I am thinking of downloading Libreoffice, but all my present files are in word, will I be able to access them through Libre?
No need to doubt and to ask - just try it! You will most likely be surprised by the result
thanks so much for the clear answer and suggestions, much appreciated.
Yes you can read all your Word and Excel files in LibO. For a feature comparison of LibO and MSO please have a look here: https://wiki.documentfoundation.org/Feature_Comparison:LibreOffice-_Microsoft_Office
In respect to special formats you can experience some losses. For me these losses are not important.
As for file handling LibO gives you several possibilities.
You can set some checkmarks in LibO and then all your Word and Excel file open in LibO automatically even if you have MSO still installed parallel. I changed in 2012 - after a testing period with LibO and MSO on the same PC - to LibO and I am very glad about my decision. Thus, you can imagine that all my files since the mid 90s are all in MSO (Word, Excel, PowerPoint) format.
After you installed LibO check the following settings; here are my recommendations - some or all of them could even be default setting.
- Tools > Options > Load&Save > General > Default file format and ODF settings: Check: Always warn me when not saving in ODF or default format.
- Tools > Options > Load&Save > VBA Properties: check all on this tap if not checked by default
- Tools > Options > Load&Save > Microsoft: check all what is possible on this tap
You also can save your Writer and Calc files in MSO formats.
What follows are some comments about my experience and ways to avoid problems.
In respect to MSO formats, I stay always until the end in LibO native formats and only create a MSO copy of the last saved version and still try to avoid the x-formats. Additionally I made the experience that a pdf-file is in most of my cases sufficient. Many people send out files in MSO or LibO or other formats when a pdf-file is sufficient. Depending on the situation you can even secure a pdf-file against copying and changes. The pdf-export function in LibO works very well. (I am using 4.3.4.1.)
In the case of presentations I am also often asked to provide a ppt or pptx copy as a fall back solution is something happens with my PC or connection of my own PC is not possible, etc. For this I always carry a USB stick with a portable LibO version on it and my presentation. All I need is PC to plug the USB stick and can run on LIbO my own presentation.
I recommend you to also look into the guides, which you can download free of charge from: https://wiki.documentfoundation.org/Documentation/Publications
Have not too many headaches with your decision and have a good time with LibO.