Affinity Publisher and OpenOffice Writer

[Gamemistress Jessica]

So I am writing a ttrpg system in OpenOffice Wirter, and natively it saves it's files as an .odt file. So I have two questions.

1: Do people write their books, pamphlets etc. in publisher or do they write them in another program and then import it into publisher?

2: How do I get my ttrpg system imported into publisher?

[Twolane]

I no longer run any OpenOffice software, but isn't there a Save As selection in OpenOffice for docx format? You can then place the docx in Publisher.

I wouldn't write any long-form text documents in Publisher. A caption or a short paragraph or two would probably be fine, if that's what you need. Pamphlets, too, of course.

I'm sure others more experienced will be along shortly.

[Gamemistress Jessica]

Just now, Twolane said:

I no longer run any OpenOffice software, but isn't there a Save As selection in OpenOffice for docx format? You can then place the docx in Publisher.

I wouldn't write any long-format text documents in Publisher. A caption or a short paragraph or two would probably be fine, if that's what you need. Pamplets, too, of course.

I'm sure others more experienced will be along shortly.

It can be saved as a standard .doc, but not .docx

[MikeTO]

OpenOffice can't save to DOCX and while it can save to the older DOC, Publisher can't import that format. However, OpenOffice can save to RTF and that will work for you what you're doing.

[Twolane]

Ah, I was using LibreOffice. It can handle docx files. Sorry.

Hasn't LibreOffice replaced OpenOffice? I used LibreOffice for years before replacing it with the MS product.

[Gamemistress Jessica]

2 minutes ago, MikeTO said:

OpenOffice can't save to DOCX and while it can save to the older DOC, Publisher can't import that format. However, OpenOffice can save to RTF and that will work for you what you're doing.

Thank you  Another question. Would you do the formatting in OpenOffice or in Publisher? I have never ever used publisher or any other publishing software before so complete noob.

[Gamemistress Jessica]

7 minutes ago, MikeTO said:

OpenOffice can't save to DOCX and while it can save to the older DOC, Publisher can't import that format. However, OpenOffice can save to RTF and that will work for you what you're doing.

RTF doesn't work either. Publisher says it doesn't support that.

[Twolane]

My recommendation is to download and try LibreOffice. I believe it is now the recommended fork for the OpenOffice products. I used OpenOffice prior to LibreOffice. The products are essentially the same, with the exception that LibreOffice has more current updates, such as the ability to handle docx files. Try LibreOffice. I think you'll be pleasantly surprised.

LibreOffice is also updated frequently.

[Gamemistress Jessica]

11 minutes ago, Twolane said:

My recommendation is to download and try LibreOffice. I believe it is now the recommended fork for the OpenOffice products. I used OpenOffice prior to LibreOffice. The products are essentially the same, with the exception that LibreOffice has more current updates, such as the ability to handle docx files. Try LibreOffice. I think you'll be pleasantly surprised.

LibreOffice is also updated frequently.

Already downloaded it  And deleted OpenOffice - I didn't know OpenOffice has been discontinued many years ago. So I just went to Save As and I don't see a .docx file, instead it is called by names. Which of the files is it?

[Twolane]

Please do not work with the original ODT file. Make a backup and work with that, and I think this link might get it done for you. If not, ask away, and I'll boot up my 12-year-old Dell with LibreOffice and experiment.

https://www.howtogeek.com/281166/how-to-change-the-default-file-format-in-libreoffice/

As an afterthought, I stopped using LibreOffice because I found a lifetime price of around U$50 for the MS suite of products. I spent a hun and put it on two laptops.

[iconoclast]

My two cents: For layouting the texts are usually written in office programs or text editors (I personally use FocusWriter, which is destraction-free and free - donation based) and are saved in a file format that doesn't support formattings. E.g. *.txt. Formattings should better be done in the layout program, because they only cause problems if they are set before. So I would recommend to create the raw text in a text editor and then load it into a text frame in Publisher. That's the usual way as I know it.

