2. Install and Configure OpenOffice
2.1. Download OpenOffice and Run the Installation Program
Follow the procedure below to download and install OpenOffice on your computer.
Launch Your Web Browser
Run Firefox, Internet Explorer, or your current browser:
To learn about Firefox, PCC's recommended Web browser, read Installing and Configuring Firefox.
Browse to OpenOffice.org's Homepage
Enter the Web site address, http://www.openoffice.org, into the address bar of your Web browser.
Click the "Download openoffice.org 2.0" Link
Click the download link. If you are familiar with bittorrent or wish to order a CD-ROM, there are also links for those options.
Select Your Language, Operating System, and Download Site
On the download page, pick "English," "Windows (incl. JRE)," and "USA-Indiana U." You can pick other options, such as a different language or a different download location, if you wish.
What is JRE? JRE stands for "Java Runtime Environment." JRE needs to be installed for OpenOffice to work. You can download and install JRE separately, if you wish, at http://www.java.com.
Read Donation Message and Click "Continue to Download"
OpenOffice.org is a succesful program because people donate their money and time to its production. While free, you should consider donating to OpenOffice if you find the program useful.
Wait For Download to Finish
OpenOffice is a complete office suite and is a very large program. It may take 10-20 minutes to download, even on a high-speed internet connection.
Run the Installation Program
After the download is finished, you may need to click again to open or run the install program. Look for the "OOo_2.0.0_Win32Intel_install_wjre.exe" program on your desktop:
Or, your browser may offer to run the install program for you:
Click to Open the Executable
Windows may warn you that the file you are running is an executable:
You may also notice an "Extracting" dialogue message, which is normal.
Begin the OpenOffice Install Wizard
The OpenOffice installation wizard will run automatically:
Click "Next."
Click "Unpack"
Wait as the package unpacks:
Click Next
OpenOffice is now ready to begin installing. Click the "Next" button to begin.
Click "I Accept" and "Next"
Click "I Accept" only if you agree to the OpenOffice free software license agreement. Then click "Next."
Enter a Name and Organization, Click Next
You can enter any username and organization. PCC recommends installing the software for "Anyone who uses this computer," as shown below.
Click "Next" to Agree to a "Complete" Installation
You can install only parts of OpenOffice if you wish, but the complete install is much easier.
Set Each Microsoft Office Document to Be Opened by OpenOffice
These settings will help you move from Microsoft Office to OpenOffice. You will still be able to open and use Microsoft Office if you need it, but OpenOffice will become the new default application.
Begin the Actual Installation
Click "Install" to begin the installation.
The program will take a few minutes to install.
Click "Finish"
2.2. Run OpenOffice for the First Time
Once OpenOffice is installed, it can be run from the desktop or from the Start menu of your computer. The first time you run OpenOffice, a short registration process will occur:
The First Time You Run OpenOffice
Click "Next" to Begin Registration Process
Click to "Accept" the OpenOffice User Agreement
If you do not agree with the user terms described, you should click "Decline."
Register Online
Registration is optional, and involves visiting the OpenOffice Web site and answering a series of questions.
2.3. Configure OpenOffice For Full Microsoft Office Compatibility
Do you ever send documents to people who use Microsoft Office? If so, there is one final configuration change you should make to OpenOffice to ensure that Microsoft Office users will be able to easily read your documents.
Click the "Tools" Menu and Select "Options"
The "Tools" menu is visible in all OpenOffice programs. The "Options..." choice is the last entry on the menu, as shown below.
Click "Load/Save" and "General"
Click the plus sign to expand the "Load/Save" options, if it is not already open. Then click "General" to view the general options in that category.
Select "Text Document" and "Microsoft Word 97/2000/XP"
Set "Document Type" to "Text Document," and then set the "Always save as" to "Microsoft Word 97/2000/XP."
Select "Spreadsheet" and "Microsoft Excel 97/2000/XP"
Select "Presentation" and "Microsoft PowerPoint 97/2000/XP"
Click "Okay" to Save Your Changes
After making the changes, you may notice that the "Save" dialog box indicates that your document will be saved in Microsoft's format:
| When saving or closing documents, you may sometimes see a warning message telling you that you are saving your document in Microsoft's format. You can ignore the warning. |