D&C GLug - Home Page

[ Date Index ] [ Thread Index ] [ <= Previous by date / thread ] [ Next by date / thread => ]

Re: [LUG] I thought this might get a bit of a reaction

 

Keith Abraham wrote:
> Benjamin M. A'Lee wrote:
>> On Wed, Dec 10, 2008 at 12:16:45PM +0000, Steve Lee wrote:
>>>> Well so long as there are people out there insist on sending out docx
>>>> format files on the assumption i have (and more annoying can afford)
>>>> both windows and office 07, i am stick with having to have open office
>>>> software installed,
>>> Perhaps it is more default settings in MSOffice and lack of awareness?
>>> There a need for general education on why open standards matter.
>>> And not just a knee jerk reaching for the Export as PDF function either.
>> I'd rather PDF than docx, personally; I rarely need to edit the things I
>> get as docx (course notes and so on), and at least PDF *is* an open
>> standard.
>>
>> Of course, most of the things that people use docx/pdf for could be
>> represented as plaintext, or at a push HTML, with no loss of
>> information.
>>
> Although I ask people not to, I often find submissions for our village
> newsletter/magazine supplied in .pub (M$ Publisher) format. There is no open
> source app which will convert .pub to a usable format. Also a friend of mine
> tells me that sometimes a .pub created in one version of Publisher is often
> incompatible with another version.
> 
> Rather than install M$ Windows and buy several version of Publisher I 
> send the
> files to
> 
>    http://www.k2pdf.com/convert.html
> 
> who do a free conversion. I have to wait a few hours but it saves money 
> and hassle.
> 
> Keith
> 

I'd suggest sending out CDs to them with OpenOffice.org on there (maybe 
the OpenDisc or something like that) and say that they can use 
OpenOffice.org Draw to create their submissions, anything other than 
that won't be accepted.

In fact if you're interested I can send you a copy of the customer 
OpenDisc I am working on which I'm hoping to release before Christmas 
all being well.  It'll be on DVD so it can fit more on it and have a 
copy of Big Buck Bunny (just the video only, none of the extras) on the 
disc too.  Unfortunately I don't think I'll be able to put the Mac apps 
on this release.

Rob

-- 
The Mailing List for the Devon & Cornwall LUG
http://mailman.dclug.org.uk/listinfo/list
FAQ: http://www.dcglug.org.uk/linux_adm/list-faq.html