open Office and an ebook

[Kaie]

I need to go ahead and publish some of my information in the form of short ebooks. I downloaded OpenOffice, is this a good idea, or are there better ways that are inexpensive. I have the information written, but know nothing about formatting it into ebook form.

[chadcharlie]

Open office works. I would suggest using Google Docs over them for the redundant backing up involved with web based applications. However, nothing really holds a candle to Microsoft's Office package...and next to that, when you get to publishing state, you need to make it a PDF to help better protect the content, and maintain its formatting. Both of those cost money. [edit: implying that you would have to buy the additional Adobe Acrobat software to have greatest control over publication and formatting]

Keep writing though!

[Kaie]

Originally Posted by chadcharlie

Open office works. I would suggest using Google Docs over them for the redundant backing up involved with web based applications. However, nothing really holds a candle to Microsoft's Office package...and next to that, when you get to publishing state, you need to make it a PDF to help better protect the content, and maintain its formatting. Both of those cost money. [edit: implying that you would have to buy the additional Adobe Acrobat software to have greatest control over publication and formatting]

Keep writing though!

I am probably going to invest in Microsoft Office for Macs, I am working on multiple ebooks. I need to figure out a ballpark figure and will probably have to wait. I just want to get one out really quick to offer for free to get subscribers. I also need to put together a newsletter. All in the works, I just need to figure out the finer points

[votoshka]

Actually OpenOffice has the ability to create PDF documents from their word processing files. I actually downloaded OO precisely because I needed to create a PDF for free and I couldn't do it with Word alone .

It's not on my current computer, so I can't give the actual details, but I'm sure if you look it up you'll find the information you need.

[chadcharlie]

Originally Posted by votoshka

Actually OpenOffice has the ability to create PDF documents from their word processing files. I actually downloaded OO precisely because I needed to create a PDF for free and I couldn't do it with Word alone .

It's not on my current computer, so I can't give the actual details, but I'm sure if you look it up you'll find the information you need.

Well there we have it
I've always enjoyed Mac's feature of printing to .PDF also. It's a handy way to create them.