curious_guy (imported) wrote: Sun Feb 19, 2012 8:30 pm I have never used Microsoft Office Suite. I use Word Perfect Version 12 and X3. Do you think I would find Open Office easy to learn?

I sometimes collaborate with other writers. What I usually do is make changes and put the changes in a different color. Does Open Office have a feature that would automatically put my changes in a different color?

The grammar checker in Word Perfect thinks that "cum" is a foreign word for "with" and not a synonym for "orgasm" or "semen." Is Open Office the same?

I can only comment on my experience with Word Perfect 9. In that, I've found Open Office to be comparable, and much more advanced in what it allows me to do.

As to automatically inserting corrected text in a different color, I've never done that. How do you do it in Word Perfect? I'm sure there is a comparable feature in Open Office.

As a rule, I've found all the major features of the different word processing functions to be there.

I have found a neat little feature in Open Office for inserting comments. This feature doesn't insert text of a different color, but does add a line to the margin where you can write notes, and such. Such a feature would be great for suggesting corrections, or changes without altering the text of the original.

It seems like a function that would accomplish what you are looking for.

As to spell checking, If a word does not appear in the spell checker's dictionary, you can add it in, and it will automatically remember it from document to document.

I do that a lot for unusual names, or my occasional made-up word.

Cainanite (imported) wrote: Mon Feb 20, 2012 9:47 am As to automatically inserting corrected text in a different color, I've never done that. How do you do it in Word Perfect? I'm sure there is a comparable feature in Open Office.

I do not know if I can do it in Word Perfect. Version 12 has an entry in the help file under collaboration but the link under that entry for adding comments does not work. Version X3 does not have an entry in the help file under collaboration.

I thought that Open Office might have such a feature.

curious_guy (imported) wrote: Mon Feb 20, 2012 11:00 am I do not know if I can do it in Word Perfect. Version 12 has an entry in the help file under collaboration but the link under that entry for adding comments does not work. Version X3 does not have an entry in the help file under collaboration.

I thought that Open Office might have such a feature.

This http://www.taming-openoffice-org.com/ne ... ge_id=1027

is the closest thing I have found.

Adding notes draws a line from the point in the text you select, to the right hand margin, where you can write your new text, make comments, add a critique, whatever. The original text is unaltered. When you transfer the saved file back to the original user, they can see all your notes and suggestions.

I think this is what you are looking for. It is the closest thing to automatically inserting different colored text. Otherwise, you'll just have to select the text you want, and change the color normally. It seems that Open Office will keep the text color and formatting of the surrounding text, when you insert or overwrite. I can't find an option for inserting text of a different color automatically. It might be there, but I don't know what I am looking for.

Do you know of ANY word processing software that does this?

Anyone?

Cainanite (imported) wrote: Mon Feb 20, 2012 12:06 pm Do you know of ANY word processing software that does this?

Anyone?

IMO, for collaborative editing one should use plain text and version control software, like subversion/git/etc. With conversion to formatted text in final version.

fhunter wrote: Mon Feb 20, 2012 12:25 pm IMO, for collaborative editing one should use plain text and version control software, like subversion/git/etc. With conversion to formatted text in final version.

What programs? What Word processing software?

Sorry, I don't speak computerese. How exactly do you do this?

Cainanite (imported) wrote: Mon Feb 20, 2012 12:53 pm What programs? What Word processing software?

Sorry, I don't speak computerese. How exactly do you do this?

In Open Office, see File->Versions... menu, this one allows to save separate versions of the document in one file (and compare them).

As far, as I remember, Microsoft Word allowed something similar, but it was more than a few years since I touched microsoft office, so my memory can be wrong.

There are also separate programs for keeping version history of the file/text, but I would not go that deep.

Ah. That makes much more sense.

For the purposes of editing though, you'd be constantly flipping back and forth between the two versions, and it could get confusing. It would for me, anyway.

I prefer to see it all on the same page, if I can.

I didn't know Open Office had the capability of storing multiple versions in a single file. I learned something new. I can see where this will be useful for me, when I make changes to my own documents, and later want to refer back to a previous version. It is a feature that definitely has its uses.

Thank you fhunter, for the education on that. I appreciate it.

Pretty much all word processing progams have a means of tracking changes. In MSWord it is the review function. You can preselect the initials of the reviewer and the color to track changes, but using characters other than those on a standard keyboard involves an incredibly stupid menu and selection process through the insert mode. I only have MSOffice to read alien files. Otherwise I use an adult program.