Hi everyone,
I've been using OpenOffice 3.0.1 (OS X 10.5) since about December 2008 (I was using MS Office before that), and recently discovered that OpenOffice had a document wizard that could convert MS Office documents to the ODF format. Although I have been using OpenOffice exclusively ever since I downloaded it, I still have some MS Office-formatted files that I would like to convert to ODF, but I don't want to risk losing them. How reliable is the converter? Does it actually convert the files,for make copies of them and then save the copies in ODF? I clicked through the converter (without actually converting any files) because it sounded like the converter makes copies, and saves those copies in ODF. If I have sub-directories inside my home folder will the wizard find them and convert them?
OpenOffice Document Converter?
OpenOffice Document Converter?
OOo 3.0.X on Mac OSx Leopard
Re: OpenOffice Document Converter?
Hi and welcome to the forums.
To convert a document to .odt from .doc you can open it and the use the Save As dialog, selecting the format you want from the drop down menu.
To convert a folder of documents all at once, you can use the converter, which is located at File > Wizards > Document Converter and following the wizard. you can specify a source folder and a target folder. I don't think it will recursively search sub folders though. What it does is make new files in the .odt, .ods and .odp formats, and leaves your original files intact, as .doc, .xls and .ppt.
It doesn't actually convert the original files themselves, it makes a new OOo version of them. This is a good thing, because as the Microsoft formats were until recently a locked proprietary secret, so small differences in the converted files will exist. But if the conversion doesn't work to your liking you haven't lost anything because the original files are still on your PC, untouched. complicated tables can be a bit hit and miss, but usually the conversion success is very good. Try it - you have nothing to lose!
To convert a document to .odt from .doc you can open it and the use the Save As dialog, selecting the format you want from the drop down menu.
To convert a folder of documents all at once, you can use the converter, which is located at File > Wizards > Document Converter and following the wizard. you can specify a source folder and a target folder. I don't think it will recursively search sub folders though. What it does is make new files in the .odt, .ods and .odp formats, and leaves your original files intact, as .doc, .xls and .ppt.
It doesn't actually convert the original files themselves, it makes a new OOo version of them. This is a good thing, because as the Microsoft formats were until recently a locked proprietary secret, so small differences in the converted files will exist. But if the conversion doesn't work to your liking you haven't lost anything because the original files are still on your PC, untouched. complicated tables can be a bit hit and miss, but usually the conversion success is very good. Try it - you have nothing to lose!
Ubuntu 14.10 Utopic Unicorn, LibreOffice Version: 4.3.3.2
Gurkha Welfare Trust
Gurkha Welfare Trust
Re: OpenOffice Document Converter?
Make copies and work on the copies. You should always have copies of important documents/files in different places in any event.aufan19 wrote:I still have some MS Office-formatted files that I would like to convert to ODF, but I don't want to risk losing them.
Also, for example, I prepared a ton of music MP3s for my own listening from my own old LPs. During some operation, transferring from one directory to another, the computer mixed some of them entirely so that I'd be listening to one piece and it would suddenly switch to another that had been partly inserted. No batch functions for me in future. I'll be patient and spend the time, one by one. Id suggest you do the same if so worried.
David.