Word processing with grammar and reference tools

[fos]

I have applied to graduate school.

I would like some suggestions for software that would help with grammar checking and reference material maintenance, for example foot notes and end notes.

I expect that I will be forced to use M$ Word, but I'm hoping to use an open source alternative.

fos...

[uteck]

OpenOffice is all you need. Here are some macros that you might find usefull.
http://sourceforge.net/project/showfiles.php?group_id=87718

Grammar links. Language Tool works with OpenOffice, but apparently AbiWord has built in grammar checking.
http://lingucomponent.openoffice.org/grammar.html

Good stuff about OO features.
http://www.linuxjournal.com/node/1000060

Bibliography. Once again not ready for OO, but links to apps that will work with OO files.
http://bibliographic.openoffice.org/
http://www.tech-recipes.com/rx/2198/openoffice_writer_insert_footnotes

Found 1 more link.
http://documentation.openoffice.org/HOW_TO/word_processing/How_to_Write_a_Thesis_in_OOo.pdf

[RedAlpha3]

I've recently done a few short courses with the British Open University. I was surprised and pleased to have Star Office supplied in order to complete assignments. I found it no better than openoffice.org as an application, really. However, the version was Windoze only! Ah well, each little step, I suppose!

[danieldk]

Fortunately, LaTeX use is encouraged here, and turning in Postscript/PDF is fine. So, unfortunately, I have no good advice for a word processor ;).

[fos]

Thanks for the OO links. They should help a lot.

LanguageTool looks very nice. I'm going to download and set it up this evening!

I have used LaTeX and Bibtex. I would certainly need to polish those skills. Alas, according to the grad school documentation, they only accept M$ Word documents. :(

My daughter's engineering school is a little more enlightened, they readily accept and encourage open source produced documents. She even had a rather lengthy project that had to be formatted with LaTeX back in her freshman year.

The educational community isn't quite as advanced.

fos

[fos]

When installing LanguageTool as a normal user, I receive the following error:

Could not create java implementation loader

When installed as root user, it installs without error, but will only work as root user. It has to be a permissions problem but I have been unable to identify the file or folder that is causing the problem.

Has anyone run into this problem before?

fos

[Harold]

Take a look at Softmaker Office. $70 for a very good word processor and spreadsheet. No Powerpoint or database functionality. NOT bloatware like Openoffice. Versions for Linux, BSD & Windows. Excellent documentation.

http://www.softmaker.com/english/of_en.htm

[fos]

I'll take a look at Softmaker. OO does take a long time to load.

Thank you, Harold

[danieldk]

Softmaker Office is nice indeed. TextMaker has a lot of DTP-ish features that OO.org doesn't have. Besides that it runs well on NetBSD and FreeBSD.

Oh, I found this in my mailbox, they currently have an offer for SoftMaker Office, you can get it for $29.95. Don't know how long it lasts:

US:
http://www.softmaker.com/english/order1_en.php4?code=ofw06&curr=usd

EU:
http://www.softmaker.com/english/order1_en.php4?code=ofw06&curr=eur

[danieldk]

I was still a TextMaker 2002 user, so I just purchased the 2006 version. Can't wait to give it a run :).

[fos]

I downloaded and installed a trial version of Textmaker and Planmaker from the Softmaker web site.

Both Textmaker and Planmaker (spread sheet) load in less than a second. What a pleasant change. With Open Office, I can fix a cup of coffee while writer or calc load. I have also been able to overload calc with a very large spreadsheet database.

It just may be worth the $69 purchase price. I will see how it goes during the 30 day trial.

fos

[danieldk]

It's 29.95 for the moment, see my previous two posts ;).

[Leon]

I use Text Maker 06 mainly as a quick .doc file opener.

My prefered word processor remains Word Perfect. I'm using WP X3/Win under CrossOver Office 5.0.3. Unfortunately, in this hybrid environment WPX3 cannot export any file format other than .wpd, although it will output a PDF. Of course if you will be running the "other" OS that is currently in hot water in EU you can export as .doc without any problem.

[fos]

Wow, I missed that link to the special! I ordered a copy. It is worth that for the speed increase over the competitors.

Thanks!

fos

[patrick]

...OO does take a long time to load.

There are some hints out there about speeding up OO loading. One is http://www.ghacks.net/2007/08/18/speed-up-open-office/

I think I found another on linuxagora some time ago but I don't have my notes here.

For top-quality appearance LyX and LaTeX are tough to beat.

[fos]

Hi Patrick,

LaTeX and Lyx are the best looking text, even math and chemical formulas are in ready to publish quality.

Unfortunately, many universities insist that documents must be created by M$ Word and submitted electronically in that format. :(

fos