Microsoft Office 2010 or other writing software
0
I've been using Microsoft Office for a few years now and I always had some trouble with, how do I say this, technicalities. I assume the euphemism has gotten across. Recently though, I've been having quite a few trouble with this, even though this were working fine for months.
Anyway, my Microsoft Office isn't really working out and, since I use writing software quite a lot, I was wondering if you either now of a way to help with this or, and maybe this is a priority, if you know of any decent, free writing software that I can use for Windows 7.
Anyway, my Microsoft Office isn't really working out and, since I use writing software quite a lot, I was wondering if you either now of a way to help with this or, and maybe this is a priority, if you know of any decent, free writing software that I can use for Windows 7.
0
Flaser
OCD Hentai Collector
What are your requirements? Are you writing a book? Letters? Office Documentation? Short stuff but for professional publication?
In short, do you need a word processor, desktop publisher, or plain text editor? Word processors are stuff focused on short documents, MS Word being the archetype. Desktop publishing software is made to handle large bodies of texts. Finally plain text editors are only focused on writing plain text and is a product not well known by Windows users beside programmers.
I have a feeling you're looking for a word processor, but I thought it prudent to point out what other *types* of software are out there, as your task might call for something else.
As for "free" Word substitutes, there's Libre Office the current successor to Open Office after the whole Sun fiasco.
In short, do you need a word processor, desktop publisher, or plain text editor? Word processors are stuff focused on short documents, MS Word being the archetype. Desktop publishing software is made to handle large bodies of texts. Finally plain text editors are only focused on writing plain text and is a product not well known by Windows users beside programmers.
I have a feeling you're looking for a word processor, but I thought it prudent to point out what other *types* of software are out there, as your task might call for something else.
As for "free" Word substitutes, there's Libre Office the current successor to Open Office after the whole Sun fiasco.
0
Flaser wrote...
What are your requirements? Are you writing a book? Letters? Office Documentation? Short stuff but for professional publication?In short, do you need a word processor, desktop publisher, or plain text editor? Word processors are stuff focused on short documents, MS Word being the archetype. Desktop publishing software is made to handle large bodies of texts. Finally plain text editors are only focused on writing plain text and is a product not well known by Windows users beside programmers.
I have a feeling you're looking for a word processor, but I thought it prudent to point out what other *types* of software are out there, as your task might call for something else.
As for "free" Word substitutes, there's Libre Office the current successor to Open Office after the whole Sun fiasco.
I tried to be short so people would stick to the point but I see I provided little information and I think you are the guy to talk to.
Well, I suppose I have many requirements. I do want software to write long documents, books actually, I also write relatively short documents such as articles or reviews and starting next September, I'll want to write school papers.
I also have some privacy reservations which I understand can be seen as a paranoid but I am not looking for online software as I've seen people suggest on other websites such as Evernote.
I've also looked into OpenOffice and LibreOffice but I know nothing or very little about them.
0
Flaser
OCD Hentai Collector
nateriver10 wrote...
Flaser wrote...
What are your requirements? Are you writing a book? Letters? Office Documentation? Short stuff but for professional publication?In short, do you need a word processor, desktop publisher, or plain text editor? Word processors are stuff focused on short documents, MS Word being the archetype. Desktop publishing software is made to handle large bodies of texts. Finally plain text editors are only focused on writing plain text and is a product not well known by Windows users beside programmers.
I have a feeling you're looking for a word processor, but I thought it prudent to point out what other *types* of software are out there, as your task might call for something else.
As for "free" Word substitutes, there's Libre Office the current successor to Open Office after the whole Sun fiasco.
I tried to be short so people would stick to the point but I see I provided little information and I think you are the guy to talk to.
Well, I suppose I have many requirements. I do want software to write long documents, books actually, I also write relatively short documents such as articles or reviews and starting next September, I'll want to write school papers.
I also have some privacy reservations which I understand can be seen as a paranoid but I am not looking for online software as I've seen people suggest on other websites such as Evernote.
I've also looked into OpenOffice and LibreOffice but I know nothing or very little about them.
