OpenOffice.org for U3 Support

Many of the most common issues that arise when using OpenOffice.org for U3 are addressed here. Please read through the various topics to see if any of them address your question. You can also post a note to the U3 Support Forum.

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OpenOffice.org for U3-Specific Issues

General OpenOffice.org Issues

Installing OpenOffice.org for U3

To install OpenOffice.org for U3, just download the application from U3 Software Central. Or, download the U3P file at the top of the OpenOffice.org for U3 page and install it within the U3 Launchpad. To do this:

  1. Click the Download Now! link at the top of the product page and then the FREE link within Software Central to download the file
  2. Save it to your desktop, so it's easy to find
  3. Once it's done, from your U3 Launchpad, click Add Programs and then Install From My Computer
  4. Browse to your desktop and then double-click on the openoffice_u3_2.0.1.0.u3p file
  5. Click Next and wait for the application to be installed
  6. Click Done when finished

Can You Pick Which Apps Are Installed?

Unlike, say, Microsoft Office, which is actually multiple programs that are loosely interconnected, OpenOffice.org is actually one big application with multiple functions. So, even if you were to only install Writer and Calc, it would only save you a grand total of about 9MB.

Using OpenOffice.org for U3

To start up OpenOffice.org for U3, just double-click the icon from within your LaunchPad. Then, use it just like you would a local copy of OpenOffice.org. You can start a new document, spreadsheet or presentation under File - New. There are a couple of things to keep in mind:

  • Removing Your Drive - When you're done, exit OpenOffice.org. Then click the Eject button within the U3 Launchpah. Physically pulling your drive without safely ejecting makes it very likely you will lose data, corrupt your applications or corrupt the whole drive (especially under Windows 2000).

Upgrading OpenOffice.org for U3

Upgrading OpenOffice.org for U3 is a snap. Just download the newer version from within U3 software central or using the directions here under Installing OpenOffice.org for U3 and install it right over your current version OpenOffice.org for U3. (Do not remove your existing copy first as you will lose your settings.)

Copying Your Local OpenOffice.org Settings to OpenOffice.org for U3

If you're using a local copy of OpenOffice.org, you may wish to just copy your local OpenOffice.org settings right into OpenOffice.org for U3. Your local OpenOffice.org profile is usually installed in a directory like C:\Documents and Settings\[user]\Application Data\OpenOffice.org2\ Just copy all of those files to the settings directory within OpenOffice.org for U3. This directory is located on your U3 device within ?:\System\Apps\236C571E-47D6-4a73-AD5A-97F1E555E375\Data\settings. This will also enable Java to function with Portable OpenOffice.org when used with your computer and any others that have Java installed in the same location.

Known Issues

The following are known issues with this package:

  • Trojan/Virus detected - AntiVir and Avast, on more than one occasion, have claimed there is a trojan or virus in the launcher. This is due to poor trojan detection in both products that will occasionally mis-identify many NSIS-based applications as trojans. It will usually occur after a definitions update. You should contact your antivitus provider and let them know of their mistake.
  • No Java - Java is not yet portable with the OpenOffice.org launcher (though a promising lead is being investigated). Thus, some functions like wizards in all apps or design work in the Database app will not function and may cause OOo to crash.

Modifications (Mainly of Interest to Programmers)

I made some modifications to the default ZIPped version of OpenOffice.org to make it more USB key friendly (decreasing total install size and the number of writes to the drive, which will increase drive life). These changes are listed here so you'll know what they are, and so you can recreate the process, if so desired.

  • Friendly Launcher - OpenOffice.org for U3 is wrapped using a launcher based on Portable OpenOffice.org
  • EXEs and DLLs Compressed - All EXEs and DLLs were recompressed using UPX. This gets our installed size down to one that is a bit more manageable. Additionally, it will speed up use of OpenOffice.org when you're running over USB 1.1. The options used were: --best --compress-icons=0 --nrv2d --crp-ms=999999 -k
  • JARs re-compressed - The JAR files in have been recompressed at the maximum level, getting our package down. (For the curious, JAR files are just ZIP files with a different extension)

Version History

  • 2.0.1 - Intial Release - January 9, 2006