Alternatives to Microsoft Office: Difference between revisions
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I also very much dislike its file management routines. I am perfectly at home with Libre Office because it uses native function calls to list and select files. | I also very much dislike its file management routines. I am perfectly at home with Libre Office because it uses native function calls to list and select files. | ||
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==== Google Docs offline ==== | ==== Google Docs offline ==== | ||
[https://support.google.com/docs/answer/6388102?hl=en&co=GENIE.Platform%3DDesktop How to use Google Docs offline] | [https://support.google.com/docs/answer/6388102?hl=en&co=GENIE.Platform%3DDesktop How to use Google Docs offline] | ||
When I opened a sample Word .docx file through Google Docs, I immediate received warnings. | When I opened a sample Word .docx file through Google Docs, I immediate received warnings. | ||
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:: "Some Word features can't be displayed and will be dropped if you make any changes." | :: "Some Word features can't be displayed and will be dropped if you make any changes." | ||
:: "If you continue to edit, the following features will be removed or replaced in the file: Even and Odd section behavior will be removed." | :: "If you continue to edit, the following features will be removed or replaced in the file: Even and Odd section behavior will be removed." | ||
Two "Learn more" links led to this moderately comprehensive page: | |||
[https://support.google.com/docs/answer/6055139 "Work with Office Files — Computer — Google Docs Editors Help"] | |||
== Not tested == | |||
==== Mac's own default editor ==== | ==== Mac's own default editor ==== | ||
[[Category:Writing]] | [[Category:Writing]] | ||
Revision as of 12:54, 8 November 2025
The Problem
My students who use Macs seem not to have a fully-licensed version of Microsoft 365 (a.k.a. Office 365).
They have to install CoPilot and can only access the apps from Office through CoPilot.
This means that they cannot use the apps offline.
I do not know why the license is so restrictive.
I have heard rumors and I make conjectures, none of which will help in any way to make the crippled license more useful to my class.
I want to receive student writing in .docx format, track changes, make comments, change formatting, etc., etc.
If the students open the docx file in some of these programs, they will not see the work I have done.
And their own work may not look right to me because Microsoft interprets their document differently.
OUCH!
Potential Solutions
Five free alternatives to Microsoft 365
Libre Office
This open-source package failed to import a .docx file correctly.
The page size and layout were completely neglected: margins, page header location, paper size.
I quit at that point. There may be many other features poorly supported that are available in the .docx format, especially sections and headings.
Only Office
SoftMaker FreeOffice
MobiOffice
WPS Office
I saw this package installed on two student Macs today.
I was able to install the Windows version on my machine.
It, too, failed to import a .docx file directly.
I removed it within twelve hours of installing it because it changed my default file associations without mentioning it to me and presented me with an ad when I booted my computer the next morning.
I also very much dislike its file management routines. I am perfectly at home with Libre Office because it uses native function calls to list and select files.
Google Docs offline
How to use Google Docs offline
When I opened a sample Word .docx file through Google Docs, I immediate received warnings.
- "Some Word features can't be displayed and will be dropped if you make any changes."
- "If you continue to edit, the following features will be removed or replaced in the file: Even and Odd section behavior will be removed."
Two "Learn more" links led to this moderately comprehensive page:
"Work with Office Files — Computer — Google Docs Editors Help"