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successful upgrade to openoffice.org 3.0 ; ubiquity of .docx; reaching college students with linux

by Andrew Perry

Hi Everyone, (1) Thanks a million for all of the help, especially the link to the fantastic tutorial, posted by James Gray, I think. I am in the process of installing hardy updates, and it appears that openoffice.org 3.0 is part of what's being installed, so it looks like everything is working perfectly. (2) To Greg: yes, I could ask students to submit all of their assignments in .doc or .rtf format (or even open office format), but they most wouldn't listen. Many can't figure out how to save to any format but .docx. It's a perpetual hassle to nag them. Besides that, I get many files from colleagues, professors at my college and other colleges and universities, as well as the Mass. Dept. of Education, and increasingly, most are in Office 2007 formats. It's hard to convert the whole world to linux. (3) Here is a new issue for everyone who is interested in commenting. I am a mathematician but besides math ,I also teach a computer literacy course each semester. You would all be proud: I do my best every semester to convert students to the linux religion, or at least to make them aware of linux and the evils of Microsoft. However, for every student who finds my linux modules interesting (about 2 hours of a 45-hour course on average), there are a dozen who get annoyed and find the material boring and irrelevant. Once I brought in a PC running compiz and they found that mildly intriguing. They absolutely hate the movie "revolution os". If I pass out ubuntu cds, I doubt they get used. Can anyone suggest teaching resources (videos, for example) that would be likely to make an impact for non-technically minded college students ? Thanks, Andrew -Dr. Andrew B. Perry Dept. of Mathematics, Springfield College Schoo Hall Room 123 263 Alden St., Springfield MA 01109 Work Phone (413)748-3193

