Puppy Linux Discussion Forum

Patriot · Joined: 15 Jan 2009 Posts: 734

Hmmm .....

jakfish,

mcewanw · Joined: 16 Aug 2007 Posts: 1526 Location: New Zealand

Linux version, albeit the 2006 softmaker office.

But that is interesting. I'll download it and give it a try. Might be the best solution for Puppy if printing won't work properly with Textmaker 2008.

I've also been experimenting with the windows version of Foxit pdf reader running over wine, because the Linux version of that needs Xorg 24 bit colour and my old laptop uses 16bit colour only. The windows version of Foxit runs over wine at either 16bit or 24bit colour.

Having said that, I've found something much better, in fact, the best pdf reader I've ever used on Linux so far (albeit via wine since it is a MS windows program): PDF-Xchange. It is GREAT! Comes as a portable app for USB or as an installable. I've started a new thread about it here:

http://www.murga-linux.com/puppy/viewtopic.php?p=356107#356107

jakfish · Joined: 18 Jul 2008 Posts: 711

Patriot--

Re: softmaker for linux 2006--have you figured out any way to increase size of menubars, menu fonts, etc.?

Jake

chrome307 · Joined: 15 Jan 2009 Posts: 713

Hi there, thanks for all the info provided thus far on how to get this app working with Puppy.

What I would like to know is how I can 'associate' my *.doc files with Textmaker.

eg

I right click on the *.doc file and then select 'Set Run Action' and then I am offered the choice to drag and drop an application into the dialog box or I can enter a shell command.

Can someone point me in the right direction?

Thanks

chrome307 · Joined: 15 Jan 2009 Posts: 713

jakfish · Joined: 18 Jul 2008 Posts: 711

Thanks for the tip about the large icons. Can I assume that menu font, etc. remain fixed?

Jake

chrome307 · Joined: 15 Jan 2009 Posts: 713

I think so, not sure how to change the size of the menu fonts.

jakfish · Joined: 18 Jul 2008 Posts: 711

Running SM 2008 through wine (as done in the beginning of the thread) is far more flexible, visual-wise, because wine is so flexible. Just don't print Smile

Jake

mcewanw · Joined: 16 Aug 2007 Posts: 1526 Location: New Zealand

@jakfish

I also noted with interest the following linked from the Linux softmaker office 2006 link you provided:

http://www.officeviewers.com/

It's a link to TextMaker viewer 2009. The interesting thing about that is that it views docx format files too (presumably SoftMaker Office 2009 will do that too when it comes out...).

I rather like using the versions of these products over wine (rather than native Linux), particularly if they run as portable apps, because that way I can carry them to windows machines in, for example, my local library too (as well as having Puppy Linux on the same usb stick for those occasions I can boot into it).

I'm surprised that Textmaker 2008 isn't printing properly for you (just don't have a printer to check that myself) since you say the other softmaker 2008 apps print okay. Just wondered if your downloads were okay.

Here are the md5sums for the install files I downloaded, in case you want to check that:

# md5sum ashampoo_office2008_310_fm.exe
d1dad0069dcb96b56848364c51d43f0f

# md5sum ofw505.exe
d6d7964ce5969dbac0e8bcd41015b793

jakfish · Joined: 18 Jul 2008 Posts: 711

Hi, mcewanw--

Aren't you having the same problem printing, albeit CUPS-PDF? If I'm not mistaken, aren't you freezing as well?

Since I can print via current 2008 install in XP, and intermittently (though rarely) in puppy/wine/TM, it'd be strange if it were a bad download, though stranger things have happened Smile

Jake

jakfish · Joined: 18 Jul 2008 Posts: 711

Thanks for posting those md5sum's--I checked mine and mine are the same as yours.

Jake

mcewanw · Joined: 16 Aug 2007 Posts: 1526 Location: New Zealand

jakfish · Joined: 18 Jul 2008 Posts: 711

I had forgotten to include results of print-to-file, which works for me as well in SM 2008/wine. Rather than the hassle of a print-to-file, another way would be to work on SM 2008/wine, but print out on SM 2006/linux. Or print out on MS Word 97.

Yes, it's a bummer that SM/linux menu bars, etc. are so hard-wired. Funny, since that goes against the inherent flexibility of linux.

Jake

mcewanw · Joined: 16 Aug 2007 Posts: 1526 Location: New Zealand

Something very odd going on for me when it comes to the print function of Textmaker 2008. Print to file did work, but it isn't now! Yet export to pdf works everytime. I'm pretty sure if print to file is consistently working so should CUPS printing (though I could be wrong about that). I need to find out when and when not print to file works - for a moment I thought it was something to do with ownership or permissions, but I can't fathom what is going on at all right now. I fired up Abiword and tried out all the combinations: since I don't have an actual printer it successfully prints to different file types (PS and PDF). So why not Textmaker 2008 I ponder...

playdayz · Joined: 25 Apr 2008 Posts: 3705

Thanks for some fun for a rainy day. I was able to get a free full copy of Ashampoo Office 2008 for Windows with this link from early in the thread and also upgraded to SP505.
http://www.mydigitallife.info/2009/07/11/ashampoo-office-2008-softmaker-office-alternative-3-1-free-activation-serial-key-number/

I was also able to get a free full copy of Softmaker Office 2006 for Linux through this link from earlier in the thread. One should note that the url where the software ultimately resides is named "pirateladds" but on the other hand, one *is* registering the software.