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UPDATED: Portable OpenOffice Launcher Beta / Win2K Fixed

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John T. Haller
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UPDATED: Portable OpenOffice Launcher Beta / Win2K Fixed

I have a test version of the Portable OpenOffice.org launcher I'd like some help testing before releasing it with the new version of Portable OpenOffice.org. It uses a new method to allow saving of settings portably and should now work correctly with Windows 98/Me/200/XP. If you'd like to help test, please do the following:

1. If you haven't already, download and install a copy of Portable OpenOffice.org 2.0 Beta 3.
2. Next, download the beta launcher and replace the launcher within the PortableOpenOffice directory
3. Create a settings subdirectory within the PortableOpenOffice directory
4. Run PortableOpenOffice.exe and use as normal

Your settings files should be created within the settings directory. You should be able to move the entire folder structure around (different PC with new drive letter, etc)

UPDATE: This new version will work with spaces in the path to the settings directory.

Thanks for your help!

Regards,
John

Rob Loach
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Welcome Dialog

Since I had never actually tried out OpenOffice, I decided to give it a try with your new beta Launcher. Whenever I ran the new launcher, after creating the settings directory, I continuously got the Welcome Dialog of OpenOffice.

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John T. Haller
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Anything created?

It should happen after creating the settings directory the firsdt time you run it and create the settings in there. Is anything created in X:\PortableOpenOffice\settings? Also, what OS / language?

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Rob Loach
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The user directory is

The user directory is created within the settings folder. It contains autotext, basic, config, etc. I'm using Windows XP Pro, English (UK). The thing is, the registeration dialog keeps on popping up, no matter how many times I run it and ask it to "never ask me again". OpenOffice isn't even ran after the dialog.

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John T. Haller
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Path?

What's the full path to the install of it?

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Rob Loach
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Shot

TreeSize shot

Now whenever I try to run it, I don't even get the greeting or the registeration dialog. Very strange.

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John T. Haller
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Spaces

Like I mentioned, this version has issues with spaces. The replacement routines are still being worked on. You have it in "C:\Documents and Settings"

I altered the description to make it clear this affects all systems.

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Rob Loach
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Thanks

Thanks. It would be a nice feature to beable to have Portable OpenOffice in a path with spaces. Like a Program Files directory on your USB key.

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jerrybarkman
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Open Office Launcher

John, the new launcher works fine. I have set up the settings on the jump drive and have not noticed any negative effect.

Jerry

Quark_Green (not verified)
Portable OpenOffice Launcher Beta / Win2K Fixed

I tried the beta launcher, did some initial testing and it appears to have fixed the opening/saving problem, so well done. Also fyi, there are no spaces in the path. And several files and directories are created in the \settings directory such as .lock (?), \settings\user\autotext, \settings\user\config etc.

John T. Haller
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.lock explanation

For the curious, .lock is a file to indicate that the OO.o profile is in use. Firefox and Thunderbird use a file called parent.lock for the same purpose.

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John T. Haller
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UPDATE!

I released a new beta that works with spaces. So you should be fine on the desktop, etc.

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Rob Loach
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Success

Your fix worked flawlessly. I installed it on my desktop, ran it without a problem. I then moved it to another directory on a different drive and it still ran without a hitch. All the settings were retained. Nicely done, John.

Rob Loach [Website] [Projects]

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