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Operating System Specific Discussions => Amiga OS => Amiga OS -- Development => Topic started by: mauma on March 12, 2003, 04:37:27 PM

Title: Office package
Post by: mauma on March 12, 2003, 04:37:27 PM
I just want to know if there is any office package on the amiga which is comparable to Microsoft Office XP
Title: Re: Office package
Post by: takemehomegrandma on March 12, 2003, 04:40:42 PM
Unfortunately, no. But that is definitely needed for a desktop system.
Title: Re: Office package
Post by: Billsey on March 12, 2003, 06:22:31 PM
I suppose a group of coders could download the sources from www.openoffice.org (http://www.openoffice.org) (or .com) and start a port. It might not measure up all the way, but at least it would be a start.
Title: Re: Office package
Post by: ltstanfo on March 12, 2003, 07:31:27 PM
Believe it or not, there were actually two "office" type packages for the AMIGA.  The earlier version was the set of Softwood programs (Final Writer, Final Data, Final Calc, etc... sold as a bundle) while the latter package is known as Wordworth Office (on a single CD vs the multi-box set from Softwood).

A review of the Wordworth CD can be found at:
http://www.pwr.wroc.pl/AMIGA/AR/ar502_Sections/review5.html

Both sets will probably do what you want with the exception of a PowerPoint type of program.  For that, get something like Scala, etc... and there is your office suite. :-)

Now please understand, either of these two "office packages" will give you an Office XP type of feel but are not (necessarily) compatible and lack features found in the modern MS office suite.

I've never used the Wordworth programs but I've always heard good things about them. I have used the Softwood applications and like them very much.

Hope this helps,
Lee Stanford
Title: Re: Office package
Post by: mbilla on March 12, 2003, 09:16:27 PM
@Billsey

the OpenOffice was began some time ago but due to typical UNIX
librraies problems the project was put on halt.
The Amiga is missing the right GFX system.

Why do you say OpenOffice doesn't measure up with MS Office?

OpenOffice has much more features as MS Office.

And it saves its documents in industry standard and not  a proprietary
format owned by MS.

The next version of MS Office will also save XML format as OpenOffice.

OpenOffice has much better GFX functions.
The OpenOffice spreadsheet has about 180 more formula functions than
Excel. There's even a bunch of formulas that  arent available at all
in Excel.

OpenOffice didnt crashed once on my Linux PC but MS Office does so on
a regularly basis.

Oh... OpenOffice is missing a Database. Right. But so does MS Office.
MS Office Pro has Access but you have to pay more than the double
price.

Install mySQL with OpenOffice and you have one of the best offices
packages there is and for FREE.

Bye Manou
Title: Re: Office package
Post by: Hammer on March 12, 2003, 09:57:28 PM
Quote

>Why do you say OpenOffice doesn't measure up with MS Office?
>OpenOffice has much more features as MS Office.

Which version of MS Office?

Does it have complete VBA/MS Office Object Models (i.e. use for custom Office integration e.g. document management/automated  systems)?

Quote

>And it saves its documents in industry standard >and not a proprietary format owned by MS.

Define "industry standard".

Quote

OpenOffice didnt crashed once on my Linux PC but MS Office does so on a regularly basis.

For my experience; MS Office 2000 Premium Edition and MS Windows 2000 Pro-SP3 /XP Pro/XP Pro-SP1 works fine**.

**Installation existing with MS Visual Studio 6.0 (soon to be dotNET).

Quote

Oh... OpenOffice is missing a Database. Right. But so does MS Office.

So much for "OpenOffice has much more features as MS Office."

Quote

MS Office Pro has Access but you have to pay more than the double price.

One pays for the feature for use within a business environment. It’s about offering reasonable solutions, which solve particular business problems.

PS; Since “MS Office” is less likely to be appearing on AmigaOS platform; the “Open Office 1.0x”(via a port) would be the best option at this time.
Title: Re: Office package
Post by: MikeB on March 12, 2003, 10:00:34 PM
@mbilla


Is there a demo version of Open Office for the Amiga??
Title: Re: Office package
Post by: takemehomegrandma on March 12, 2003, 10:02:13 PM
Quote

Billsey wrote:
I suppose a group of coders could download the sources from www.openoffice.org (http://www.openoffice.org) (or .com) and start a port. It might not measure up all the way, but at least it would be a start.


