Creating a Document in Writer
Beginning with OpenOffice Writer by Comparing with Microsoft Word
Oct 28, 2009
Many of the same commands that are familiar in Word can be used in Writer. Creating a basic document in Writer has the same work flow as in Word with a few minor differences. When Writer is first opened a new, blank document appears.
The opening view is similar to Word's Print Layout View and this view is also called Print Layout in Writer. The only other view available in Writer is the Web Layout view, found under the View menu. The two views can only be changed by selecting them from the View menu as there are no view buttons as found in the bottom left-hand corner of Word's window.
A notable visual difference is the subtle gray box placed within the white page, this is called Text Boundaries, showing where typed characters will appear, and can be turned off/on from the View menu.
Also notable are the tool bars. Though similar they do have a different flavor than found in Microsoft Word. As with Word, a tool tip does pop up when the mouse pointer is on it. The tool tip is a small box that describes the button.
The two toolbars appearing at the top by default are the Standard and Formatting toolbars. As with the toolbars with the same names in Word, they provide the same basic actions with only a few differences.
Comparing Standard Toolbar Buttons
- New - a bit different from the New button in Word. Not only can a new Writer document be opened but any other type of OpenOffice document can be opened as well.
- Open - same as in Word, opens an existing file.
- Save - same as in Word, saves the file.
- Document as Email - same as Email button in Word, will email file using default email client.
- Export directly as PDF - bonus inclusion by OpenOffice, not available with Microsoft Office unless user adds this feature later. Will export file into a PDF document.
- Print File Directly - same as the Print button in Word, prints file directly without the print dialog.
- Page Preview - same as Print Preview button in Word, opens file in page preview for review prior to printing.
- Spelling - same as Word, wil start spell check.
- Auto Spell Check - no button in Word, if active will auto apply spell check and identify possible misspelled words with the familiar red squiggly line.
- Cut - same as in Word, first step to move text or item to another location.
- Copy - same as in Word, first step to copy text or item to another location.
- Paste - same as in Word, second step in moving (Cut) or copying text or object to new location.
- Format Paintbrush - same as the Format Painter button in Word, will apply same formatting to selected text.
- Undo - same as in Word, will undo last action.
- Restore - same as Redo button in Word, will redo or repeat last action.
- Hyperlink - same as Insert Hyperlink button in Word, will insert hyperlink into document.
- Table - akin to Insert Table button in Word, will begin process to insert table.
- Show Drawing Functions - same as Drawing button in Word, if active the Drawing toolbar appears at the bottom of the window.
- Find & Replace - no button in Word, opens Find & Replace dialog.
- Navigator - unique to Writer, opens Navigator dialog.
- Gallery - unique to Writer, opens gallery (similar to Clip Art which is found on the Drawing toolbar in Word).
- Data Sources - unique to Writer, opens data sources dialog for use with mail merge.
- Nonprinting Characters - similar to Show/Hide button in Word, if active, will reveal nonprinting characters in the document.
- Zoom - similar to Zoom list box in Word, use to zoom in and out of document.
- Help - similar to Word, opens help dialog.
With a few differences noted above, working with the Standard toolbar in Writer is very much similar to Word. There are also some omissions by Writer such as the button for columns or to insert a spreadsheet.
Comparing Formatting Toolbar Buttons (most are similar or same as in Word)
- Apply Style - similar to Style list as in Word.
- Font Type - many of the same fonts as found in Word.
- Font Size - change the font size of selectd text.
- Bold - apply bold formatting to selected text.
- Italics - apply italics formatting to selected text.
- Underline - apply underline formatting to selected text.
- Align Left - left-align selected text (default).
- Centered - center selected text.
- Align Right - right-align selected text.
- Justified - justify selected text.
- Numbering Bullets - creates numbered bullets.
- Bullets - creates bullets.
- Decrease Indent - move selected text left.
- Increase Indent - move selected text right.
- Font Color - change color of text.
- Highlighting - place selected color behind selected text.
- Background Color - no button in Word, apply selected color to entire line(s) or document.
Most of the buttons found on the Formatting toolbar in Writer are the same as in Word. Those that vary differ only slightly. And as with the Standard toolbar there are some omissions such as the button for line spacing.
OpenOffice.org Writer can create the same documents as Microsoft Word. For the Word power user, moving to Writer is fairly intuitive, especially for the basic actions.
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