On Tue, 18 Aug 1998 [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote: > I have been recommending Linux to many people sense I first found out about > it, and I point them to Debian because it seems to have the most open and > supportive access I have found. I also point them to the Linux home site so > they can form there own opinions about the different distributions. The > biggest argument I get back is "Everyone I deal with is using MSOffice and > I need to stay compatible". Now I understand that MS software won't > currently run on Linux, however, when I pressure them for more info, I find > that the most common compatibility issue is MSWord97! Surely any word
I guess the fact that different versions of Word don't talk to each other isn't an issue then... ;) > processing system should be able to import many different formats of > documents. I know the Staroffice seems to be a common word processor for > Linux and WordPerfect, I hear has been ported as well. If either of these Indeed - WordPerfect is a recent release for Linux, and IIRC both it and Startoffice support MSWord (though which versions I'm not sure - see their websites for details). There is also a Word2X package which does a basic MSwrod-unix text conversion. > systems can import MSWord documents, then compatibility is NOT an issue. I > don't know if this is the case or not. Also, are there any other common > office tools, like spreadsheet, database etc. . . that can be imported to > the Linux equivalent? I know the MS software is locked behind heavy Oracle (database), and I think Infomix's product are due in linux versions soon. There is also a Netware server for linux as well. Most morder packages can output in a non-product specific format as well (spreadsheets in tab or comma separated form, .rtf text files &c.). > copyright laws and such, however, there should be no reason the file > formats they produce can't be implemented in Linux software as > Import/Export features. This would allow more people to use Linux AND keep > in touch with their clients who are using MS software. Please educate me on > the formats that ARE compatible, so I can pass this on to people who say > "I'd love to use Linux, but my client uses MS'X'software and I have to stay > compatible." Then I can reply "Certainly compatibility is an issue, > however, You can use 'X' to import and export to MS'X' format, stay fully > compatible with your clients AND take advantage of a more powerful System > as well!" I guess if the output formats of MS products are available (which I presume they are since non-Ms packages can read them, then I presume that linux importers should be available/writable)... HTH, Matthew -- Elen sila lumenn' omentielvo Steward of the Cambridge Tolkien Society Selwyn College Computer Support http://www.geocities.com/Area51/Chamber/8841/ http://www.cam.ac.uk/CambUniv/Societies/tolkien/ http://pick.sel.cam.ac.uk/
