StarOffice is a collection of office and business applications (including the StarWriter word processor, the StarCalc spreadsheet, the StarDraw image-drawing program, the StarSchedule calendar manager, and so on) that use common data formats and operate within a common environment (the StarDesktop user interface). It was designed to be an alternative to the Microsoft Office software, and its components are to some extent interoperable with their Microsoft Office counterparts. In particular, StarWriter can load and display documents created in and stored by Microsoft Word.
The current version of StarOffice (version 5.2) is a huge, lumbering program that takes a long time to start up, takes a long time to perform routine operations, and occupies more than two megabytes of disk space for each user, in the user's home directory. If you want just a what-you-see-is-what-you-get a word processor, you don't need StarOffice -- the AbiWord program is a better choice. If you want just a spreadsheet, you don't need StarOffice -- you're more likely to get the results you want from Gnumeric.
The main reason for running StarOffice on MathLAN is that you regularly receive e-mail from correspondents who insist on sending Microsoft Word documents as attachments, perhaps not realizing how egregiously rude this practice is. StarOffice makes it possible, though still not convenient, to read such attachments.
Before you can run StarOffice, you must install it in your account. The process takes about ten minutes.
Log in, start a shell running in a terminal emulator (by moving the mouse pointer onto the monitor icon on the Front Panel and clicking the left mouse button), and change to the directory containing the StarOffice installer by typing in the command
cd /usr/local/office52/program
at the shell prompt. Next, type in the command
./setup &
to start the installer. Then wait. When it is good and ready, the installer occupies your screen and displays a greeting. When you have been sufficiently greeted, move the mouse pointer onto the button labelled Next >> and click the left mouse button.
The installer now displays the release notes for StarOffice 5.2 in a scrollable window. If you think it important to read these notes, go ahead. When you're ready to proceed, move the mouse pointer onto the button labelled Next >> and click the left mouse button.
The installer now displays the license agreement for StarOffice 5.2 in a scrollable window. The licenser, Sun Microsystems, asks that you read it carefully. When you're ready to proceed, move the mouse pointer onto the button labelled Accept >> and click the left mouse button, indicating that you accept the terms of the license.
Next, you get to fill out a form, giving a lot of information about yourself. Although the form doesn't say so, it is likely that this information is e-mailed automatically to Sun Microsystems, who will add you to their spam list, give your telephone number to sellers of Sun-related products, and so on. (I have been using StarOffice for less than a month and have already begun to hear from such persons.) You may, therefore, want to lie when filling out this form. It is also possible to leave it blank. When you're finished, move the mouse pointer onto the button labelled Next >> and click the left mouse button.
The next screen asks you to select a mode of installation. You want the Standard Workstation Installation, which is the default, so just move the mouse pointer onto the button labelled Next >> and click the left mouse button.
The next screen asks you to specify the directory in which you wish to install the files and subdirectories that StarOffice uses. The text field in which you are to give the name of the directory is already filled in with a default specification -- a subdirectory named office52 in your home directory. Accept this default by moving the mouse pointer onto the button labelled Next >> and clicking the left mouse button. A box pops up, advising you that this subdirectory doesn't yet exist and asking for permission to create it. Move the mouse pointer onto the word Yes in this box and click the left mouse button.
Next, the installer advises you that it has collected all the information that it needs and gives you a chance to back up through all the previous screens and to confirm that you are satisfied with the way you filled them out. If you are, move the mouse pointer onto the button labelled Complete and click the left mouse button.
The next screen advises you that the installer was unable to find the Java Runtime Environment. Move the mouse pointer onto the button labelled OK and click the left mouse button.
At this point, the installer proceeds to copy a lot of files and subdirectories into ~/office52. After a few seconds, a box pops up, advising you that StarOffice also could not find the files it needs to install the Adabas database system. Move the mouse pointer onto the button labelled OK and click the left mouse button.
A second box pops up, advising you that the installer added a button for StarOffice to the ``KDE Panel.'' KDE is a desktop manager that most MathLAN users don't use and never see, so this operation has no visible effect. Move the mouse pointer onto the button labelled OK and click the left mouse button.
Shortly, the installer announces that it has finished the installation. Move the mouse pointer onto the button labelled Complete and click the left mouse button. The installer now exits and vanishes.
To start StarOffice, once it is installed, start a terminal emulator (if you don't already have one running) and type
~/office52/soffice &
at the shell prompt. Eventually, the StarDesktop appears (occupying your entire screen). There is extensive on-line help.
When you first start up StarOffice, it pops up a box inviting you to register as a StarOffice user. Four alternatives are presented: ``Please register now,'' ``Remind me to register later,'' ``Never register,'' and ``I am already a registered user.'' Move the mouse pointer onto the circle to the left of the alternative you prefer and click the left mouse button, then move the mouse pointer onto the button labelled OK and click the left mouse button.
Under certain circumstances, StarOffice may also, or instead, pop up a box inviting you to supply still more information about yourself, for the benefit of the StarWriter and StarMail components, or to authorize a raid on the configuration files of your Netscape browser. To forestall this, move the mouse pointer onto the button labelled Cancel and click the left mouse button.
To exit from StarOffice, move the mouse pointer onto the word File at the left end of the menu bar at the top of the StarDesktop, click the left mouse button, move the mouse pointer onto the word Exit on the menu that appears, and click the left mouse button. Wait. Eventually StarOffice exits and the StarDesktop vanishes.
created August 7, 2000
last revised June 26, 2001