OpenOffice 3 and SmashWords

spaze · 03-09-2011, 04:39 AM

Anyone generated their ebook with OpenOffice version 3 and successfully published a book at SmashWords?

I don't have Windows, only Linux and OpenOffice is what I normally use, but Smashword says the uploaded ebook needs to be in DOC file format.

Brad Chambers · 03-09-2011, 07:48 AM

I use OpenOffice 3 for my books. Just save it as a microsoft word 2000 .doc file. It works fine for me.

Worldwalker · 03-09-2011, 09:59 AM

In my more cynical moments, I think the owner of Smashwords is getting kickbacks from Microsoft to require their format for ebooks, instead of genuinely open formats like epub or even html. But Brad is quite right: OO can do a fairly good doc, and that will work. Though reminding Smashwords that doc isn't a file interchange format, and people aren't always as eager as they are to support poor, starving little Microsoft, isn't a bad thing either.

altworld · 03-09-2011, 10:40 AM

I use OpenOffice 3 to convert my manuscripts for Smashwords, never had an issue. I just save them as .doc files for Word 97, then dump them into the Meatgrinder for my eBook files. At least OO is workable, unlike the hotmess that is MS Word 2007 upwards.
Arigato,
Nick Davis

spaze · 03-09-2011, 10:41 AM

Ok, good to know.

Thanks guys!

mmessina · 03-24-2011, 04:36 PM

Sorry to dredge up an older topic here but I'm thoroughly flustered with trying to make my manuscript work on smashwords. I'm being nailed for having tabs but can't figure out any way to easily remove the tabs from my document via openoffice. Any suggestions?

Andanzas · 03-24-2011, 05:29 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mmessina

Sorry to dredge up an older topic here but I'm thoroughly flustered with trying to make my manuscript work on smashwords. I'm being nailed for having tabs but can't figure out any way to easily remove the tabs from my document via openoffice. Any suggestions?

I don't have OpenOffice installed on this laptop, but, if my memory serves me right, the search function is very similar to that of MS. So this is what you would do in Word (hopefully, it'll help you with your problem).

Open Find or Replace (ctrl + F or ctrl + H), select the tab that says More>>>. At the bottom there are a couple tabs that say Format and Special. Select Special and you'll see Tab Character in the drop-down menu. Simply select it and you'll be able to find or replace all the tabs in your document.

Hope this helps.

altworld · 03-24-2011, 10:23 PM

OpenOffice has an advanced search function that you can download as a plugin, this allows you to easily replace commands like tab or line breaks. I think its called Advanced search.
Arigato,
Nick Davis

mmessina · 03-25-2011, 10:40 AM

I'll check that out and pray it works, thanks for the assist

TenaciousBadger · 03-25-2011, 11:26 AM

maybe this is the regular expression you're looking for:

Find: \t
Replace: (nothing, no space)

It's what I use to remove tabs.

G J Lau · 03-29-2011, 07:03 PM

I wish I could use Open Office for everything, but given the bare bones that Smashwords wants in terms of formatting, Word does okay. I have Word 2000, and it works fine. I used OO to format a paperback version for CreateSpace and it was terrific. Of course there the end product is a pdf, which you can do seamlessly in OO. I have come to really like Nitro as a pdf reader.

03-09-2011, 04:39 AM	#1
spaze Addict Posts: 265 Karma: 512072 Join Date: Aug 2009 Location: Helsinki, Finland Device: Writing my first short story: Guardian Angel	OpenOffice 3 and SmashWords Anyone generated their ebook with OpenOffice version 3 and successfully published a book at SmashWords? I don't have Windows, only Linux and OpenOffice is what I normally use, but Smashword says the uploaded ebook needs to be in DOC file format.

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03-09-2011, 07:48 AM	#2
Brad Chambers Enthusiast Posts: 25 Karma: 514012 Join Date: Jan 2011 Device: Kindle	I use OpenOffice 3 for my books. Just save it as a microsoft word 2000 .doc file. It works fine for me.

03-09-2011, 09:59 AM	#3
Worldwalker Curmudgeon Posts: 3,085 Karma: 722357 Join Date: Feb 2010 Device: PRS-505	In my more cynical moments, I think the owner of Smashwords is getting kickbacks from Microsoft to require their format for ebooks, instead of genuinely open formats like epub or even html. But Brad is quite right: OO can do a fairly good doc, and that will work. Though reminding Smashwords that doc isn't a file interchange format, and people aren't always as eager as they are to support poor, starving little Microsoft, isn't a bad thing either.

03-09-2011, 10:40 AM	#4
altworld Evangelist Posts: 495 Karma: 746472 Join Date: Apr 2010 Location: Deep in Maryland Device: Android G1	I use OpenOffice 3 to convert my manuscripts for Smashwords, never had an issue. I just save them as .doc files for Word 97, then dump them into the Meatgrinder for my eBook files. At least OO is workable, unlike the hotmess that is MS Word 2007 upwards. Arigato, Nick Davis

03-09-2011, 10:41 AM	#5
spaze Addict Posts: 265 Karma: 512072 Join Date: Aug 2009 Location: Helsinki, Finland Device: Writing my first short story: Guardian Angel	Ok, good to know. Thanks guys!

03-24-2011, 04:36 PM	#6
mmessina Author-saurus-rex Posts: 33 Karma: 88 Join Date: Mar 2011 Location: harrisburg, pa Device: kindle	Sorry to dredge up an older topic here but I'm thoroughly flustered with trying to make my manuscript work on smashwords. I'm being nailed for having tabs but can't figure out any way to easily remove the tabs from my document via openoffice. Any suggestions?

03-24-2011, 10:23 PM	#8
altworld Evangelist Posts: 495 Karma: 746472 Join Date: Apr 2010 Location: Deep in Maryland Device: Android G1	OpenOffice has an advanced search function that you can download as a plugin, this allows you to easily replace commands like tab or line breaks. I think its called Advanced search. Arigato, Nick Davis

03-25-2011, 10:40 AM	#9
mmessina Author-saurus-rex Posts: 33 Karma: 88 Join Date: Mar 2011 Location: harrisburg, pa Device: kindle	I'll check that out and pray it works, thanks for the assist

03-25-2011, 11:26 AM	#10
TenaciousBadger Mrawr? Posts: 1,109 Karma: 15039064 Join Date: Aug 2010 Device: kindle 3 wifi	maybe this is the regular expression you're looking for: Find: \t Replace: (nothing, no space) It's what I use to remove tabs.

03-29-2011, 07:03 PM	#11
G J Lau Zealot Posts: 126 Karma: 415116 Join Date: Jan 2011 Location: Frederick MD Device: Nook	I wish I could use Open Office for everything, but given the bare bones that Smashwords wants in terms of formatting, Word does okay. I have Word 2000, and it works fine. I used OO to format a paperback version for CreateSpace and it was terrific. Of course there the end product is a pdf, which you can do seamlessly in OO. I have come to really like Nitro as a pdf reader.

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