[Solved] How to open MS Office x files

[BrianCox]

Hello

I'm new to OO and use a PC as a tool, so I don't tinker about so I'm perhaps a bit naive on these matters.
I found forum posts in which reference is made to settings etc but I have no idea where to set those!
Please could you offer a really simple step-by-step guide to making OO handle docx, pptx, xlsx, etc files.
If there's something else to download, please offer the URL for it.
I work voluntarily for a large NPO and some of my co-volunteers use MS, I use OO, and we need to exchange files.
I'm using OpenOffice 3.4 (downloaded last night) and Windows 7 Home Premium.

Thanks!

[RoryOF]

OpenOffice does not reliably handle docx etc files. It may open them, but doesn't, as far as I know, save them. If you can, get your collaborators to work in .doc etc (i.e. non ---x files), but even at that there can be problems.

Some versions of LibreOffice are reported to handle the ---x files better, but I have no experience of this. Perhaps someone else can supply the information.

[RGB]

If I understand correctly what happens on the mailing lists, AOO 3.4.1 (end of July) will have several improvements on the import filters that come, more or less directly, from Symphony's contribution. But as Rory said, AOO do not export to whatever-x formats, only read them.

[esperantisto]

some of my co-volunteers use MS, I use OO, and we need to exchange files.

Tell them to either join you and use AOO and the ODT format for exchange or send you the documents in DOC, not DOCX.

Some versions of LibreOffice are reported to handle the ---x files better, but I have no experience of this

I do have such experience with DOCX. LibO can save to DOCX but does this so badly that it’s not suitable for exchange with MSO users.

[BrianCox]

Thanks! That was fast!

Unfortunately some of my collaborators use their work PCs on which their company rules dictate what may and may not be used. Feeble, but true.
Anyway, thanks, I'll save in doc etc format as I have done already. Although I find OO doesn't want to open ---x files. Any tips? Is there an "update"? I look forward to end July!

[jrkrideau]

Thanks! That was fast!

Unfortunately some of my collaborators use their work PCs on which their company rules dictate what may and may not be used. Feeble, but true.
Anyway, thanks, I'll save in doc etc format as I have done already. Although I find OO doesn't want to open ---x files. Any tips? Is there an "update"? I look forward to end July!

You might want to install LibreOffice as well as OOo. I cannot say from personal experience but there seems to be a feeling that LO handles MS -> LO -> MS a bit better than OOo at least up to the most recent OOo release.