Feb. 1, 2009

Re: [Wlug] Wlug Digest, Vol 63, Issue 16

by Karl Lind

As OpenOffice 3.0 is a DIFERENT branch from 2.4, the quickest way is to download and install 3.0. It is made to run in parallel and to allow you the chance to migrate anything that the install may have forgotten.All the data that is in your home directory will still be there and during the install you will have the option to use your old settings. Karl Lind On Thu, Jan 29, 2009 at 12:00 PM, <wlug-request(a)mail.wlug.org> wrote: > Send Wlug mailing list submissions to > wlug(a)mail.wlug.org > > To subscribe or unsubscribe via the World Wide Web, visit > http://mail.wlug.org/mailman/listinfo/wlug > or, via email, send a message with subject or body 'help' to > wlug-request(a)mail.wlug.org > > You can reach the person managing the list at > wlug-owner(a)mail.wlug.org > > When replying, please edit your Subject line so it is more specific > than "Re: Contents of Wlug digest..." > > > Today's Topics: > > 1. Re: problem upgrading openoffice.org to version 3.0 > (Gregory Avedissian) > 2. Re: problem upgrading openoffice.org to version 3.0 (James Gray) > > > ---------------------------------------------------------------------- > > Message: 1 > Date: Thu, 29 Jan 2009 08:18:17 -0500 > From: Gregory Avedissian <avedis.g(a)verizon.net> > Subject: Re: [Wlug] problem upgrading openoffice.org to version 3.0 > To: Worcester Linux Users Group <wlug(a)mail.wlug.org> > Message-ID: <4981AC99.20403(a)verizon.net> > Content-Type: text/plain; charset=ISO-8859-1 > > > > Andrew Perry wrote: > > > [THE PROBLEM:] > > > > Unfortunately, I am at my wit's end to upgrade OpenOffice from 2.4.1 to > version 3 - which I need to open .docx and .xlsx files that my students at > Springfield College constantly send me. > > If these are class assignments that they're giving you, can't you specify > which file formats they use? > > Greg > > > ------------------------------ > > Message: 2 > Date: Thu, 29 Jan 2009 10:22:16 -0500 > From: James Gray <jamespgray(a)gmail.com> > Subject: Re: [Wlug] problem upgrading openoffice.org to version 3.0 > To: Worcester Linux Users Group <wlug(a)mail.wlug.org> > Message-ID: > <1a6cab400901290722j306e156fp9033dc53e717fe22(a)mail.gmail.com> > Content-Type: text/plain; charset=ISO-8859-1 > > There has been talk about getting ppa's signed, but you'll still need > to trust the signer. But that is always a problem with Free Software, > or anything else for that matter. > > On Thu, Jan 29, 2009 at 3:31 AM, randy cole <randyokc(a)gmail.com> wrote: > > Hi Andy, > > > > I am reluctant to add unofficial repositories, not wanting to "pollute" > my > > "pure" installation. > > > > More important question, how do you decide what repositories to trust? I > > thought I read something about launchpad apps being unsigned too... > > > > So, I downloaded the official package. (source tarball? I think?) No > > integration, grr! Worse, when I bring up my resume the indent & > pagination > > was off. That was a dealbreaker, so oo 2.4 for now on Linux. And I > don't > > see much difference. > > > > Randy > > randyokc at gmail dot com > > > > Andy Stewart wrote: > > > > -----BEGIN PGP SIGNED MESSAGE----- > > Hash: SHA1 > > > > James Gray wrote: > > > > > > This should do the trick for Open Office 3 in 8.04 (code named Hardy > Haron): > > > > deb http://ppa.launchpad.net/openoffice-pkgs/ppa/ubuntu hardy main > > > > Do you know how to add this repository in synaptic? Otherwise you can > > look here: > > > > > http://news.softpedia.com/news/How-To-Install-OpenOffice-org-3-0-in-Ubuntu-… > > > > *HOWEVER* in this example the deb line is for a different release then > > what you have so you need to use the line I provided above instead. > > > > Good luck and let us know how it goes, > > > > ~James > > > > > > HI Andrew, > > > > I'm not sure if it was clear, but the line that James suggested in his > > response needs to be added to the /etc/apt/sources.list file, if I'm not > > mistaken. You are telling the Ubuntu packaging system (apt) where to > > find the OpenOffice software package. There's probably a way to add > > this repository via the GUI as well. > > > > After you edit the /etc/apt/sources.list file, you need to update your > > package lists, and then if all works correctly, you should be able to > > install Open Office 3.mumble. > > > > Let us know how it goes, and then we'll know which blanks to fill in to > > help you further. Good luck! > > > > Later, > > > > Andy > > > > > > - -- > > Andy Stewart, Founder > > Worcester Linux Users' Group (http://www.wlug.org) > > Chelmsford Linux Meetup Group (http://linux.meetup.com/393) > > Amateur Radio: KB1OIQ > > -----BEGIN PGP SIGNATURE----- > > Version: GnuPG v1.4.2 (GNU/Linux) > > Comment: Using GnuPG with SUSE - http://enigmail.mozdev.org > > > > iD8DBQFJf+94Hl0iXDssISsRAo9pAJ93oZbVjnrPTZXi2OUEzsR4VNxU8gCfaOC/ > > 4e1anUU1SiSPT/TFgFk6gns= > > =KnSY > > -----END PGP SIGNATURE----- > > _______________________________________________ > > Wlug mailing list > > Wlug(a)mail.wlug.org > > http://mail.wlug.org/mailman/listinfo/wlug > > > > > > _______________________________________________ > > Wlug mailing list > > Wlug(a)mail.wlug.org > > http://mail.wlug.org/mailman/listinfo/wlug > > > > > > > ------------------------------ > > _______________________________________________ > Wlug mailing list > Wlug(a)mail.wlug.org > http://mail.wlug.org/mailman/listinfo/wlug > > > End of Wlug Digest, Vol 63, Issue 16 > ************************************ >

