This is an expanded set of instructions to help users find answers for OpenOffice.org (aka Open Office or OOo). I should note that this is my site, my ideas, and my opinion. This should be interpreted as being supported, not mandated, or created by anyone else or by OOo.
Did you know that there are more ways to find OOo info than the user list?
While the fine people on the OOo Users list love to help, there are some other things you can do help keep list traffic down so that all questions can get answered. Additionally, this tips might even save you the time of waiting for a response!
Here are some other suggested areas to check:
- Use OOo help.
OpenOffice.org comes with an extensive built in help system. It does not cover every eventuality and it is not always put together in a logical manner, but most answers to common problems can be found there. Go to Help > Contents and enter you search query and see if you can find anything. Also, if you can't find it there, once you get an answer to your questions, file a request for enhancement (RFE) in the bug system for the help system to be updated. You can do that here http://qa.openoffice.org/issue_handling/project_issues.html.
- Go to http://www.documentation.openoffice.org
Here you can find:
Many questions are already answered here. By looking here first, instead of asking the list, you are reducing traffic which allows new, unanswered question to get attention first. Additionally, you honor the work of the volunteers that have put many hours into creating these documents by using them.
If you find these documents useful, you can even help contribute yourself! Please go to:
- Search the mailing list archives for related messages
You can search the users list here http://www.openoffice.org/servlets/SearchList?listName=users&by=date. Searching the user list archives it equally as useful as looking for FAQs and How To documents. If you find that a question has been asked several times and yet there is no FAQ or How To for it send and e-mail to the documentation project at dev@documentation.openoffice.org and tell them about it. (Full instructions for that process can be found at http://documentation.openoffice.org/faqs/index.html. Scroll down to the bottom where it says If you have a question that is not answered here, we suggest the following steps.)
- Use Google or another search engine
Believe it or not, just searching in Google often provides many of the answers, because many people, like myself, have made there own little website about OOo. Google can search all of these and return results. Again, if this answers your questions and step 2 didn't. You may want to submit it as a FAQ of How To.
The most effective way to use Google is to input the following the in search box: "significant word #1", "significant word #2", "significant word #3", Open Office. If this doesn't work, you can try replacing the term Open Office with OpenOffice.orgor OOo. I have provided a box here for you to start your search.
- If these fail, then ask on an appropriate list.
OpenOffice.org offers several mailing lists. You can find the list here http://www.openoffice.org/mail_list.html. A brief overview is provided below.
Note: Overall there is a theme in all of these steps: Help make the system better! Open Office has come about as the work of volunteers working to find answers and make a stellar program. Help further that process. You can help by making sure you question hasn't already been answered and by documenting the answer to your question in a FAQ, How To, or by adding it to the help files. If you ask a questioned that has already been answered, no one will yell at you, but it is just nice and helpful to all if you do your part to help make the system better.
For questions please contact
peschtra@openoffice.peschtra.com.
Page last update 21 June 2006.
