Linux in the Office

Thanks to Shaun Crossley at Kootenay Computers, Castlegar for provided the material on Linux software. Currently, "office suites" are some of the most popular business software packages, providing a well-rounded group of applications suited to keeping a business running smoothly. Traditionally, these products were available mostly on the Win9x/NT (Microsoft Windows 98, XP, and NT) platforms.

Recently, a number of office software suites have become available under Linux. StarOffice ( www.staroffice.com ) is a large package (about seventy megabytes) but is well worth the time spent downloading. There is also a "Deluxe" version available for sale online (US$39.95 plus shipping). The deluxe version provides an installation CD, a printed installation manual, and a printed user's guide, which are unavailable in the download able version.

StarOffice is also available under Win9x/NT. If one were considering migrating from that platform to Linux, one could download the Win9x/NT version of StarOffice and try it out, before committing oneself to Linux. (This would be a great way to convince a friend, relative, or business associate that they should check out Linux!)

The components of StarOffice are all very tightly integrated within a central application framework. Management of documents is centralized as well, within an easy to use point-and-click interface to documents and folders. In addition, StarOffice is capable of importing Microsoft Office 97 documents, so you can continue to work with your existing documents without worrying about file-conversion headaches. However, those with Corel WordPerfect documents will need to purchase the Deluxe version -- the free version supports only Microsoft Office documents, not WordPerfect documents.

The word processing component, StarWriter, feels very much like popular word processors on the Windows platform, such as Microsoft Word or WordPerfect. Menu items, toolbars and icons appear familiar and in very little time, one can begin working productively. In fact, this entire column was written using StarWriter.

StarCalc, the spreadsheet application, feels much like Excel, Microsoft's spreadsheet offering. Functions, formulas -- most if not all of Excel's functionality is duplicated within StarCalc.

Other modules within StarOffice allow for the creation of presentations and slideshows, viewing and editing of web pages, and arranging personal schedules. In addition, StarOffice can serve as your e-mail and news client, reading and sending e-mail and news group messages easily and securely.

There are a few shortcomings of StarOffice, such as the lack of WordPerfect import filters in the free version. Also, macros may not translate properly when importing them to StarOffice -- but there is a powerful macro language, StarBasic, that appears to have much of the functionality of Microsoft's Visual Basic for Applications.

Despite its few minor shortcomings, StarOffice 5.1 is an excellent software package. For those accustomed to Windows Win9x/NT and Microsoft Office, it provides a familiar environment in which to work productively under the Linux operating system. Anyone working with Linux and needing a professional-quality office suite should definitely check out StarOffice.