Jan. 29, 2009

Re: [Wlug] problem upgrading openoffice.org to version 3.0

by James Gray

There has been talk about getting ppa's signed, but you'll still need to trust the signer. But that is always a problem with Free Software, or anything else for that matter. On Thu, Jan 29, 2009 at 3:31 AM, randy cole <randyokc(a)gmail.com> wrote: > Hi Andy, > > I am reluctant to add unofficial repositories, not wanting to "pollute" my > "pure" installation. > > More important question, how do you decide what repositories to trust? I > thought I read something about launchpad apps being unsigned too... > > So, I downloaded the official package. (source tarball? I think?) No > integration, grr! Worse, when I bring up my resume the indent & pagination > was off. That was a dealbreaker, so oo 2.4 for now on Linux. And I don't > see much difference. > > Randy > randyokc at gmail dot com > > Andy Stewart wrote: > > -----BEGIN PGP SIGNED MESSAGE----- > Hash: SHA1 > > James Gray wrote: > > > This should do the trick for Open Office 3 in 8.04 (code named Hardy Haron): > > deb http://ppa.launchpad.net/openoffice-pkgs/ppa/ubuntu hardy main > > Do you know how to add this repository in synaptic? Otherwise you can > look here: > > http://news.softpedia.com/news/How-To-Install-OpenOffice-org-3-0-in-Ubuntu-… > > *HOWEVER* in this example the deb line is for a different release then > what you have so you need to use the line I provided above instead. > > Good luck and let us know how it goes, > > ~James > > > HI Andrew, > > I'm not sure if it was clear, but the line that James suggested in his > response needs to be added to the /etc/apt/sources.list file, if I'm not > mistaken. You are telling the Ubuntu packaging system (apt) where to > find the OpenOffice software package. There's probably a way to add > this repository via the GUI as well. > > After you edit the /etc/apt/sources.list file, you need to update your > package lists, and then if all works correctly, you should be able to > install Open Office 3.mumble. > > Let us know how it goes, and then we'll know which blanks to fill in to > help you further. Good luck! > > Later, > > Andy > > > - -- > Andy Stewart, Founder > Worcester Linux Users' Group (http://www.wlug.org) > Chelmsford Linux Meetup Group (http://linux.meetup.com/393) > Amateur Radio: KB1OIQ > -----BEGIN PGP SIGNATURE----- > Version: GnuPG v1.4.2 (GNU/Linux) > Comment: Using GnuPG with SUSE - http://enigmail.mozdev.org > > iD8DBQFJf+94Hl0iXDssISsRAo9pAJ93oZbVjnrPTZXi2OUEzsR4VNxU8gCfaOC/ > 4e1anUU1SiSPT/TFgFk6gns= > =KnSY > -----END PGP SIGNATURE----- > _______________________________________________ > Wlug mailing list > Wlug(a)mail.wlug.org > http://mail.wlug.org/mailman/listinfo/wlug > > > _______________________________________________ > Wlug mailing list > Wlug(a)mail.wlug.org > http://mail.wlug.org/mailman/listinfo/wlug > >

Jan. 29, 2009

Re: [Wlug] problem upgrading openoffice.org to version 3.0

by Gregory Avedissian

Andrew Perry wrote: > [THE PROBLEM:] > > Unfortunately, I am at my wit's end to upgrade OpenOffice from 2.4.1 to version 3 - which I need to open .docx and .xlsx files that my students at Springfield College constantly send me. If these are class assignments that they're giving you, can't you specify which file formats they use? Greg

Jan. 29, 2009

Re: [Wlug] problem upgrading openoffice.org to version 3.0

by randy cole

Hi Andy, I am reluctant to add unofficial repositories, not wanting to "pollute" my "pure" installation. More important question, how do you decide what repositories to trust? I thought I read something about launchpad apps being unsigned too... So, I downloaded the official package. (source tarball? I think?) No integration, grr! Worse, when I bring up my resume the indent & pagination was off. That was a dealbreaker, so oo 2.4 for now on Linux. And I don't see much difference. Randy randyokc at gmail dot com Andy Stewart wrote: > -----BEGIN PGP SIGNED MESSAGE----- > Hash: SHA1 > > James Gray wrote: > >> This should do the trick for Open Office 3 in 8.04 (code named Hardy Haron): >> >> deb http://ppa.launchpad.net/openoffice-pkgs/ppa/ubuntu hardy main >> >> Do you know how to add this repository in synaptic? Otherwise you can >> look here: >> >> http://news.softpedia.com/news/How-To-Install-OpenOffice-org-3-0-in-Ubuntu-… >> >> *HOWEVER* in this example the deb line is for a different release then >> what you have so you need to use the line I provided above instead. >> >> Good luck and let us know how it goes, >> >> ~James >> > > HI Andrew, > > I'm not sure if it was clear, but the line that James suggested in his > response needs to be added to the /etc/apt/sources.list file, if I'm not > mistaken. You are telling the Ubuntu packaging system (apt) where to > find the OpenOffice software package. There's probably a way to add > this repository via the GUI as well. > > After you edit the /etc/apt/sources.list file, you need to update your > package lists, and then if all works correctly, you should be able to > install Open Office 3.mumble. > > Let us know how it goes, and then we'll know which blanks to fill in to > help you further. Good luck! > > Later, > > Andy > > > - -- > Andy Stewart, Founder > Worcester Linux Users' Group (http://www.wlug.org) > Chelmsford Linux Meetup Group (http://linux.meetup.com/393) > Amateur Radio: KB1OIQ > -----BEGIN PGP SIGNATURE----- > Version: GnuPG v1.4.2 (GNU/Linux) > Comment: Using GnuPG with SUSE - http://enigmail.mozdev.org > > iD8DBQFJf+94Hl0iXDssISsRAo9pAJ93oZbVjnrPTZXi2OUEzsR4VNxU8gCfaOC/ > 4e1anUU1SiSPT/TFgFk6gns= > =KnSY > -----END PGP SIGNATURE----- > _______________________________________________ > Wlug mailing list > Wlug(a)mail.wlug.org > http://mail.wlug.org/mailman/listinfo/wlug >