I agree. OpenOffice would be great to have. Or even better it's big brother, StarOffice (with its licensed fonts, etc).
Title: Re: Office package
Post by: Kermito on March 12, 2003, 10:45:06 PM
There was a Office package being developed for the Amiga by Titan Computer. It was called Papyrus (http://www.titan-computer.com/ami/papyrus/index.html)  but I think its development has been stopped, because no news since last year  :-(

It looked promising though.
Title: Re: Office package
Post by: Kermito on March 12, 2003, 10:47:16 PM
@ mbilla

Do you know if it is possible to export info from Access to mySQL? :-?
Title: Re: Office package
Post by: Dagon on March 12, 2003, 11:16:22 PM
What about Papyrous? That office package that they say that will be ported for MorphOS.

Are there any plans for a port also for AmigaOS and Aros?
Title: Re: Office package
Post by: mbilla on March 12, 2003, 11:25:56 PM
Quote
For my experience; MS Office 2000 Premium Edition and MS Windows 2000 Pro-SP3 /XP Pro/XP Pro-SP1 works fine**.


Yes after several service pack installations.
At work we do have severe problems with our Win 2000 network and office: Word crashes everyday, printing is only possible after saving a document and reloading it. Though the network wasn't changed since Nov last year and everything worked ok until some time ago this bug occured? Very mysterious as no new software or service was installed since Nov.

Quote
Does it have complete VBA/MS Office Object Models (i.e. use for custom Office integration e.g. document management/automated systems)?


Who really needs this feature except heavy business companies. It was asked for an office package for Amiga. I don't know if OpenOffice does have this but I don't need it.

Quote
Define "industry standard".


XML, industry standard as defined by regulation departments (ISO, DIN,IEEE) not MS.

Quote
So much for "OpenOffice has much more features as MS Office."


I said OpenOffice is missing a DB but SO does MS Office. Only MS OFFICE Pro has Access.

Access is not a feature but an independant complete programm as is mySQL.



Quote
One pays for the feature for use within a business environment. It?s about offering reasonable solutions, which solve particular business problems.


But one need not to pay to have the same features:

mySQL (which is free) is used by very big business companies like Texas Instruments (TI) thus cutting its costs by several percent. TI even gives back its knowledge to the mySQL programmers.
Or take VideoGimp a completely free digital video editing software very comparable to MAYA which costs several thousand $$$. SONY is using this free software to produce movies like SCOOBIEDOO and others. Also here the knowhow of SONY goes back to the programmers of VideoGIMP.

So the OPENSOURCE comunity gives you much more for free, even big companies have accepted this.
If it costs money doesn't necessarly mean it's alright and working 100 percent ok.
Though free software does also have its flaws :-)

Title: Re: Office package
Post by: mbilla on March 12, 2003, 11:27:45 PM
@Kermito

Papyrus was also announced for PC and MAC which actually do exist.
But an interview in a german Amiga mag, said something about PAPYRUS for Morphos, though I don't know if it really exists.
Title: Re: Office package
Post by: mbilla on March 12, 2003, 11:30:02 PM
@Kermito

I haven't tried that because I actually don't need a DB at home. At Work I have Access to teach my students.
The only DB I use at home is the DB in my PSION PDA or mobile phone.
Title: Re: Office package
Post by: mbilla on March 12, 2003, 11:34:07 PM
@erol

no there's no OpenOffice for the Amiga.
The guys who did the Amiga port gave up because reprogramming the UNIX GUI (X-WINDOW) to AMIGA is a pain as the AMIGA OS is missing vital libraries.

I've seen the PPC OpenOFFICE port running on an Amiga ONE G3 under SUSE LINUX but that's OK because it just runs fine under LINUX.

I think if we would have a true port of OPEN-GL for the AMIGA the port would be much easier.

bye Manou
Title: Re: Office package
Post by: Kermito on March 13, 2003, 12:34:03 AM
Quote
Though free software does also have its flaws


Correctly, but so does commercial and that is a shame  :hammer:

@mbilla

thanks for the reply about mySQL  :-)
Title: Re: Office package
Post by: mauma on March 13, 2003, 11:28:50 AM
Ok, maybe it is too difficult to port OpenOffice.
But I hope there are some developers who want to start a project to create our own office-package.

I am one of them, but I don't want to do the whole project on my own.
Title: Re: Office package
Post by: Desler on March 13, 2003, 11:55:50 AM
Quote
am one of them, but I don't want to do the whole project on my own.

I am trying to make a word like editor with support for truetype and other nice things. The project is in very early stages and is on standby right now because im currently too involved with my master thesis. If you can wait some time we can perhaps join forces.
I saw that another guy was trying the same thing and it seemed that he was further ahead than me. Saddly I cant remember his name  :-?
If you want you can pm me or mail me at desler@amiga.org