How to Use Open Office to Send and Receive Microsoft Text Via Email

OpenOffice is an open-source application that is highly compatible with Microsoft Office software. OpenOffice can be downloaded for free via the internet, while Microsoft Office either comes with the operating system or must be purchased separately. Documents created with the OpenOffice word processor can be used interchangeably with Microsoft Word, meaning that email attachments sent in one format can be opened in the other without the need for conversion software. Microsoft Text can be easily converted to OpenOffice by following a few simple steps.

• 1

  Open the email with the Microsoft Office attachment that you wish to open, and then click on that attachment. When the toolbox pops up, select "Open With." Select the "OpenOffice" logo from the list.

• 2

  Alter the formatting, which may have changed in the transition from Microsoft Office to OpenOffice. When you are ready to save the file, click "Save As" to save it on your desktop. Ensure that the name of the piece ends with ".odt." If it ends with ".doc" or ".docx," simply delete that extension and replace it with ".odt." This will prevent the formatting and layout from continually changing.

• 3

  Write the email that you wish to attach the document to. Click "Add Attachments" or the paper clip logo on your email provider. Search through the menu for your document, which will be saved as an ".odt" file. Double-click on the file to attach it to the email. The email can now be sent with your attachment, and the document can be received either in OpenOffice or Microsoft Office.