Jan. 29, 2009

My HP Laser Jet works!

by Ken Jones

Thank you again WLUGers. I went to the page Brian recommended, followed the instructions, struggled with a couple of stupid mistakes and finally got my Fedora 4 box SAMBA writing on my HP Laser Jet attached to USB003 of my XP machine. Ken Jones Brian J. Conway wrote: --------- It looks like it's supported by the foo2zjs package: http://www.linuxprinting.org/show_printer.cgi?recnum=HP-LaserJet_1020 Haven't used it myself or checked Fedora, but I see it available in Debian 4.0/Etch -----------

Jan. 29, 2009

Re: [Wlug] problem upgrading openoffice.org to version 3.0

by Dave Fazzuoli

This is the procedure I used for upgrade. Just remember to substitute intrepid with hardy. clicky<http://forum.eeebuntu.org/viewtopic.php?f=25&t=1046&p=3995&hilit=openoffice…> -- David Fazzuoli Shrewsbury MA

Jan. 28, 2009

Re: [Wlug] Self-Introduction : Markus McLaughlin

by John Stoffel

Aaron> Markus McLaughlin wrote, on Jan 28, 2009 at 13:52 EST: >> Ubuntu is cool but it's not American based like Fedora is. Aaron> Just a comment on this, point. Aaron> Redhat is American-based. Aaron> Fedora is an international community. Aaron> Canonical is England-based. Aaron> Ubuntu is an international community. Yeah, I wanted to chime in on this as well, since Linux was started by someone from Finland (who might be a US citizen now...) so it's not really american made at all. Sorry to jump on you like this, I just think it's a specious arguement to use when picking one distro over another. Now, if you want to compare the speed of yum vs apt, then we've got a discussion. Anyway, I'm a happy Debian/Ubuntu (bleeding edge on both) user. I'm a professional SysAdmin as well, so I use RHEL, Solaris in my work life, along with some CentOS. I hate yum... :] Markus, hopefully we'll see you at the next meeting, and the one in March when I hope to present a little talk on programing the Arduino controller (http://www.arduino.cc) in the Ubuntu/Linux command line. It's quite fun! John

Jan. 28, 2009

Re: [Wlug] Self-Introduction : Markus McLaughlin

by Aaron Haviland

Markus McLaughlin wrote, on Jan 28, 2009 at 13:52 EST: > Ubuntu is cool but it's not American based like Fedora is. Hi Marcus, Just a comment on this, point. Redhat is American-based. Fedora is an international community. Canonical is England-based. Ubuntu is an international community. -- Aaron Haviland cell: [508] 344 - 8380 home: [508] 943 - 7974

Jan. 28, 2009

Re: [Wlug] Problem with a HP Laser Jet printer.

by Chuck Anderson

On Wed, Jan 28, 2009 at 01:52:56PM -0500, Ken Jones wrote: > Sounds like my Linux package 2.6.16-1.2115_FC4 is old and out-of-date. > Time to get foo2zjs. That package is from Fedora 4. Fedora is up to version 10 now. Anything older than Fedora 9 is out-of-date, since they only support the current version and the previous version.

Jan. 28, 2009