OpenSource For You

Linux at Work

Open source software applicatio­ns for the office that allow inter-operation and conversion, for those interested in using Linux at work.

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Microsoft platforms (XP or one of the more recent releases) are ubiquitous in the workplace. Most organisati­ons make it their Standard Operating Environmen­t (SOE). Generally, the applicatio­ns installed are also from Microsoft.

Much to the dismay of diehard Microsoft fans, some users have products from Apple, too, on their desktop. Typically, Apple provides the platform from which applicatio­ns are ODXQFKeG, ZKLOe WKey RIWeQ DOVR XVe 0LFURVRIW 2IfiFe SURGXFWV like Word and Excel.

This article is not directed towards either of these types of users—unless they are considerin­g a conversion.

,W LV RIWeQ FODLPeG WKDW /LQXx FDQQRW VXUYLYe LQ WKe RIfiFe eQYLURQPeQ­W EeFDXVe WKeUe DUe QR FRPSDWLEOe (RU VXIfiFLeQW­Oy compatible) applicatio­ns. I beg to differ. What I am about to GeVFULEe PDy QRW VXLW eYeUy FODVV RI XVeU LQ eYeUy RIfiFe, EXW , KDYe IRXQG WKDW ,’P GRLQg fiQe ZLWK /LQXx RQ Py GeVNWRS DW work, and no one (so far) is complainin­g. So, what do I use? Before I answer that question, I’ll provide a brief overview of what sorts of applicatio­ns are necessary.

Applicatio­ns in a Microsoft environmen­t

I think these fall into two classes—applicatio­ns that allow you to interopera­te with your co-workers, and there are others which only affect you.

,Q WKe fiUVW FDWegRUy, IRU LQVWDQFe, LV WKe DELOLWy WR FUeDWe or update a document. In the second, you run the applicatio­n for yourself. Let me be more concrete. If someone sends me a Word document and expects me to make changes and send it back, the result of my efforts must be a Word document which Py FR-ZRUNeU FDQ UeDG DQG PRGLIy. 7Ke PRGLfiFDWL­RQV , PDNe

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