MS office will do and the same way , the layout can be changed to your personal styles and seems to be fully compatible with MS Office, including displaying correctly.

Their online help is Brilliant, they answer sometimes with in minutes to requests, there have been several times I've had to contact them relating to getting customers Keys sent to my email, I have a "Catch All" on the domain name so I use the persons name before the @ and I should get it. Worked great for a few years then all of a sudden wouldn't, found out after they looked rather deeply into the server records that its because they are using a relay system to send keys, and some email providers don't allow that. Contacted mine and they white listed softmaker - worked OK again for a few weeks, then played up again, so someones changed something.

The Ribbon (if you use that) is not as cluttered as MS, but you can also select the Older style of Office 2003.

The cons - The having to get a free Licence for it, while that's no biggie, the problem is you then get hit with their advertising, upgrades or new features sometimes via email, that's why I use (Sometimes) a disposable /Temp email address to get the Licence key.

The default save format for text is .tmdx, which just about every other Office product goes — What the ??? is that. You can Save As other formats or like I do (for customers) change the default save to MS formats - no problems then.

Conclusion: Every one likes different products, various reasons, best way is to try them and see what suits yourself. Generally save as a MS formats and they will work on every product.
OR just buy office and be done with it LOL.

Looking online you can often find reviews comparing different programs, lot more indepth. Example libreoffice_vs_softmaker-office-freeoffice Down the bottom of the page is other reviews as well Pros / Cons

There's one thing that NONE of the free ones do like Microsoft Office -- They don't integrate into other products, not by default anyway OR require addons to get the integration. This is one of the main reasons I stick with MS Office.

On saying that if anyone wants to ask for help I'm willing to do that if I'm able, Except Libre as I don't really use it. (5 Office programs installed are enough on this computer)

[piroska]

Free Office

The cons - The having to get a free Licence for it, while that's no biggie, the problem is you then get hit with their advertising, upgrades or new features sometimes via email, :

Thanks, very useful comparison.
I have installed this one.
No license. Just the usual linux install.
Yep, looks like the newer MS OFfices.

[wainuitech]

Thanks, very useful comparison.
I have installed this one.
No license. Just the usual linux install.
Yep, looks like the newer MS OFfices.

Yeah as I mentioned I have 5 office programs ( hey gotta try them) LOL

Re the Licence, the linux version may ? be different. Never tried it in Linux.

Just opened Windows sandbox and installed the Free 2018 version. To Check (if the Linux is the same) Top Right the ? Then manage License The windows Version gives a link to get it, thats when I open a temp email, get the license and thats it.

To change the default formats -- From File - Options - Files Tab ---- picture---- Same for all three apps.

[piroska]

Update: 2 annoyances.

You can't right click and Paste Unformatted
Crop is horrible....

So back to Libre as it's 2 things I do all the time. But it wasn't bad.....