Ubuntu
openoffice.org package

Trashed interface to Openoffice

Asked by John Francis Lee

The strings in the Openoffice writer interface become dark and unreadable upon clicking on them. I have reinstalled the software with no luck. For some reason the interface prohibits me from cutting and pasting the text about the version of OO in the help window... so I have to switch back and forth an transcribe it... which seems error prone and ridiculous, frankly, as well

Opneoffice 3.2.0
000320m12 (Build 9483)
ooo-build 3.2.0.10, Debian 1:3.2.0-7ubuntu4.1, Thu Jun 3 01:58:32 UTC 20... (can't rad more, it's cut off).

jfl@ws3:~$ uname -a
Linux ws3 2.6.32-22-generic #36-Ubuntu SMP Thu Jun 3 19:31:57 UTC 2010 x86_64 GNU/Linux

jfl@ws3:~$ lsb_release -a
No LSB modules are available.
Distributor ID: Ubuntu
Description: Ubuntu 10.04 LTS
Release: 10.04
Codename: lucid

As well the Openoffice Draw program forces me to select a font other than "jungle" every damn time I want to type something.

OO writer is unusable at this point. ANd Draw is driving me crazy, making me waste all my time choosing fonts.

I notice there is only one other posting here for 2010... so I don't imagine there's going to be any help available either.

Question information

Language:
English Edit question
Status:
Solved
For:
Ubuntu openoffice.org Edit question
Assignee:
No assignee Edit question
Solved by:
Tony Pursell
Solved:
Last query:
Last reply:
Revision history for this message
Best Tony Pursell (ajpursell) said : 		#1

John

This may not be the busiest of help lists (being just for OOo in Ubuntu) but I can assure you that there have been many posts to it during 2010.

The 'strings' problem may have more to do with the Ubuntu theme you are using, rather than OOo. Just try selecting a different theme (System > Preferences > Appearance) and see if this problem goes away. OOo also has certain settings in Tools > Options... > OpenOffice.org > Appearance).

The default font in Draw may be set in your Default Style (Format > Styles and Formatting...). Right click on the Default Graphic Style and select Modify. Check the font used.

If none of these suggestions help, do come back, but please give us some examples of the 'strings' giving the problem and what you are doing when the Jungle font is suggested.

Hope this helps.

Tony

PS If this answers your question, please mark it as Solved.

Revision history for this message
John Francis Lee (jfl-robinlea) said : 		#2

I changed the theme and fixed the font as you suggested and now I'm a happy man. The draw program is not nearly as painful to use when you don't have to set the font and resize it every single time you type some input. I must say that on whole the means of change defaults in OpenOffice is much too cumbersome... a design eror from the beginning, perhaps, that the developers are just used to, but man it drives me crazy. Although the words in the menus did go blooey once again, they are ok now. I'm afraid that may return, since there is no rational explanation for what they do available to me, but knock on wood, it's ok now.

Thanks very much for the very timely help! You've saved my temper if not my sanity.

Revision history for this message
John Francis Lee (jfl-robinlea) said : 		#3

Thanks Tony Pursell, that solved my question.