OpenOffice.org books covering the current version 2.0

Finally I discovered a bunch of books about OpenOffice. org, the open source alternative to Microsoft Office that covering the current version (2.0):

• Getting Started with OpenOffice.org 2.0, by the OOoAuthors.org a group of volunteer documentation writers.
• Sams Teach Yourself OpenOffice.org 2, Firefox and Thunderbird for Windows All in One by Greg Perry is the book for those that want to convert wholesale to open source products.
• OpenOffice.org 2.x Resource Kit by Solveig Haugland and Floyd Jones. this book is scheduled for publishing on June 24. 2006. Solveig Haugland has also blog about her work with OpenOffice.org worth reading.
  
• Point & Click OpenOffice.org by Robin Miller.
• The Tiny Guide to OpenOffice.org by Benjamin Horst, a member of the OpenOffice.org Marketing Project
• A Conceptual Guide to OpenOffice.org 2.0 by R. Gabriel Gurley.
• OpenOffice 2 by Mike Weber, published by spidertools.com focuses on Linux users.
  

OpenOffice.org books for special audiences

Continuing my research regarding books on OpenOffice. org, the open source alternative to Microsoft Office. I found a few today that Appeal to special audiences:

• OOoSwitch: 501 Things You Want to Know About Switching OpenOffice.org from Microsoft Office by Tamar E. Granor, Scott Carr, and Sam Hiser. The book covers OpenOffice.org version 1.1 from the perspective of users converting from MS Office.
• OpenOffice.org Macros Explained by Andrew Pitonyak. The book is obviously for advanced users who want to automate functions for repeat use.
• 6x9 Book Template for OpenOffice.org Writer by Dmitri Popov is a template for a book for OOo-Writer.

OpenOffice.org books focusing on specific components

Continuing my research of books on OpenOffice. org, the open source alternative to Microsoft Office, I found a few books that focus on single programs of the suite:

OpenOffice Writer

• OpenOffice.org 2.0 Writer Guide by the OOoAuthors.org, a volunteer group of documentation writers.
• OpenOffice.org Writer : The Free Alternative to Microsoft Word by Jean Weber covers version 1.0 or 1.1. Jean Weber did write this book originally in self publishing and O'Reilley later decided to publish the book which gave it a wider audience.
• Writer for Writers by Dmitri Popov

Books about OpenOffice.org

I started some research on OpenOffice. org, the open source alternative to Microsoft Office. I compiled a list of books, teaching the popular office suite. I thought I share my results online. First I found quite a view Covering older versions (1.0 and 1.1):

• OpenOffice.Org 1.0 Resource Kit by Solveig Haugland and Floyd Jones. This book has a successor "OpenOffice.org 2.x Resource Kit" announced for 24. June 2006
• From the "For Dummies" series there is "OpenOffice.org for Dummies" from Gurdy Leete, Ellen Finkelstein, Mary Leete. The book covers OpenOffice 1.0 or 1.1 and needs updating to the current version of the free office suite.
  
• Sams Teach Yourself OpenOffice.org All In One by Greg Perry and Kenyon Brown.
• OpenOffice 1.3 published by spidertools.com
  

Using the Web to Generate Interest in Your Business

Presentation at Network@TheLibrary Winchester, MA

Kaj Kandler, the founder of Conficio will present in November at the Network@TheLibrary in Winchester, MA. His topic will be "Using the Web to Generate Interest in Your Business"

"Using the Web to Generate Interest in Your Business"

Time: Tuesday, November 15th 2005, 10 - 11:30 a.m.

Location: Winchester Library, 80 Washington Street, Winchester, MA.

Kaj Kandler, founder of Conficio, will focus on how entrepreneurs and small businesses can use the Internet effectively to promote their business. He will teach how E-Mail and a Web-Site can be used to reach prospects and stay in contact with customers. Mr. Kandler believes that the Internet can be a very cost effective way for local business to deliver customer value.

Network @ The Library is open to all, especially entrepreneurs, consultants and others who are self-employed, providing them with an opportunity to meet others like themselves, talk about common problems, and learn about solutions and resources. For more information, visit http://www.winpublib.org/network.htm call the Reference Desk at 781-721-7171 ext. 20, or e-mail Janet Nelson at jnelson@minlib.net

Conficio develops animated software manuals for business applications. Animated software manuals enhance training and support for average users of PCs. Conficio's manuals are rich in screencasts, demonstrating functionality instead of describing it with words.

About Computer Jargon

Today I want to confess, I'm guilty as anybody else. I speak computer jargon.

Computer and software are a business of precision. We expect the machines to work reliably and predictably. That implies one has to talk about their functions in a precise manner.

However, this makes using computers a challenge, because it is complex to talk precisely about their behavior. Software developers, and tech writers in particular, do define a language around their creation and they use it. Naturally, end users do not speak that language. Hence the communication problems.

There is a solution to this. As with any other language too, one party has to learn the language of the other. Which one do you prefer?

1. As an end-user, learn the language of each application you use
2. Ask the publisher/developer of the software to understand the language(s) their end-users speak

Please comment and tell us why you prefer the particular solution.

Transforming Computer Jargon into Visual Help

I love to help people with their computers. I also love to solve problems.

The current state of computer 'online' help is a problem. Wouldn't you agree? Users have given up on using the help-menu in software applications. The typical complain goes:

1) I can't find what I'm looking for!
2) If I find something, I have a hard time understanding the prose!

I set out to solve this problem by creating visual help.