Sams Teach Yourself StarOffice® 5 for Linux in 24 Hours

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Hour 5: Importing and Exporting StarOffice Documents

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Reviewing Imported and Exported Spreadsheets

Any time you move a spreadsheet between programs using a non-native format--for example, reading an Excel file into StarOffice--check the spreadsheet to see how well the conversion worked.

Although we've had good luck with the Excel filter in StarOffice (which is recommended for almost all spreadsheet exchanges), you might have problems with some features.

Caution - In all spreadsheet programs, some conversion filters work better than others. Importing one type of file might work well, whereas importing another type might leave a spreadsheet full of errors. Check any important areas after importing a spreadsheet.


Table 5.3 lists some things that you can check to see how converted spreadsheets have fared, in addition to listing some problems that you might encounter after importing and exporting files.

Table 5.3  Items to Check after Importing a Spreadsheet

Item to check

Potential problems

Total number of sheets in the spreadsheet

The current sheet of an imported spreadsheet might be intact, but the entire "Workbook" might not have been imported correctly. Check the names and arrangement of multiple sheets in a multi-sheet spreadsheet.

Page numbers, footnotes, headers, be and footers

These items outside the page margins might overlap or in different positions. Also check the font used.

Font

A different default font might be substituted.

Graphics and charts

Different graphics formats might be supported in the new word processor, making some graphics gray boxes. Positioning of the graphics might also be off.

Chart styles or formatting options available might be different. Check charts for data consistency(do they still make sense when you read the numbers?), as well as making sure that they still look good.

Formulas

Most formulas are simple enough and common enough to transfer fine, but long or complex formulas that rely on absolute cell references or a special order in which operations are performed might not calculate in the same way. Add parentheses where needed to force calculation in the correct order.

Functions

If a function that was available in the original spreadsheet program is not available in the new program, an obvious error appears in the cell. More dangerous are complex or rarely-used functions that might have different meanings or parameter order and therefore appear to work, but actually function slightly differently.

Document properties

Document meta-information, such as author and date created, might not be imported even though the new spreadsheet program has those features.

Special Features

Features such as data validation and input help notes, sheet protection, and user-defined functions might not import correctly, leaving the data in the cells correct, but making use of the spreadsheet by others less intuitive.

Macros and Templates

Spreadsheets that rely on a template or macro to display properly probably won't work in the new spreadsheet program. You'll have to research how to imitate or develop the necessary substitute tools.


Sams Teach Yourself StarOffice® 5 for Linux in 24 Hours

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Hour 5: Importing and Exporting StarOffice Documents

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