5.2 to 6.0

[Christophe Ivorra]

I would like to use the version 6.0 but I need to know if this
version will be able to works on the files the verion 5.2 produced,
especially for emails et addresses.

Thanks

[Natsuko Shiraiso - Sun StarNews Support]

Christophe Ivorra wrote:

Hi Christophe,

Thank you very much for your interest in StarOffice 6.0. I thought you
might be interested in the changes that have been made to StarOffice 6.0
compared to its earlier versions. Please refer to the following:

StarOffice Desktop (including the integrated environment, Explorer and
Beamer):

Change:
Many users have reported that they do not use the StarOffice Desktop or
find it "confusing" because they are used to the desktop integrated into
their operating system.
That is why we decided to integrate StarOffice 6.0 into the desktop of
the operating system (e.g. Windows Desktop, KDE, Gnome, CDE, etc.).

Since the importance of the StarOffice Desktop was no longer relevant,
it was removed from the program to allow more system resources for the
more commonly used program modules.

StarOffice Chart

Change:
The chart functions are now fully integrated into the other StarOffice
program modules. Therefore, a stand-alone application is no longer
necessary.

You can still insert chart files (files with extension *.sds), from
StarOffice 5.2 or earlier versions, as OLE objects into your documents.

StarOffice Image

Change:
StarOffice Image was a tool to create and edit pixel graphics. These
functions are now fully integrated into the other single applications
and are available through a new and improved tool bar.

StarOffice Mail / StarOffice Discussion

Change:
We also received a lot of feedback about these program modules from our
users. To make the necessary changes needed for optimal working
conditions, the modifications to the program code would have taken
excessive time and resources. Therefore, we decided to use already
existing programs for e-mail and news and improve their integration in
StarOffice. Hence, email application is not available in StarOffice 6.0.

With the elimination of these program modules, we can concentrate on
allowing more resources for the more commonly used functions in StarOffice.

For the users of the mail and news client from StarOffice 5.2, we
suggest migrating to Netscape.

StarOffice Schedule

Change:
This program module was also eliminated for a more efficient resource
utilization. For the users of the StarOffice Schedule Server from
StarOffice 5.2, we suggest migrating to the Sun ONE calendar server.

For more information please refer to the following web site:
http://wwws.sun.com/software/products/calendar_srvr/home_calendar.html

StarOffice Browser

Change:
This program module was also in the line of critic because for many uses
it was reported too slow and not up to date. The optimization of the
program code would have taken excessive time and resources. Therefore,
we decided to use already existing browsers and improve their
integration in StarOffice.

A small part of this application functionality still exists in
StarOffice 6.0. It is used to view and, if necessary, edit self-created
HTML documents. However, frames can no longer be displayed. The
functionality in StarOffice 6.0 cannot be compared to previous
StarOffice versions.

With the removal of the Browser functions, we can concentrate on
allowing more resources for the more commonly used functions in StarOffice.

For the users of the browser module in StarOffice 5.2, we suggest
migrating to Netscape.

StarOffice API

Change:
Since the StarOffice version 6.0, StarOffice now uses the new API which
is totally the also in StarOffice 5.2 available new API, that is
completely documented in the so called ODK (Office Development Kit).
This kit is available on "http://api.openoffice.org".

To give the StarOffice API total access to the complete StarOffice, a
further development of the API was inevitable. This further development
resulted in the fact that the old StarOffice Basic macros, that do not
use API commands, are no longer executable in StarOffice 6.0. These now
have to be adopted manually to the new StarOffice API.

Finally, in order to be able to work with documents created in
StarOffice 5.2, including the address book, an AutoPilot is available.

The AutoPilot converts documents and templates from the binary format
from StarOffice versions prior to 6.0, as well as documents from
Microsoft Word, Excel and PowerPoint. The source files are only read,
not edited. New target files are written (with the new file name
extension) in the same or a new folder.

If you would like to obtain more information concerning StarOffice 6.0,
please visit our website at:

http://www.sun.com/staroffice

Thank you very much! :)

Natsuko Shiraiso
Sun StarNews Support

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