"Following our policy strategy to publish releases on a regular basis, OpenOffice.org 2.3.1 is available for download now. Although it is primarily a maintenance release, we recommend users to install the release due to a security fix. Full details of the changes may be found in the Release Notes associated with the release."
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Member since:2006-04-18
One suggestion for them though. A friend was looking for a freeware alternative to Microsoft Publisher. I checked out Open Office and was suprised it didn't include a comparable application. Guess I never had a reason before to notice the omission...
Clearly your friend should learn to code raw HTML and JSP in vi. A Microsoft Publisher clone is not needed! </sarcasm!>
Member since:2007-11-27
Member since:2006-06-27
I've used Scribus (www.scribus.net) to do some 'Publisher' type activities. Nothing too heavy, but it worked for me. I haven't tried installing it on Windows, but the webpage indicates that it's possible.
Anyhow, depending on his needs, it may be suitable (if he hasn't found another program yet).
Member since:2005-10-02
Member since:2006-01-27
Member since:2005-06-29
Member since:2006-01-27
Is there a need for a Publisher clone? Impress is a PowerPoint clone, isn't it enough? After all PowerPoint and Publisher are similar applications.
There may some overlap in funtions, but their primary uses are completely different. Powerpoint is for creating multi-media presentations to be viewed on a computer screen; Publisher does page layout and design for printed materials.
Member since:2005-12-02
"Is there a need for a Publisher clone? Impress is a PowerPoint clone, isn't it enough? After all PowerPoint and Publisher are similar applications."
Well, there are some DTP apps out there already, such as Scribus as was mentioned earlier. As far as Publisher and Power Point being similar apps...they are totally different. Publisher is for DTP. Power Point is for presentations. Different markets and capabilities, and far from being similar with the exception of sharing the MS Office interface.
Member since:2006-05-19
Member since:2005-07-07
Member since:2007-02-17
In the free software world, available for Windows, the primary option for desktop publishing would be Scribus, as has already been mentioned.
http://www.scribus.net/
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Scribus
In the near future, KWord 2.0 (part of KOffice) will likely be available for Windows. KWord has a "page-oriented" mode that is suitable for simple desktop publishing.
http://itmanagement.earthweb.com/entdev/article.php/3715536
That might do the trick for your friend, if Scribus is overkill or otherwise not suitable. I think KWord should become available for Windows sometime in the new year.
Edited 2007-12-18 23:52
Member since:
2006-01-27
Yeah. Don't know what day 2.3.1 was actually released, but I downloaded it almost two weeks ago. Installed it on a new basic build computer and it seems to work great.
One suggestion for them though. A friend was looking for a freeware alternative to Microsoft Publisher. I checked out Open Office and was suprised it didn't include a comparable application. Guess I never had a reason before to notice the omission...