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If any admins out there would like to mass deploy OOo 2.3 onto their Windows Workstations, I created a "Mass Install Utility" that enables you to deploy it with a few mouse clicks.

Check it out here.

Note that I do recommend Novell's OOo version, but I do create the installer for the standard version as well (which I just updated to 2.3). To download the complete versions of the Installation Utility (which includes all files necessary) you must use Bittorrent and get the files from my tracker here.

If any admins out there would like to mass deploy OOo 2.3 onto their Windows Workstations, I created a "Mass Install Utility" that enables you to deploy it with a few mouse clicks.

Check it out here.

Note that I do recommend Novell's OOo version, but I do create the installer for the standard version as well (which I just updated to 2.3). To download the complete versions of the Installation Utility (which includes all files necessary) you must use Bittorrent and get the files from my tracker here.

Since well over a year now, Firefox by default has been automatically checking for updates and downloading the new version when available on nearly every install. On networks this can be compounded because even if you are not an "Administrator" Firefox will still install download the update although the user cannot install the program. These download numbers are still probably counted.

On the upside, Mozilla does not count the number of installations on GNU/Linux systems (which would probably easily overtake the amount of "false downloads" that may be counted).

Anyway, to combat this on the networks I manage (and because I am a lazy SOB) I created a "Network Installation Utility" that remotely installs Firefox on the Domain Computers (or A.D. computers if you aren't using Samba). If anyone wants it you can find it at: http://www.pcc-services.com/kixtart/firefox-script.html. (I adjusted the default behavior of Firefox to not check for updates.)

But of course using this utility will totally mess up Mozilla's numbers since you can install Firefox on a few hundred computers in a few minutes (depending upon network speed) without even downloading Firefox once.

Thanks for the information (won't do it again). Next time I will simply link directly to the RPMs :-)

Both should work on SLED10 as well as OpenSUSE 10.1

Thanks for the information (won't do it again). Next time I will simply link directly to the RPMs :-)

Both should work on SLED10 as well as OpenSUSE 10.1

I give links to all the software I built for SLED10 - for free, the CD is there as a way for people to donate to me.

I am trying somehow to recoup the cost of
- Bandwidth - I only get about 1% of my total bandwith cost in Ads
- My time for building these - and yes I do submit bugfixes and am a part-time programmer

Just because I am trying not to go broke in being part of the Free Software Community by offering an easy way for people to donate to me, I am being branded a spammer ? Nice.

So again, if you want RPMs for SLED10 I provide some of the best ones - all custom built and nicely integrated into the default GNOME Desktop. All available FOR FREE, with the option of buying a CD from me.

Also, I should be updating all the applications within a few days to co-incide with the software on the CD.

I just built Democracy Player for SLED10 for my SLED RPMs page. This is the first time I got to try out Democracy Player and all I can say is CHECK IT OUT! Couple this along with the DeVeDe Utility and you got an excellent way to get some really cool shows on DVD that you normally wouldn't be able to get.

Democracy Player just happens to be the best interface for Google Video and YouTube to boot.

Get it for SLED10 at http://www.pcc-services.com/sled10_rpms.html.

This is for all the Network Admins for Windows Networks.

If you do not want Automatic Updates to Install IE7 when it is released then just set the following registry key on every workstation:

Registry key: HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Setup\7.0
Key value name: DoNotAllowIE70

* When the key value name is not defined, distribution is not blocked.
* When the key value name is set to 0, distribution is not blocked.
* When the key value name is set to 1, distribution is blocked.

NOTE: This is highly recommended as everytime I dealt with any Major release from Microsoft things started getting trashed. Microsoft should NOT Automatically deploy this in this way.

For lazy/Proficient Admins here is a Kixtart Script to do this on a list of computers over the network: NoAutoIE7.txt

Amendment IV

The right of the people to be secure in their persons, houses, papers, and effects, against unreasonable searches and seizures, shall not be violated, and no Warrants shall issue, but upon probable cause, supported by Oath or affirmation, and particularly describing the place to be searched, and the persons or things to be seized.

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If you want to learn more about the United States Constituion while you are learning about OpenOffice.org Writer styles check out my OpenOffice.org Styles Tutorial at

http://www.pcc-services.com/tutorials/OOo/basic_st yles/page1.html

Maybe you will learn a thing or two about Freedom (in reguards to both Society and Software).

You can implement read-only usb drive access with a policy using either Group Policy Objects or the Windows System Policy Editor. The registry key is:

HKLM\System\CurrentControlSet\Control\StorageDevic ePolicies

Value is:

WriteProtect - REG_DWORD of 1 or 0 (1 = read-only)

I am going to update my policy template for the NT4 System Policy editor soon (in a few days) - You can download it at

http://www.pcc-services.com/custom_poliedit.html

this might help you

http://ask.slashdot.org/article.pl?sid=05/11/17/23 35221&tid=185

http://www.pcc-services.com/kixtart/scripts.html

I created a Kixtart Net install script to rollout OpenOffice.org 2.0 - The requirements are simply a Domain Admin Account and the ability to access the Default Administrative Shares that Windows automatically creates.

You can Download it at

http://www.pcc-services.com/kixtart/scripts.html

For the default saving into Office filetypes - All of the user settings are saved in XML files and you can edit these files before you roll-out OpenOffice.org. To do this simply adjust the settings on a separate machine, find out what file was modified to see what you need to change in the default installation. For instance I created a menu item for my script to add a "From Gallery" option to the "Insert - Picture" Menu.

Most of the useful aspects of Group Policies are accessible through Samba. See: link

The ebookman is alright, although the battery life sucks. I did convert many a book to the ebookman format grab them here and still use it now from time to time

But, I wish franklin never sold the Rocket ebook to RCA (they total screwed it up). The original Rocket Ebook totally rocked, it had everything on the list except it was not a PDA, but in its prime about 4-5 years ago there was a killer website that users contributed ebooks to.

The software that came with the Rocket Ebook was superb, it was extrememly easy to convert books with it since you could import both txt and html files, great for storing some heated Slashdot articles i might add.

Anyway, even though I have a ebookman and a craptacular WindowsCE PDA, I always use my Rocket ebook for any long term reading, it just simply rocks. The only thing I wish they changed was the weight, but since it goes over 12hours per charge, I cannot complain to much :-)

You can still grab one now and again on ebay, and in case you are wondering there are a few Linux Programs available to both communicate with the Rocket Ebook, and also to create new books with.

The only "features" that are somewhat missing, is a nice looking interface under MS Windows (see below), and a ton of pre-created images, templates, web sites, etc. (not that anyone ever uses these anyways.

Something to consider though are the features OpenOffice.org has that MS Office doesn't. Such as, licensing issues, ability to create documents using the stylist (awesome feature), and IMHO once you learn to use OOo, it is actually easier to use than at least MS Office 2K (I never had the need to get Office XP)

As for the nice looking interface issue, Ximian has created an awesome looking theme for OpenOffice.org, and I happened to create a theme based on these icons for Windows users. Check it out at my website
There are a few issues with themeing currently, such as not being able to use png files, etc. But these issues are being worked on.

I am also starting to create some content for Draw that I will donate back to the project so it can be used instead of MS Visio.

All in all the future looks very bright for OpenOffice.org !!