Apache OpenOffice for Windows

A free suite of office software. Like Microsoft Office, it offers users everything they need to work with electronic documents. The following will describe which programs you get if you decide to download OpenOffice.

OpenOffice uses its own document format, but it is also fully compatible with documents created in Microsoft Office. With it, you can create and edit text documents, spreadsheets, presentations, databases. This office suite includes a huge number of tools for working with information and is as good as the paid suite from Microsoft.

OpenOffice 4.1 has a familiar user interface that is fully customizable.

The following programs are part of OpenOffice.org:

• Writer - A word processor (analogous to MS Word);
• Calc - Tabular processor (analogous to MS Excel);
• Impress - program for preparing presentations (analog of MS PowerPoint);
• Base - Mechanism of connection to external DBMS and built-in DBMS HSQLDB (analog of MS Access);
• Draw - Vector graphic editor (analog of MS Visio, Adobe Illustrator, CorelDRAW);
• Math - Editor of formulas MathType (analog of MS Equation Tools).

The package of necessary editors

Writer. Editor carries out work with the texts as familiar MS Word. It has all the familiar features: a set of standard and unique fonts, an extensive package of text formatting, the ability to use tables, images and other visualization elements;

OpenOffice Calc. The spreadsheet editor is similar to MS Excel in interface and performing functions. It has all the necessary functions and formulas, as well as table formatting elements to make working with numerical data a fascinating and easy task;

Impress. A slide editor for creating presentations similar to MS PowerPoint. This package contains interesting backgrounds and fonts, customizable animation and other features which help to make a good visual presentation;

Base. The package is built in RDBMS HSQLDB, and you can connect to external databases, which is similar to the functions of MS Access;

Draw. Included in the standard OpenOffice suite and is analogous to such popular products as Adobe Illustrator or CorelDRAW;

Math. This is a separate package of OpenOffice for working with symbols to create formulas. Microsoft has a similar product in the form of a dedicated MS Equation Tools plug-in.

Advantages of OpenOffice

If you compare Open Office with Microsoft Office, the former product has one huge advantage: it is available absolutely free.