OpenOffice Integration toolkit

[pierre_smits]

Recently Alfresco released the Office Integration 2.1 RC toolkit.

Browsing through the fora I found nothing about an OpenOffice integration toolkit. I was wondering whether Alfresco is also planning such a plugin or is anyone else trying to build one?

If not, how would one go about building such a thing?

Regards

Pierre

[mikeh]

Hi,

Alfresco currently have no plans for an OpenOffice add-in.

Your first step would be to dive into the OpenOffice development notes, decide what O/S platforms were to be targetted, what development language to use and what the functional scope of the add-in would be.

This is probably a good starting point: http://wiki.services.openoffice.org/wiki/Extensions

We encourage contributions and provide the Alfresco Forge are to help manage these projects: http://forge.alfresco.com/


Thanks,
Mike

[rodchamusca]

Since Alfresco is open source, the development of an OpenOffice add-in would be a natural - if not expected - step. The fact that we currently have an option for the MS suite is understandable considering its user base, which (I believe) is way more substantial.

Nevertheless, I think that sooner or later an add-in project for OpenOffice may appear into Forge. It's just a matter of time.

By the way, IBM has recently stated that they have joined the OO community to help in promoting their technology. This is indeed interesting news…

[paulhh]

The reason there's a MS Office integration is that it was easy to do in a generic and lightweight way.  Most of the code is our Web Scripts - only a little Office C# code.  There isn't the same option with OpenOffice.  However, we're actively talking to people in OpenOffice, so we'll see if any light appears at the end of that tunnel.

Cheers
Paul.

[gregorystec]

Personally to Dr Paul Holmes-Higgin VP of Engineering: It's so shame on ALFRESCO, really shame… Your products are founded on the open source technology and haven't integration with OpenOffice.org but have with Microsoft Office. You have problem with developing extension for OpenOffce.org? Thats sound like joke… And looks like cold business calculation or maybe personal conflict in hi management… It hard to believe that folks at Alfresco could have any trouble to develop integration module for OpenOffice.org…

[loftux]

Congratulations to GregoryStec for your first post and making yourself a foe to the Community.

Alfresco is built around its Community, with the Alfresco company that has developers on its payroll. The Alfresco developers do a very good job, and is delivering at a very high pace. But they cant develop every single feature that users ask for. Alfresco being open source makes it possible for the Community to take part of the development of addons to complement the core product.

And obviously your, GreoryStec, highest priority is an OpenOffice plugin.
First, to make that happen, do not start by being impolite to the very Alfresco as a company, Paul Holmes-Higgin, and the rest of the team that has brought you Alfresco at no cost in the first place.
Second, why not do this yourself? If you personally cannot code, hire someone to do it.
Third, have a look at https://oo-plugin-for-alfresco.dev.java.net/. The guy hasn't released anything yet, so it may just be screenshots. So a tip, if you GrecoryStec do contact him, be polite and don't start like you did here. Maybe even offer to help the guy complete the project.

Peter Löfgren

[jpfi]

Hi,
First, the open source world is not the place where you're getting all you need for free. It is not "hotel mom" where you cry and get the milk. The Open Source idea is based on participation!
There was a customer in germany who wanted a open office integration too. So he hired a german alfresco partner for coding it and because he believes in the open source model he agreed to contribute this tool to alfresco. They made a demo at the BarCamp in Barcelona last week and saying that it will be released soon.
Cheers,
Jan

[paulhh]

Jan, Peter

Thanks for responding in the open source way! 

Gregory

The reality is that I've been aware of a number of efforts to build add-ins for OpenOffice for some time, so it would actually seem a bit rude to then come out with one ourselves.  I am aware of one implementation that uses a browser component and re-uses much of our MS Office scripts.  All good stuff and fully welcomed by Alfresco.

Plus, there's the real world: the demand has been more for MS Office integration (no, don't flame me, I have no love for M$).  No slight against OpenOffice, just reality.  Alfresco isn't a charity, our developers are full-time industry-hardened senior people - the Community is getting a free beer, and we hope that it gets paid back in ways other than just cash (cash is preferred, but not required). 

The open source way is not to whine, but do something about it.  Contribute.  It doesn't have to be code: people can write tutorials; scripts; content types; case studies; take the lead on defining the requirements for new functionality; whatever they can do.

Cheers
Paul.
Personally.

[gregorystec]

Thank you Paul to prompt and sensible answer. I am really impressed with Alfresco work. That is great, really great job. It's clear for me all of this what you say about business reality. But, I am not completely agree to what are you writing about beer on community table, this same free beer is served on Alfresco table by community. Alfresco is the open source company and  how I think, is using lot of open sours technology. And that is correct for me.
The way you (Alfresco) are interfering with open source community is like guiding light for rest of community - fully functional not restricted product - compared for example to SugarCRM, great product unfortunately with restricted functionality for community.
But I see in all of this one small problem, this is integration. You are writing "but demand has been more for M$…". Yah… Years ago I and you for sure have heard something like this about Linux (Windows), Apache, Tomcat (ISS), CVS, SVN (SSC). And we are yet.
If you have no love for M$ then make integration with open source product for free and then to M$ for many. If you enter Alfresco with OOo, you got minimum two hundred dollars from every workstation to share with your customer. This is the business to…
I got contact from folks at  oo-plugin-for-alfresco. Srinivasulu inform me that OOo plugin will be published soon, after finishing legal stage of project. Is this legal stage effort related to Alfresco?

Cheers,
personally.

[cbosdonnat]

Hi all,

StarXpert is working on an OpenOffice.org extension for Alfresco. We are dealing with some tiny anoying bugs before releasing it soon. I'll post the announce here as soon as the first release is available.

Regards,
Cedric