Improve OpenOffice with Free Extensions for Productivity
Free Tools for Increasing Productivity with OpenOffice
OpenOffice (OpenOffice.org) is a popular free alternative to more expensive office software suites such as Microsoft Office. Here's a list of my favorite free OpenOffice extensions which can help boost your productivity.
Extensions are similar to the add-ins or add-ons you may have used in other suites. These bring in additional tools which you, the user, can then use for any document created in that application going forward.
These extensions come from third-party developers, so each extension features its own level of version compatibility and developer support, including update schedules. For this reason, always take a look at all notation on the download page before deciding whether you want to use that extension for your projects.
Hundreds of OpenOffice extensions are available. This list represents those I deem the best for improving general productivity in Writer, Draw, Calc, Impress, and Base.
Professional Template Pack Extension for OpenOffice
The Professional Template Pack Extension for OpenOffice can be thought of as one-stop shopping for work, school, or personal document tools.
The extension gives you more than 90 templates for Writer, Calc, Draw, and Impress.
This tool is available for free courtesy of Sun Microsystems, Inc. and is available in English, French, Spanish, German, and Italian.
Also: Professional Template Pack 2 Extension for OpenOffice
Template Changer Extension for OpenOffice
If you are as indecisive as many of us, you may find this free Template Changer Extension for OpenOffice a nice added feature. This allows you to easily switch to a new template without losing all your core content in your document.
Modern Templates Extension for OpenOffice Impress
For a more polished presentation, consider downloading this Modern Templates Extension for OpenOffice Impress. You will find a variety of new slide designs.
This group of tools is based on open-source art elements and provided courtesy of Marcin Milkowski.
Typography Toolbar Extension for OpenOffice
The Typography Toolbar Extension for OpenOffice brings in an additional set of tools to improve the look of your text.
Features include ligatures, small caps, different number styles, text spacing, footnote text formatting, options for fractions, and number name conversion in over 20 languages.
This extension is courtesy of the FSF.hu Foundation.
MMove Extension for OpenOffice
Moving shapes, pictures, controls and other objects can be tricky, especially around text.
This free MMove Extension for OpenOffice has additional tools to make working with pictures and objects simpler.
Pagination Extension for OpenOffice Writer
If you would like an Insert Page Number tool in your installation of OpenOffice, check out this free Pagination Extension for OpenOffice Writer.
At the time of this writing, this free tool courtesy of Charles Brunet is available in several languages, including French, Brazilian Portuguese, Danish, Dutch, English, German, Hungarian, Italian, Japanese, Norwegian, Polish, Russian, Spanish, Swedish, and more.
OxygenOffice Extra Gallery Extension for OpenOffice
Want more clip art tools? This OxygenOffice Extra Gallery Extension for OpenOffice
brings in all sorts of additional images, both new ones and other options of gallery objects already available in OpenOffice, such as arrows or people.
Courtesy of the OxygenOffice Professional Team.
Export & Import OpenOffice to Google Docs, Zoho, WebDAV Extension
If you work across multiple office software suites or need to collaborate with others who do, you may find use for this Export & Import OpenOffice to Google Docs, Zoho, WebDAV Extension.
Export As Images Extension for OpenOffice Impress
If you want colors beyond the native OpenOffice palette, bring in additional ones with the free ooEs Change Color Palette Extension for OpenOffice.
Download this extension courtesy of open-office.es, in Spanish, English, or French.
Check out the Export As Images Extension for OpenOffice Impress to capture a picture of each slide, for example.
You may be interested in these lists as well:
OpenOffice (OpenOffice.org) is a popular free alternative to more expensive office software suites such as Microsoft Office. Here's a list of my favorite free OpenOffice extensions which can help boost your productivity.
Extensions are similar to the add-ins or add-ons you may have used in other suites. These bring in additional tools which you, the user, can then use for any document created in that application going forward.
These extensions come from third-party developers, so each extension features its own level of version compatibility and developer support, including update schedules. For this reason, always take a look at all notation on the download page before deciding whether you want to use that extension for your projects.
Hundreds of OpenOffice extensions are available. This list represents those I deem the best for improving general productivity in Writer, Draw, Calc, Impress, and Base.
Professional Template Pack Extension for OpenOffice
The Professional Template Pack Extension for OpenOffice can be thought of as one-stop shopping for work, school, or personal document tools.
The extension gives you more than 90 templates for Writer, Calc, Draw, and Impress.
This tool is available for free courtesy of Sun Microsystems, Inc. and is available in English, French, Spanish, German, and Italian.
Also: Professional Template Pack 2 Extension for OpenOffice
Template Changer Extension for OpenOffice
If you are as indecisive as many of us, you may find this free Template Changer Extension for OpenOffice a nice added feature. This allows you to easily switch to a new template without losing all your core content in your document.
Modern Templates Extension for OpenOffice Impress
For a more polished presentation, consider downloading this Modern Templates Extension for OpenOffice Impress. You will find a variety of new slide designs.
This group of tools is based on open-source art elements and provided courtesy of Marcin Milkowski.
Typography Toolbar Extension for OpenOffice
The Typography Toolbar Extension for OpenOffice brings in an additional set of tools to improve the look of your text.
Features include ligatures, small caps, different number styles, text spacing, footnote text formatting, options for fractions, and number name conversion in over 20 languages.
This extension is courtesy of the FSF.hu Foundation.
MMove Extension for OpenOffice
Moving shapes, pictures, controls and other objects can be tricky, especially around text.
This free MMove Extension for OpenOffice has additional tools to make working with pictures and objects simpler.
Pagination Extension for OpenOffice Writer
If you would like an Insert Page Number tool in your installation of OpenOffice, check out this free Pagination Extension for OpenOffice Writer.
At the time of this writing, this free tool courtesy of Charles Brunet is available in several languages, including French, Brazilian Portuguese, Danish, Dutch, English, German, Hungarian, Italian, Japanese, Norwegian, Polish, Russian, Spanish, Swedish, and more.
OxygenOffice Extra Gallery Extension for OpenOffice
Want more clip art tools? This OxygenOffice Extra Gallery Extension for OpenOffice
brings in all sorts of additional images, both new ones and other options of gallery objects already available in OpenOffice, such as arrows or people.
Courtesy of the OxygenOffice Professional Team.
Export & Import OpenOffice to Google Docs, Zoho, WebDAV Extension
If you work across multiple office software suites or need to collaborate with others who do, you may find use for this Export & Import OpenOffice to Google Docs, Zoho, WebDAV Extension.
Export As Images Extension for OpenOffice Impress
If you want colors beyond the native OpenOffice palette, bring in additional ones with the free ooEs Change Color Palette Extension for OpenOffice.
Download this extension courtesy of open-office.es, in Spanish, English, or French.
Check out the Export As Images Extension for OpenOffice Impress to capture a picture of each slide, for example.
You may be interested in these lists as well:
- Best OpenOffice Extensions for Teachers, Students, and Education
- Best OpenOffice Extensions for Business
- Best OpenOffice Extensions for Writers, Communicators, or Collaborators