[Gamemistress Jessica]

11 minutes ago, Twolane said:

Please do not work with the original ODT file. Make a backup and work with that, and I think this link might get it done for you. If not, ask away, and I'll boot up my 12-year-old Dell with LibreOffice and experiment.

https://www.howtogeek.com/281166/how-to-change-the-default-file-format-in-libreoffice/

As an afterthought, I stopped using LibreOffice because I found a lifetime price of around U$50 for the MS suite of products. I spent a hun and put it on two laptops.

Already did make a backup, thanks though

Okay so now I figured out how to save as .docx. Though the "Automatic file name extension" doesn't work.

I saved it as a .docx, and I still get the message below.

[Twolane]

Do you have your Publisher file and Master Pages already set up and ready to "Place" your docx?

[Gamemistress Jessica]

3 minutes ago, Twolane said:

Do you have your Publisher file and Master Pages already set up and ready to "Place" your docx?

Nope, I just opened Publisher and tried to click and drag the .docx document, I've also tried to, I have also tried to go to file and click Open and go to file and click Import Content. 

[Twolane]

Okay, well, you're in for a treat, but don't be disappointed. You need to learn all about Master Pages in Publisher. I had to do it, too, and believe me, I'm glad I wasn't on a deadline. Now I've got 15 POD books and I'm quite happy I took the time. Might I suggest googling Elaine Giles. She has a series out on Publisher. The voice leaves something to be desired, she she got it done for me. Here's one link to get you started:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Kr5je_swyJU

And of course the Affinity suite of Publisher videos. Here's the link to v2 of those:

 

[Twolane]

One more thing. If you're looking to Publisher to export as an EPUB, it doesn't do it.

[Gamemistress Jessica]

4 minutes ago, Twolane said:

One more thing. If you're looking to Publisher to export as an EPUB, it doesn't do it.

Okay thank you - I am looking to release rpg books on drivethrurpg.

I just realized one thing which raises a final question. I just save a copy of my document as .docx and realized that the word count went down. In my .ODT it is 11.526, in the .docx it is 11.514. How can that be?

[MikeTO]

1 minute ago, Gamemistress Jessica said:

Okay thank you - I am looking to release rpg books on drivethrurpg.

I just realized one thing which raises a final question. I just save a copy of my document as .docx and realized that the word count went down. In my .ODT it is 11.526, in the .docx it is 11.514. How can that be?

Don't worry about word count, each application has its own way of counting words and it's normal to have slightly different numbers when measured by different programs.

[Twolane]

I would suggest the slight word count variance is because of the way the different programs count words. I wouldn't be concerned. DTrpg appears to accept PDFs, so you're okay there with Publisher.

[Gamemistress Jessica]

2 minutes ago, MikeTO said:

Don't worry about word count, each application has its own way of counting words and it's normal to have slightly different numbers when measured by different programs.

Sure, but it's the same application. What I meant is, when I open my .odt document in LibreOffice, and then press Save As and save it as a .docx document, then all of a sudden the word count goes from 11.526 to 11.514. That is what has me worried.

[Gamemistress Jessica]

Just now, Twolane said:

I would suggest the slight word count variance is because of the way the different programs count words. I wouldn't be concerned. DTrpg appears to accept PDFs, so you're okay there with Publisher.

Sure, but it's the same application. What I meant is, when I open my .odt document in LibreOffice, and then press Save As and save it as a .docx document, then all of a sudden the word count goes from 11.526 to 11.514. That is what has me worried. It's LibreOffice for both documents.

[Twolane]

Is there a particular game manual on that site in PDF format that I can download and have a look at?

 

[Twolane]

ODT and .docx are two entirely different formats. I suggest not being concerned. Were it a couple of hundred words, that's a different matter.

[Gamemistress Jessica]

Just now, Twolane said:

ODT and .docx are two entirely different formats. I suggest not being concerned. Were it a couple of hundred words, that's a different matter.

Okay thank you so much for the help  Lol, libreoffice just crashed.

I'll go have a look at Elaine Giles.

[Twolane]

Backup, backup, backup.

The Affinity videos aren't too bad either for specific topics. They're pretty short and sweet. Elaine's are a lot longer but she has timestamped some of her videos if you click on Show more.