Beginning OpenOffice 3: From Novice to Professional (Beginning: From Novice to Professional)

This is a great book for a great product. Open Office is great for those of us that Microsoft has chosen to leave in the dust. Microsoft took a great product and attempted to fix it. Only problem - it did not need fixing. They obviously never heard the old saying "if it ain't broke, don't fix it." Open Office 3 is a great product for those people who are used to using Word Perfect and the older Microsoft Versions, and who do not want to spend all day long trying to figure out how to write a simple business letter, or do a simple envelope. .

When I discovered that Open Office was not just a clone of MS Office, I decided I needed a hard copy reference. I found it in this book. I am surprised how different Open Office is from MS Office. It has both advantages and disadvantages over MS Office. I recommend this book to some one who will be using Open Office on a regular basis as I do.

The book needs a simple tuitorial that is a step by step process accomplishing the task and pictures showing where on the computer the action should be taken. The book also needs a glossary to define all the terms being used that a beginner does not recognize. Do you have a training disc or book that can make it simple to follow and shows you visually how to do each task ?????

I liked the idea of free word processing. I bought the book for reference since I'm a beginner. I am writing an e-book and things are going fine until I opened up the columns and row table. I entered my data and then couldn't close the table and go back to writing. I beat my head against the wall thinking what's wrong with me. I tried everything. The book didn't help at all. It gave me no simple instruction on how to do this. I'm frustrated and am hoping a college student can help me. I'm a computer technician, I thought this would be a walk in the park. The book is not well written. It is not for beginners.

It is in black and white, as are many open source manuals but, it is extremely well organized and well written by Andy Channelle. The book is profusely illustrated with many screen shots, showing exactly how to make things happen. The applications within OpenOffice are described in Part I of the book, where the first three chapters deal with Writer, the word processor, and the subsequent chapters deal with spreadsheets with Calc, stylish presentations with Impress, creativity with Draw and how to turn data into information with Base. It can easily be used as a reference manual, if you are only interested in specific functions of this impressive suite of "office" programs.

I got this book from the post office just today; purchased on 01/16/2010, it finally arrived in Athens, Greece in Feb. 19! To my surprise, the book was defective; pages 83-108 were folded inside the book; unfolding these pages, I found out that they were not regularly cut ! They extend out to the right side about 1/4 ''. See video. I suppose that the policy of Amazon is to keep their customers always satisfied; therefore, I would appreciate Amazon either replacing the book or reimbursing me. A. Andreatos, Athens, Greece. 24 Feb.2010.

Although I have a later version of OpenOffice, there is a lot of good basic information in this book. It was very inexpensive. It arrived very promptly and I have found it quite useful.

I have not had the time to completely read and understand all that is in the book but what I have read it seems to at least give the required details to allow one to completely use open office.

easy to follow even for me( i am not good with computers) i still have a lot to get through but looks very promising

I am fairly good at Computers but am a complete beginner with OpenOffice. I was therefore a bit apprehensive about buying this book in a market full of similar books. I am however very pleased with the way you are taken by the hand step by step throughout all the book.

This is a "Beginning" text as it says in the tile. The complete "Novice" might need a more introductory text with clearer coloured (rather than monochrome) illustrations. The "Professional" might be disappointed by the lack of depth. I find this a good conversion text for someone with a general knowledge of other packages in this field. It isn't substantial enough to serve as reference for when you get stuck in tricky application areas.

In difficult circumstances order completed as promised. 100% satisfaction. Thank you.

Rather advanced for me