Everything you need in a word processing package is here: Create, convert, collaborate. StarOffice 8 Writer delivers advanced word processing in an easy-to-use interface, and at a price you can afford.
Key Benefits
Don't get bogged down in features—use them to make your documents look great.
Compatible with Microsoft Word documents, so you can share your work easily.
Working together is easier and produces better work.
Standard & Custom Templates
The StarOffice warehouse of sample memos, faxes, letters, resumes and other documents make your job a lot easier. They make it easy to create the look you want with your own custom templates.
Document Layout & Organization
Handle multi-page documents easily with a simple page setup, using columns, text frames, and text flow tools to guide layout on every page. StarOffice Writer also contains tools for outlining, generating table of contents, indexing, and hyperlinking, for maximum impact.
Styles & Formatting
Bring style to every page. StarOffice Writer lets you refine characters, paragraphs, and lists, giving your document a professional look.
Enhanced Tables
Just the mention of "3x6 tables" gives some users the shakes. It's OK. It's almost brainless now. Even the most squeamish can create cool tables that work in a few easy clicks. And hey, if you see a nice Microsoft Word table, just grab it and use it. Even customize it and send it back in a Word document. Better yet, check out these advantages:
Nested Tables let you to insert tables into tables, creating elaborate table layouts. The effect is impressive.
Multi-page Cells a let you split a cell or row with a page break, so it shows on both pages.
The Table Menu puts the table styles and commands in one place, and you close when you don't need it.
Multimedia
Now it's easy to customize your document pages to look like a newspaper, a web page, a movie preview, or even a CNN screen. Just mix and match graphics, tables, charts, database stats, Java applications, and video animations.
Mail Merge Wizard
The new mail merge wizard lets you send form letters easily, in hard copy or via e-mail.
Macros
Save time by automating common workflows and tasks. Just assign custom scripts (macros) to menu items, icons, dialog controls, and events. Now StarOffice supports three different scripting languages: StarOffice Basic, JavaScript, and Beanshell .
Productivity Tools
StarOffice gives you a full toolbox of time-saving tools to buff and polish your document.
Wizards simplify letters, faxes, and reports.
AutoComplete suggests common words and phrases to finish your thought for you. Turn it on or off, or tweak it to match your writing style.
AutoSpellcheck provides spelling corrections as you type.
AutoFormat guides document formatting as you write, leaving you free to create.
Format Paintbrush directly transfers all formatting from one set of text and objects to another. It's worth your time to explore this great new time-saver.
Drag & Drop text, tables, and objects right where you want them.
Convert & Share Your Documents
Microsoft Office Compatible
1. Your vendor sends you a Microsoft Word document. 2. You click once to convert it to StarOffice Writer. 3. Do your magic to the document with cool StarOffice features. 4. Click and convert it back to Word and hit "send." Those folks locked into Microsoft Office don't even have to know.
WordPerfect Import
Legal and other professionals: You can now open WordPerfect documents (versions 4 through 12) in StarOffice. Use the steps just above.
Portable Document Format (.pdf)
StarOffice's PDF publishing features now simplify bookmarks, hyperlinks, thumbnail images, and form elements for advanced PDF documents—for the Web or as quick page grabs.
Open File Format
Now you can save StarOffice documents and templates in the new OASIS OpenDocument format, the international standard for office software. Translation: go global with no roadblocks.
Extensive XML/XHTML Support
XML is your data passport. With StarOffice Writer, you create and edit XML, XHTML, and XForms documents, without taking advanced programming classes. Just use these new features in StarOffice 8.
HTML Export to the Web produces well-constructed "XHTML 1.0 Strict" HTML code.
XML Input/Output Filters lets you use XSLT Template technology to build import/export filters.
XForms do everything standard Forms can and give you advanced forms logic and let you save the user input in XML structured files. To learn more about this next generation of forms, visit w3.org.
Collaborate With Others
Record Changes
With the Record Change function, every keystroke you make will show up on the page in a color that identifies author, date, and time. Colleagues can then accept or reject the changes, or change your changes in their own color.
Compare & Merge
So, somebody made changes and forgot to use the Record Changes function? It happens. Comparing sentences one by one can ruin your day. Instead, use StarOffice Writer's Compare & Merge feature to instantly find the changes and decide whether to include them. Day saved.
Notes
Add suggestions and comments directly onto your pages with little notes. Just like those yellow ones you see everywhere.
Email
Need an audience? Send your StarOffice document with the click of a mouse.
Learn & Use Writer With Ease
Intuitive & Customizable Interface
If you've ever used a word processor, you'll recognize this interface. But as you check through the standard menus, icons, dialog boxes, and layout tools, you'll find more than you imagined. Customize tool bars, menus, and keyboard commands, so Writer suits your style.
Smart Toolbars
Context-sensitive and customizable toolbars put the controls where your eyes and hands expect to find them. It's a whole lot smoother than "search and learn."
Spotlight
Make the move from Microsoft Office to StarOffice 8.
