OpenOffice facts for kids

Quick facts for kids
Apache OpenOffice

Apache OpenOffice Start Center in version 3.4.1
Developer(s)	StarOffice (1984–1999) by StarDivision OpenOffice.org (1999–2011) by Sun Microsystems (1999–2009) Oracle Corporation (2010–2011) Apache OpenOffice (2011—) by the Apache Software Foundation
Initial release	30 April 2002 (2002-04-30)
Written in	C++ and Java
Operating system	Microsoft Windows, Linux, Mac OS X
Platform	IA-32 and x86-64
Available in	current version: 20 languages Past versions: over 110 languages
Type	Office suite
License	Dual-licensed under the SISSL and LGPL (OpenOffice.org 2 Beta 2 and earlier) LGPL version 3 (OpenOffice.org 2 to OpenOffice.org 3.3) Apache License 2.0 (Apache OpenOffice 3.4 and later) and other weak copyleft licenses

Apache OpenOffice (which used to be called OpenOffice.org) is a free computer program. It's an office suite, which means it's a collection of tools for school or work. This software is open source. This means its code is free for anyone to use, change, and share.

Apache OpenOffice works on many different computer systems. These include Microsoft Windows, Linux, and Mac OS X. It's often used as a free choice instead of programs like Microsoft Office. You can open files made in Microsoft Office with Apache OpenOffice. It also has its own special file type called OpenDocument.

The old name, OpenOffice.org, had ".org" because "OpenOffice" was already a trademark. People often call it "OOo" for short. This software is based on an older program called StarOffice.

What is Apache OpenOffice?

Apache OpenOffice is a group of computer programs. They all work together to help you with different tasks. Think of it like a toolbox for your computer. Each tool helps you do something specific. Many of these tools are similar to ones you might find in other office programs.

Different Parts of OpenOffice

Here are the main parts of Apache OpenOffice and what they do:

	Writer	This is a word processor. You use it to write essays, stories, or reports. It's a lot like Microsoft Word. You can also save your documents as PDF files. This is handy for sharing your work.
	Calc	This is a spreadsheet program. It's similar to Microsoft Excel. You can use it to organize numbers, make lists, or create charts. It can help you with math projects or tracking your allowance. Calc can also save your spreadsheets as PDF files.
	Impress	This is for making presentations. It's like Microsoft PowerPoint. You can create slides with text, pictures, and videos. It's great for school projects or showing off your ideas. You can even save presentations as Flash files.
	Base	This is a database program. It's similar to Microsoft Access. Databases help you store and organize lots of information. For example, you could use it to keep track of your book collection or a list of your friends.
	Draw	This is a vector graphics editor. You can use it to create drawings, diagrams, and flowcharts. It's good for making posters or designing simple logos. It's like a digital drawing board.
	Math	This tool helps you write and edit mathematical formulas. If you need to put complex equations into your documents, Math can help. You can use it with Writer to make your math homework look neat.