Don't use OpenOffice, it's development is dead, use Libre Office instead. Libre Office is FOSS (Free Open-Source Software), so it can be freely downloaded and used, and it's meant to be an "MS Office Substitute" so it should be more or less the same usage wise. (Unfortunately it's not, so prepare for some cursing).
For small documents, MS Office is pretty much *the* software of choice worldwide, so they're unavoidable and going the "non-MS" way *will* give you plenty of grief.
As for writing a book: don't... at least not in Word/Writer.
You're better off breaking up your work-flow into specific parts and only focusing on the task at hand just as professionals do it:
1. Writing.
2. Editing.
3. Publishing
There's a separate piece of software for each task.
1. Writing: When you write, only focus on writing, there are even software out that specifically made for writers. I include reviewing and revising your stuff in this section. Focus on content, altogether ignore formatting!
2. Editing: This is the overall review and revision of your text. You're still focusing on content, but you ignore specifics and look for overall consistency, and this is when you focus on functional division of the text into Chapters, Headings, Tables, Paragraphs. This is functional, only focus on what is what, *not* how it looks!
3. Publishing: Now is the time to ascribe the proper styles to all the elements you defined during editing. This is when you create an actual layout. Because your text is already broken into separate, distinct elements (paragraphs, headings, tables, diagrams) you can focus on overall style and let the software do the layout and only intervene in problematic areas.
Since I only have a cursory knowledge of this world (as I wasn't in publishing but office documentation) I can't recommend specific software to you, but others have created long lists:
http://www.literatureandlatte.com/links.php
http://www.dailywritingtips.com/writing-software/
0
Flaser wrote...
Don't use OpenOffice, it's development is dead, use Libre Office instead. Libre Office is FOSS (Free Open-Source Software), so it can be freely downloaded and used, and it's meant to be an "MS Office Substitute" so it should be more or less the same usage wise. (Unfortunately it's not, so prepare for some cursing).For small documents, MS Office is pretty much *the* software of choice worldwide, so they're unavoidable and going the "non-MS" way *will* give you plenty of grief.
As for writing a book: don't... at least not in Word/Writer.
You're better off breaking up your work-flow into specific parts and only focusing on the task at hand just as professionals do it:
1. Writing.
2. Editing.
3. Publishing
There's a separate piece of software for each task.
1. Writing: When you write, only focus on writing, there are even software out that specifically made for writers. I include reviewing and revising your stuff in this section. Focus on content, altogether ignore formatting!
2. Editing: This is the overall review and revision of your text. You're still focusing on content, but you ignore specifics and look for overall consistency, and this is when you focus on functional division of the text into Chapters, Headings, Tables, Paragraphs. This is functional, only focus on what is what, *not* how it looks!
3. Publishing: Now is the time to ascribe the proper styles to all the elements you defined during editing. This is when you create an actual layout. Because your text is already broken into separate, distinct elements (paragraphs, headings, tables, diagrams) you can focus on overall style and let the software do the layout and only intervene in problematic areas.
Since I only have a cursory knowledge of this world (as I wasn't in publishing but office documentation) I can't recommend specific software to you, but others have created long lists:
http://www.literatureandlatte.com/links.php
http://www.dailywritingtips.com/writing-software/
I think something got lost in translation for me, so to speak, but if I understood you correctly, you are saying I should stay with MS Office but not write a book in it?
Well, in that case, what would you recommend in terms of technical issues? I think you know what I'm talking about but I'm not sure if it is allowed. PM if you prefer. And what would you recommend in terms of writing long documents such as books?
0
Flaser
OCD Hentai Collector
nateriver10 wrote...
Flaser wrote...
Don't use OpenOffice, it's development is dead, use Libre Office instead. Libre Office is FOSS (Free Open-Source Software), so it can be freely downloaded and used, and it's meant to be an "MS Office Substitute" so it should be more or less the same usage wise. (Unfortunately it's not, so prepare for some cursing).For small documents, MS Office is pretty much *the* software of choice worldwide, so they're unavoidable and going the "non-MS" way *will* give you plenty of grief.
