OpenOffice Help

OpenOffice is the desktop office productivity software on our Sun Ray terminals which is compatible with Microsoft Office. OpenOffice can open and temporarily save documents in Microsoft Office file formats (e.g.: .doc, .docx, .xls, .ppt, .pub, .mdb).

If you are creating/editing important documents (essays, reports, etc.) we advise you use Google documents.

How do I get to OpenOffice?

You cannot get to OpenOffice directly.
OpenOffice opens automatically when you click a link to a Word, Excel or PowerPoint file found on WebCT, from a link on a web page or from a UWO email attachment.

When opening an email attachment choose Download, and open with Star Office 8 (the default). This opens your document in Read Only mode. FYI: Opening files attachments from other email clients (e.g.: Gmail or Hotmail) is currently unreliable.

How do I edit a document in OpenOffice?

1. Click Save As to save your document in the /tmp directory (default)
   
2. OpenOffice will change from Read Only to OpenOffice.org Writer. You can now edit your document.

How do I create a new document?

You must first be in OpenOffice.org Writer (see the instructions above on how to edit)

1. Click File - Close, or click the X (top right corner) to exit the existing document.
   This brings you to the OpenOffice Menu:
   
2. Click Text/Document to create a new (blank) document.

How do I print?

ALL documents go to the printer under the machine's session name. Look on the desktop for the print name, e.g.:

For Word Documents:

1. Click File - Print
2. Choose either Generic Printer or Library
3. Choose desired print options, if needed.

For PDF Documents:

1. Click the printer icon from within Adobe (NOT the browser's File-Print)
2. Choose either Generic Printer or Library
3. Choose desired print options, if needed.

To print multiple PowerPoint slides per page:

1. Choose File - Print
2. Select Handouts - from the print content menu
3. Select the number of slides per page
4. Click OK.

Can I create a PDF document in OpenOffice?

 You must first be in OpenOffice.org Writer (see the instructions above on how to edit).

1. Choose File - Export as PDF
2. Adjust the PDF export options (if needed)
3. Choose Export
4. Type in your file name
5. Click Export.

Where is my saved file? Can I re-attach my file to an email?

OpenOffice documents are saved in a /tmp directory for this session only. As soon as you logout the /tmp files are gone and the session name /tmp file name changes.

To find your saved document you must first be in OpenOffice.org Writer (see the instructions above on how to edit).

1. Click File - Open
2. Look in the top right corner
3. Click on the file folder with the UP arrow until you get to the /tmp directory
4. Scroll down in this directory to find your file.

To re-attach an OpenOffice file to an email use the instructions above for finding the file in the /tmp directory.

November 2011