OpenOffice.org 3.2 installation on Windows XP

The OpenOffice application is now named OpenOffice.org, leading to confusion between the name of the application and their Web site. There are also lots of downloads to confuse the new user. Outside of those two problems, installation is easy in Windows.

The OpenOffice application is now named OpenOffice.org by the people at OpenOffice.org. I still use the name OpenOffice to distinguish the application from their Web site.

Download OpenOffice from http://www.openoffice.org/download/other.html#tested-full. Switch off the JRE option then select the version for your language and operating system.

Java

Sun/Oracle offer OpenOffice with and without Java. When you install OpenOffice without Java, there is one error message about Java after the end of the installation but nothing else stops working. I use OpenOffice for word processing, spreadsheets, and drawing without seeing a single problem.

If you choose to install Java, you should install one central copy of Java for use by all applications. There are so many problems with Java compatibility that each Java based application offers to install a unique copy of Java then you end up with a gigabyte wasted on all the different varieties of Java.

Java can be downloaded as a runtime library, the JRE, or as a full Java consuming a 100 megabytes or more. Some applications require the big download and you can end up with ten different copies multiplied by 100 MB. There goes your gigabyte. Start with no Java until you absolutely need it then install only the latest JRE. If an application requires the whole Java bloat full, delete the JRE and install just one central Java elephant.

64 bit

There is no 64 bit version of OpenOffice for Windows.

Installation

Log in as administrator so you can install OpenOffice once for every user. Double click on OOo_3.2.0_Win32Intel_install_en-GB.exe to start the installation.

Thank you screen

There is nothing of interest on the following thank you screen. Select Next.

Select folder for temporary files

The following screen asks for a directory to receive the temporary files expanded from the downloaded file. The installation forgets to clean up the directory. You will have to delete all the junk from the directory after the installation.

Welcome

We went through a thank you screen and now we reach a duplicate welcome screen. Select Next.

Customer information?

OpenOffice requests customer information in the following screen. You can leave it blank. The important thing is the default option to install for all users. Select Next.

Custom setup

You now choose between a custom setup and a default. Choose custom to see what you get and what you might miss. Select Custom then Next.

Features

The following screen lists the features to be installed and lets you switch some off. You want everything except some of the optional components and you have to expand the optional components entry to see the detailed list. Select the down arrow on the optional components entry to see the full list.

Optional components

There are a lot of optional components taking up space but not many use significant space. You could use the complete installation to install everything. I switch off the Python option because I do not use Python. I switch off the online update because I do not want online update checks interfering with application startup. I switch off Quickstarter because most of the time I do not use OpenOffice when I first start my computer and prefer to make the operating system startup faster by leaving out the unnecessary startups.

• Graphical filters
• Testtool
• XSLT sample filters
• Legacy filters
• Python-UNO bridge
• On-line update
• Mobile device filters
• ActiveX control
• Quickstarter

Ready to install

You are ready to install. Select Install.

Installation almost completed

You have completed the installation of the software. There are additional setup steps for each user the first time they use OpenOffice. Select Finish.

First use by each user

These are the additional steps for each user the first time they use OpenOffice. Select Finish.

Select Next at the following welcome screen.

The next screen asks for user information and you do not have to supply it. Select Next.

You do not have to register. Select I do not want to register then Finish.

You can now use OpenOffice.org.

Second use by each user

Here is the last annoyance, a survey screen that pops up the second time you use OpenOffice. If you are setting up a test system, participating will give them the wrong information. The same will occur if you are still experimenting with different features and components. The best approach for a first time user is to select No, select OK, then use OpenOffice for several weeks trying every feature and option. After you finish all the tutorials and experiments, switch on the survey to record your final usage. That will better reflect the things you actually use.

Conclusion

Installation is relatively easy. An experienced user can use the custom setting to easily leave out unwanted components. Help every user start up OpenOffice twice to complete the registration and survey options.