Ubuntu and online classes

[theneowind]

Okay to start off I'd like to say hello to everyone, and thank you now for your comments.

I will be hopefully be taking online classes through a college about 45 mins away. I know that they require all students to have Microsoft Office Student. One on the first things that I downloaded was OpenOffice.

What I am trying to ask is, since the school -requires- you to submit all of your assignments in the Microsoft Office format. (Note: I haven't played around with OpenOffice that much, I've done some writing on it but nothing really in depth just making sure it'd work and save and open files and such.) I think from what I gather that OpenOffice will open Microsoft Office files. But will it also save them in the same format so that I could send them in?

I really like my Ubuntu SO and don't really want to do a duel boot with Windows, I don't have another CD and don't want to have to crack and buy it.

I've been running Ubuntu 9.04 as my only OS, I have anther computer that's set up on Windows Xp (Old Family PC that runs slow and I don't like to play with) and a laptop that belongs to my g/f that runs on Windows Vista (belonging to my g/f who's also in school atm, she uses it 99% of the time.)

Also I'll Just go ahead and ask, are their any other programs that Might come in useful. I am going to a degree in Computer Programming and would really like to have a step up on my classes when I start my classes this spring.

[samden]

Yes, OpenOffice will save files in MS Office format - you can actually set that format as the default. You can even use "track changes" - that is compatible between the two programs, very handy when you have someone reviewing an assignment for you.

There may however be a few formatting differences - you might type an assignment and expect it to fill 3 pages, but when the examiner opens it the last few lines might run onto the fourth page. Very minor stuff that in most cases would not be noticed.

As you have access to a couple of other computers that are running Windows, I presume at least one of them is running MS Office. The best thing is for you to try it yourself. Have a play with a few documents, check out advanced features such as track changes, and see what you think.

It should be absolutely fine (I've just completed my PhD and ditched MS Office about 1 year into it - no worries!). But in the unlikely event that you do run into some problems, you can always run MS Office through WINE.

[machoo02]

I would also add that you can reduce document compatability issues by using styles as much as possible...i.e., defining formatting rules ahead of time (font: Times 14 pt, bold; first line indent: 0.5 in, etc.) and applying it to blocks of text. This is a more precise and portable method of formatiing your documents, rather than formatting each little section of text individually and haphazardly. Plus, you can change the format of the entire document easily, just by making small changes to the style.