Word 97 and Open Office - and editing video files

I've just bought a new machine, well, a late model Pentium. I gather
it has never been used before; I had it custom built with 160G hard
drive capacity and 256Mb of memory. It came with Open Office which
I've used before and which I'm told mimics Word. However, when I
create documents they are always in a box, and when when create an
html file I get lines in it.

Does anyone know how to solve these compatability problems?


I was using Word 97 before and would like to obtain a copy of this. I
take it this is not in the public domain. If so does anyone know
where
I can buy a copy and for how much? I don't like the later editions.


Also I want to edit down real media and mpg files; I have some massive
music and video files that I want to cut down to 10Mb or so. Does
anyone know of an easy to use free or shareware program to do this?

Thanks

 

You said Word (version) 97 but not the Version of OO.

Explain?

As in File / New / Text Document and the outline box that matches the
margins as on the rulers?

The same outline box or not?

Isn't guessing fun.

HTML, then post an example on a server and reply with the URL so the
effect can be seen.

How is it a compatability issue? It just works differently from another
product you use.

Unless your point is you are going from OO to Word?

ebay, Omline shops that deal in clearance stock, must be a few sources.

<snip>

Me

 

One would suspect that a "new" PC was never used.

Why did you order such a small amount of memory? Take it back and have
them change that to a gigabyte (or twice that if it has Vista).

Quite well, actually. What operating system is on this "new" machine? I
don't know of any Windows OSs where OO is a standard install.

Change your defaults to remove the box.

Word processors make terrible HTML creators. Use something designed for
the purpose. Try Kompozer, it's free.
http://kompozer.net/

Word 97 hasn't been sold since .. probably 1999. Stick with OO.

If you want to do media work, you will need more ram.

Google for your OS and media type to edit.

 

the "box" is the way OO shows margins......

 

I know. I was assuming the OP meant they were printing .. or being
generated in the HTML. S'far as I know, the margins indicator would not
be included in output as HTML.

I write my web pages with a good text editor.

 

Good assumption, more from OP would help and they aren't.

Ditto.

Me

 

Hi, thanks for your reply; below are two short files I have uploaded
to Sendspace. I want the doc file to come out on plain A4 without
lines and I want the html file to be free of lines.

Any help appreciated

http://www.sendspace.com/file/7so73f
http://www.sendspace.com/file/iijssr

 

brel-ne-me.doc

It comes that way from Word. Don't blame OO. Examine the HTML output,
and you will see these paragraph styles (for P1 through P4):

border-bottom-width:0.0133cm; border-bottom-style:solid;
border-bottom-color:#000000;

That's a "border line" at the bottom of each paragraph.

Easiest way to remove:
Open .doc file in OO.
Select All (Control-A)
In the style dropdown box (left of toolbar),
change from Plain Text to "Clear Formatting".
Resave file.
Export again as HTML.
No lines.

You would probably have to reselect the text that was centered and redo
that, if it is important.

 

s.com:

The "box" you are describing is only to show your formatting
area; click "preview" and you'll see that there is no box. Once
you get used to it, you'll realize what a boon it is over Word.

I would never create an HTML file in OO. I use Nvu for creating
webpages.

--
} Christopher Jahn
{:-( http://manormaniac.blogspot.com/

Ashes to ashes, dust to dust, if you don't take it out and use
it it's going to rust.

 

No, in this case it is not. See my other post. The generated HTML has a
bottom border on all paragraphs.

Once the OP posted a file, it was easy to see the cause.

True enough. The price is right as well.

Neither would I (use OO). Did you know that development of NVu has
stopped, but the fork known as Kompozer soldiers on?
http://kompozer.net/

Have you looked at Crimson Editor (for Windows users)? Not a wysiwyg,
but a damned fine editor and project manager.
http://crimsoneditor.com/

 

That's a line, not a box. While you can use several lines to
create a box, a single line does not a box make.

When you compose in OpenOffice, your printable area is always
defined by a box. Regardless of the html document's line, the box
he's talking about isn't seen in the final product of OO.

It's easy to see the line dictated by the html, yes. And when
you open it in OO, you don't see the line, but you always see the
composition box.

Yes, and no. I'll check that one out.

I'll take a look at it. Thanks!

 

Having a look at the HTML just now.
<snip>

Me

 

As BTS said, the paragraph formatting in the HTML.

Open doc in Word 2003, no lines, print to postscript no lines, webpage
preview no lines, open in OOo 2.2.1 no lines.


<snip>

Me

 

Thanks, seems to have solved the problem.