Welcome to OOoAuthors!

This is a development site for OpenOffice.org documentation. If you just want to read documentation, see our published chapters. (OOo 3): PDF and ODT (on this website) or PDF only (on the OpenOffice.org website). (OOo 2.x): PDF and ODT (on this website) or PDF only (on the OpenOffice.org website). Both sets are also on the Documentation wiki. You do not need to have an account or log in to read documentation or download copies.

How you can help at OOoAuthors

We are a group of volunteer reviewers, writers, editors, proofreaders, indexers, and translators producing documentation for OpenOffice.org Writer, Calc, Draw, Impress, and Base. If you want to assist with producing documentation, you do need an account to log in to this website and you need to request the Author role (see Getting started with OOoAuthors below).

We are working on the User Guide for OOo 3.x.

The priority is on writing about new and significantly changed features, some of which are listed on this page. New features in OOo3.1 are here, and new features for 3.2 are here. Most chapters (except for the Draw Guide) are up to date for 3.0 and now need updating to 3.2. You can get OOo3.2 here.

We always need more volunteers, and everyone is welcome, no matter what your level of experience is. We'll even train you in reviewing and technical writing as well as in other necessary publishing functions, such as indexing or proofreading. You can also take advantage of this project in order to gain some practical experience in the publishing industry.

Reviewers, indexers, and proofreaders needed!

Even if you are new to OOo or have no writing experience, you can be a great help by reviewing chapters or indexing and proofreading documents prior to their publication.

Top priority items seeking reviewers:

Most chapters of the Writer Guide and Impress Guide, to incorporate V3.1 and 3.2 changes (most chapters are up to date only for 3.0). (The Getting Started guide is up to date.)

Calc Guide. This book is in first draft. Reviewers are needed for chapters on the Review List and marked pending review in this folder.

See below for an introduction to reviewing.

Writers needed!

Database Guide

Work on this book has started and stalled several times. More help is needed, and very welcome. Draft outline is here.

FAQs

These have been moved to the OOo wiki. They need updating and new ones written.

Want to write tutorials, short how-to's, or something else? We can find a place for it. Join our mailing list and tell us your ideas.

Getting started with OOoAuthors

1. Join the OOoAuthors site.
2. Join the mailing list.
3. Request author role (reviewers, indexers, or proofreaders as well as writers need this).
4. If you don't have it already, download and install OOo3.2.
5. Read the Style Guide and Writing OOo Guides.

What to do

• Option 1: Review a current chapter. <--- New members!
• Option 2: Write a new chapter.

Review a current chapter

(This section is a summary. Click here for more information.)

The best way to get started is to review a chapter. This is a short-term task, and it helps you get acquainted with the project.

In addition to checking chapters against the latest version of the software, you can help by (a) noting any questions you have that are not answered in the current chapter; and (b) doing some research in the OOoForum and the OOo Users list to see what questions other people have.

See this page for more information on what's needed.

1. Pick a document to review and inform the list.
2. When you are done, upload the file to the Feedback folder for the relevant book, and inform the list.

Printed books for sale

The following books by OOoAuthors are available in printed form from the Friends of OpenDocument's store at Lulu.com:
Getting Started with OpenOffice.org 3 - NEW October 2008
OpenOffice.org 3 Writer Guide - NEW January 2009
Getting Started with OpenOffice.org 2.x - Fourth Edition - May 2008
OpenOffice.org 2.x Writer Guide - Third Edition
OpenOffice.org 2.x Impress Guide
OpenOffice.org 2.x Draw Guide - Second edition - April 2008
OpenOffice.org 2.0 Migration Guide

Cool OOoAuthors shirts, caps, mugs and more

Want to advertise OOoAuthors where you work or play? You can get many items featuring the OOoAuthors logo here: http://www.cafepress.com/oooauthors. All items are being sold at cost.

European OOoAuthors-shop
Now, there's a European shop too... :)
You'll find different things here - if you want some more, or different colours or ... please let me know. I can add more articles. -- Sigrid