Cal default print settings (and general default settings)

users
#1

another quick one. by default Calc doesn't print the grid or column/row
headers. For everyone for whom I suggest LibreOffice this is a huge
problem. Is there a way to change settings by default?

Speaking of default settings.. on a slightly more off topic. Is there a
way, for instance write a small script, to save a series of settings? When
I install LibreOffice on someone's computer I got thru a the same series of
steps to ensure the smoothest transition. This includes things like
changing the default file saving format. Perhaps turning the autocorrect
off (oddly most of the people I know would be grateful to remove the
squiggle they've just never known it was an option before), and stuff like
that.

#2

Am 10.05.2012 02:51, The Wolfkin wrote:

another quick one. by default Calc doesn't print the grid or column/row
headers. For everyone for whom I suggest LibreOffice this is a huge
problem. Is there a way to change settings by default?

Speaking of default settings.. on a slightly more off topic. Is there a
way, for instance write a small script, to save a series of settings? When
I install LibreOffice on someone's computer I got thru a the same series of
steps to ensure the smoothest transition. This includes things like
changing the default file saving format. Perhaps turning the autocorrect
off (oddly most of the people I know would be grateful to remove the
squiggle they've just never known it was an option before), and stuff like
that.

Install http://gnumeric.org and forget about all office software based on templates and styles.

#3

Hi :slight_smile:
You can just copy&paste the UserProfile to different machines to set things up the same without going through each individual setting.  It's probably better to copy the UserProfile into the right place before install LibreOffice just in case there are new settings that need to over-write 'old' ones. 
http://wiki.documentfoundation.org/Documentation/UserProfile

If you hunt around the print settings there is a tick-box to make row and column headings print.  I think try

Format - Page - Sheet - Print - "Column and row headers"

I've never known anyone want that sort of thing except a few techie types working in finances on working papers but then they have to switch it off to make presentable documents for clients.

Also people get used to red wriggles and bad spellings in MS Office because it randomly switches styles back to ones set to use American English.  So people have learned they can't rely on spell-checkers.  LibreOffice doesn't misbehave like that.  LO usually stays in the language you tell it you want and defaults to whatever you set for the Operating System (eg WinXp, Ubuntu, whatever)

Gnumeric is a very light-weight spreadsheet program which is difficult to set to default to using MS formats.  I would stick with LibreOffice on machines that can handle it. 
Regards from
Tom :slight_smile:

#4

Sorry I can't possibly switch anyone to a program that requires this much
work to save in an excel format
http://www.vladd44.com/ubuntu-linux/gnumeric_save_excel.php

Our usage scenarios are relatively simple. Gnumeric's accuracy advantages
will likely never come into consideration. Thanks for the information
though it might be useful for myself.

#5

Hi :slight_smile:
+1
Stick with LibreOffice, it's usually better.  Gnumeric is excellent on very low-spec or old machines. 
Regards from
Tom :slight_smile:

#6

thanks. I did find the settings to print the grid. it's just a bit odd imo
that it by default was off. I've never known anyone who was using a
spreadsheet and DIDN'T want the grid printed out. That's pretty much WHY
they use spreadsheets FOR the grid.

and thanks for the userprofile information. that will be helpful once I
experiment with it a bit.

#7

Hi :slight_smile:
Here and in the accountancy practices i have worked in people definitely don't want the grid but then put some effort into getting different types of borders printed around specific cells or get rulers out to make sure they read the right figures.

In one place my boss hated computer number-pad's "because it's upside-down and proper calculators are the other way around" (ie with 123 at the top not the bottom) so i bought a printing calculator that was the same way as the number-pad because that's what i trained on (thanks Meavis!).  When he nicked it to do a quick sum he was furious at me.  He was extremely fast on calculators that are "the right way up" but most of us could get the answer in a spreadsheet before he could find "a decent calculator".  Predictably i got fired "for being obtuse".

People are often adamant that their way is the only way and indeed often it's easy to see their point of view but the thing i most like about OpenSource is that we can each have it our way, the right way, however many different and completely opposite ways that includes, and still help each other get the right answers.

Btw sorry about the other thread where i didn't realise that documents were losing their freeze points.  I realised just after sending my answer but thought the best policy would be to let other people deal with it as i couldn't add anything useful.

Regards from
Tom :slight_smile:

#8

The current user settings are stored in the
/home/(username)/.libreoffice/3/user directory (under linux)
/Document & settings/(username)/libreoffice/3/user (under Windows XP).

If you save the /user subdirectory then copy it over to any other users' account, you'll certainly achieve what you're looking for: a uniform setting for all users. I do this everyday and it has always been working ok for me.

BTW, this answers both of your questions.

HTH,

#9

Am 10.05.2012 14:15, The Wolfkin wrote:

Sorry I can't possibly switch anyone to a program that requires this much
work to save in an excel format
http://www.vladd44.com/ubuntu-linux/gnumeric_save_excel.php

Our usage scenarios are relatively simple. Gnumeric's accuracy advantages
will likely never come into consideration. Thanks for the information
though it might be useful for myself.

You will be surprised that no software is able to work with xls properly other than Microsoft Excel. If you really need to work with xls files then you've got to install Excel and nothing else.
If you can not edit and distribute a simple configuration file you are the born Excel user anyway.

#10

Hi :slight_smile:
Lol.  Easy, tiger!!
Regards from
Tom :slight_smile: