OpenOffice.org Training, Tips, and Ideas

Quick new presentation templates to use in OpenOffice Impress

As you know, OpenOffice doesn't come with the dazzling depth or array of templates that Microsoft Office users get. However, here's the thing. 

A) Templates aren't software. You can get great free software, without many templates, then go out and get the templates separately, also for free.

B) You can use Microsoft Office format templates to your heart's content in OpenOffice.

So here's what I just did.

1. Googled free Microsoft Office templates.

2. Picked this of the many results. http://www.presentationmagazine.com/free_powerpoint_template.htm

3. Downloaded this one (a dear friend just got married to the man I set her up with -- it seems an appropriate choice. :) )  http://www.presentationmagazine.com/wedding_powerpoint_template.htm

4. From OpenOffice, chose File > Open and opened the downloaded file.

 

5. Now, I can just use it, save it as a presentation, do whatever I want at this point. However, if I want it in that nice little catalog of templates that pops up when I create a new presentation....

I choose File > Templates > Save and name it, then click OK.

 

6. And now (without restarting or anything) when I choose in OpenOffice File > New > Presentation, that wedding template is right there in My Templates.

 

Making a Specific Template Come Up When You Create Any New Document, in OpenOffice.org Writer, Calc, Impress, or Draw (repost)

This is a very useful feature, I think, so I'm reposting it.

Anytime you can help people do something without actually have them do anything is great for them and great for you.

Templates are a great way to save time. Set up templates with the styles, graphics, etc. that people need, and they don't need to re-create them. (Or create them in the first place.)

However, getting users to use the templates is another step. For them, choosing File > New > Templates and Documents might not be something some will want to do or remember to do every time.

What if one of the templates you've created is one that many or all users use all the time as the basis for new documents?   You can make it come up when users just choose File > New > [type of document] by setting it as the default template. I.e. the user uses the template but doesn't even need to select it.

First, create a new document and make it how you want it: create styles, apply styles, include canned text, whatever.

Choose File > Templates > Save. Select a category and name the template. Click OK.

Choose File > Templates > Organize.

Open the category your template is in, in the left side.

Right-click on the template and choose Set as Default Template.

Click Close. You're done! Choose File > New > [type of document] and you'll see the effect.

To switch back to the normal original boring blank document, repeat the steps but this time choose Reset Default Template > [type of document]

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Sun Presentation Minimizer for OpenOffice or StarOffice

I came across this a few days ago on Lifehacker.

"Windows/Mac/Linux: With pictures, videos, and high-resolution fonts, slideshows can make up some pretty big files—fine if you've got a large enough thumb drive or CD-R, but what if you have to email them? Sun Presentation Manager, a free extension for OpenOffice, shrinks down files by compressing graphics, deleting hidden slides, and creating static versions of linked objects. It works similar to the PowerPoint-based PPTminimizer, but without the $40 fee and exclusive Office platform—you can use the extension on either OpenOffice files or imported PowerPoint projects. Sun Presentation Manager is a free download, and requires OpenOffice 2.3 or StarOffice 8 or later."

http://lifehacker.com/350774/shrink-powerpointopenoffice-slides-with-sun-presentation-minimizer

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