OpenOffice is coming...now with Quartz

frank777

Apparently <a href="http://porting.openoffice.org/mac/index.html"; target="_blank">Open Office</a> is coming along nicely, and the latest release now has native Quartz support. It'll be great to see a real Office-alternative finally on the Mac!



However, can somebody please verify that a Mac GUI will be added on in a later release? The screenshots show the Windows/Linux interface running on OSX, and quite frankly that's too scary to contemplate. <img src="graemlins/bugeye.gif" border="0" alt="[Skeptical]" />

noahj

If it is using the X11 window manager then just use something like Oroborus (SP?) to give you the OS X like interface.



otherwise, this is definately good news. Thanks for the heads up.

ghost_user_name

Yes, I can personally testify that OpenOffice's X11 interface is HORRIBLE. It's absolutely nothing like a Mac app, even if you use OroborOSX. Hell, it doesn't even look like a normal Windows or *nix app with that god damn ugly custom font in the menus... that you can't change!







However, this new 638C build sounds promising (bad grammar aside): [quote]This build proves that a build of OpenOffice.org using nothing but the interfaces provided by native OS X 10.1.<hr></blockquote>I've got my fingers crossed, but I'm afraid I'm setting myself up for a major let-down. I'm about to start going through those <a href="http://porting.openoffice.org/mac/build_OO638C_Quartz.html"; target="_blank">hideously long instructions</a> (why can't they just post a binary?) to get it installed and I'll report back with details and pictures when (or if) I finish.



[ 06-20-2002: Message edited by: starfleetX ]</p>

hekal

These screenshots look as if they are older and still running under X. XDarwin is running in each of them. I'd assume this is why you see a Linux look.

ghost_user_name

[quote]Originally posted by hekal:

<strong>These screenshots look as if they are older</strong><hr></blockquote>Look at the dates. Those *are* older pictures. That's why I'm working on getting this newer version -- so we can really see what all the fuss is about.



date of pictures: 07 May 2002

date of new build: 13 June 2002

frank777

Thanks Starfleet,



I look forward to reading your thoughts on its potential and seeing the screenshots.

ghost_user_name

By the way, don't expect a report back from me any time soon. The makefile appears to not be configured for dual processors and thus isn't compiling as fast as it could on my dual 500.



From the installation page:

"On a TiBook 400 the build took about two continuous days."



Also, here are a few steps worth noting...



part 1, step 8: go get some coffee, or a beer, since it'll take a while to get it all

part 2, step 11: go get some more coffee, or another beer, since it'll take a while to build

part 5, step 11: Begin consuming those cases of beer. You'll be waiting about a day.



It's a good thing I'm not an alcoholic else following these instructions I'd be totally smashed before the weekend even gets here! <img src="graemlins/lol.gif" border="0" alt="[Laughing]" />

ghost_user_name

Uhhh... I have two words for you guys: DON'T BOTHER.







This thing is hoooorrrrible. Half the apps won't launch and the ones that do are incredible buggy. The installer leaks memory like a mo-fo to the point that I started paging out like crazy JUST from running it, iTunes, and one OmniWeb window open (I have 832 MB RAM).



How buggy is it? Watch in this brief movie file and see for yourself. I would have tested it further, but there were so many UI problems that I didn't think it would be worth the effort. No, the screen artifacts are not caused by Snapz -- they are caused by the actual Office app.



<a href="http://brad.project-think.com/movies/OpenOffice-calc-001.mov"; target="_blank">http://brad.project-think.com/movies/OpenOffice-calc-001.mov</a>; (3 MB)



By the way, when you hear me pounding on the keyboard, that's because I was trying to get the delete key to work. Apparently neither the backward or forward delete key work in Office.



[edit] Oh and one last thing. I'm only going to keep this abomination on my drive until Sunday afternoon. I'm dumping this waste of 2.93 GB into the trash unless someone has some specific tests they want me to try.



[ 06-21-2002: Message edited by: starfleetX ]</p>

barto

It's a developer preview.



If you're interested in bug-fixing and reporting, or can contribute to this project you d/load it. You expect it to be crap.



This is also a port from a beta, not to 1.0. Apparently the betas kinda sucked on any platform.



So, give it a try if you have the time (which I don't - 56K, 400MHz G4), download it. If you don't wait until 1.0 before making a judgement.



OroborOSX rocks. You expect it to instantly make X11 apps look like Aqua apps. It won't. It does go quite a way though, with minimizing to the dock, an aqua window frame, a self-contained XDarwin, an app launch list, etc. Ungreatful, some of you are.



Barto

ghost_user_name

Yes, yes, I do realize it's a preview -- I just wanted to make it clear to everybody that it is far from being a nice OSX app. The simple statement of having a "successful Quartz build" can be quite misleading to the non-developer types. It's getting there slowly, but it has a very long road ahead.



Ungreatful? Pffssht. Now, that was uncalled for.

frank777

I'm most grateful to StarfleetX for taking the time to let us non-programmers know how an important OS X app is coming along.



I just wish it would get here sooner...

barto

I am greatful too, but I felt that it needed to be mentioned that this is pre-alpha, and the fact that the app is crap now doesn't mean that the final version won't kick ass.



I do think that OroborOSX is one kick-ass app (especially considering it's cost: $0), and it didn't get the respect it deserved.



Barto

speechgod

I'm just surprised that he could get a piece of goo like that running at all is amazing. Wonder what MS Office v.X looked at this point?