As for writing a book: don't... at least not in Word/Writer.
You're better off breaking up your work-flow into specific parts and only focusing on the task at hand just as professionals do it:
1. Writing.
2. Editing.
3. Publishing
There's a separate piece of software for each task.
1. Writing: When you write, only focus on writing, there are even software out that specifically made for writers. I include reviewing and revising your stuff in this section. Focus on content, altogether ignore formatting!
2. Editing: This is the overall review and revision of your text. You're still focusing on content, but you ignore specifics and look for overall consistency, and this is when you focus on functional division of the text into Chapters, Headings, Tables, Paragraphs. This is functional, only focus on what is what, *not* how it looks!
3. Publishing: Now is the time to ascribe the proper styles to all the elements you defined during editing. This is when you create an actual layout. Because your text is already broken into separate, distinct elements (paragraphs, headings, tables, diagrams) you can focus on overall style and let the software do the layout and only intervene in problematic areas.
Since I only have a cursory knowledge of this world (as I wasn't in publishing but office documentation) I can't recommend specific software to you, but others have created long lists:
http://www.literatureandlatte.com/links.php
http://www.dailywritingtips.com/writing-software/
I think something got lost in translation for me, so to speak, but if I understood you correctly, you are saying I should stay with MS Office but not write a book in it?
Well, in that case, what would you recommend in terms of technical issues? I think you know what I'm talking about but I'm not sure if it is allowed. PM if you prefer. And what would you recommend in terms of writing long documents such as books?
As I pointed out, I'm not a writer so I can't give you any meaningful advice on which software to use for writing books. I've given some lists from people who do. Read up on what your options are and try some out until you find something that feels comfortable.
As for word processing, it's your choice, I'm just stressing that since *practically everyone else* uses MS word, using any 3rd party product will bring some strain with it.
As for your questions of "security" I'm not really understanding what you mean, unless you 'might' be referring to software that you no longer possess a valid license for... in that case a famous Bay of Pirates is your friend.
If you go there I might think about whether you need the latest software... for one thing the Ribbon interface makes me break out in explicative, hence I stuck with Office 2003, the last version *without* it.
0
If you're planning to write a novel I recommend Storybook. It's the premier FOSS for novelists.
Personally I disagree with Flaser's opinion, I've set-up multiple organizations to use many different kinds of productivity software suites. At the end of the day, there is little difference between them and it's entirely possible to have them work inter-operatively with each other. It is a little more complicated if you don't use Office, the programs aren't as flashy or friendly, but you get what you pay for.
Now I'm sure most people in the IT industry will laugh at my earlier statement about difference. Office does provide functionality that you simply can't get with any other productivity suite (Excel's JavaScript API for instance), however, most users will never even use that functionality, much less find out how to access it. Why pay up the ass for something that you can get for free and for features you'll never even use?
I recently trained one company of 8 people to use Linux, LibreOffice, Thunderbird and a few workflow management and task management systems, then set up an Exchange server and NAS for them. They can barely tell the difference, they're fully capable of producing the same material they were able to with Office and the boss fucking loves it because it's free.
Personally I disagree with Flaser's opinion, I've set-up multiple organizations to use many different kinds of productivity software suites. At the end of the day, there is little difference between them and it's entirely possible to have them work inter-operatively with each other. It is a little more complicated if you don't use Office, the programs aren't as flashy or friendly, but you get what you pay for.
Now I'm sure most people in the IT industry will laugh at my earlier statement about difference. Office does provide functionality that you simply can't get with any other productivity suite (Excel's JavaScript API for instance), however, most users will never even use that functionality, much less find out how to access it. Why pay up the ass for something that you can get for free and for features you'll never even use?
I recently trained one company of 8 people to use Linux, LibreOffice, Thunderbird and a few workflow management and task management systems, then set up an Exchange server and NAS for them. They can barely tell the difference, they're fully capable of producing the same material they were able to with Office and the boss fucking loves it because it's free.