NewsForge | Sharing files between OpenOffice.org and Microsoft Office

Bruce Byfield of Newsforge has published an article that anyone playing the Microsoft Office/Open Office conversion game will want to print and keep next to the computer. According to Byfield, the key to successful conversions is the preparation you do beforehand. This means selecting the right filter, ensuring you are using compatible fonts, and making sure you have all the Microsoft Office options open in Open Office. It also helps to format documents with character and paragraph styles rather than manually (the way I've always done..argh!)

Byfield reminds us that "if there's a secret to sharing files between the two office applications, it comes down to three words: Keep it simple. The more basic the formatting, the more likely that the exchange of files will be trouble-free."

It's a good and useful read, and I hope it makes life easier for those of us struggling with conversion to the new way.