Anyone know safe download for Microsoft Excel

[adigal]

I would like a less expensive download than the top price, but the safety of it is most important, and I would like to download it, and not order it through the mail.

Thanks in advance!

[Gman]

1. Try Open Office

http://www.openoffice.org It's free.

What’s so great about OpenOffice.org?

As the name suggests, OpenOffice.org is the most open office suite available:

* no commercial licences or software compliance issues to worry about
* no language barriers - if it’s not yet available in your language, the chances are it will be soon
* available on all major computing platforms
* the first office suite to comply with the OASIS OpenDocument format
* the source code for the software is freely available under a full OSI certified licence

OpenOffice.org is synonymous with quality

* the roots of OpenOffice.org go back twenty years, creating a huge wealth of experience
* hundreds of thousands of users have participated in the beta testing of version 2
* with a fully open development process, OpenOffice.org has nothing to hide - the product stands or falls on its reputation

OpenOffice.org is friendly

* the software looks and feels familiar and is instantly usable by anyone who has used a competitive product
* it’s easy to change to OpenOffice.org - the software reads all major competitors’ files
* OpenOffice.org is supported by a global community of friendly volunteers, only too happy to provide assistance to newcomers and advanced users alike

What’s in OpenOffice.org?

WRITER is OpenOffice.org’s word processor: use it for anything from writing a quick letter to producing an entire book with embedded illustrations, cross-references, tables of contents, indexes, bibliographies... Auto-complete, auto-format, and real-time spelling check make light work of the hardest task. Writer is powerful enough to tackle desktop publishing tasks such as creating multi-column newsletters, brochures – the only limit is your imagination.

Use CALC to bring your numbers under control. This powerful spreadsheet has all the tools you need to calculate, analyse, summarise, and present your data in numerical reports or sizzling graphics. A fully-integrated help system makes entering complex formulas a breeze. Sophisticated decision-making tools are just a few mouse clicks away. Pull in external data using the Data Pilot, and sort it, filter it, and produce subtotals and statistical analyses. Use previews to select from thirteen categories of 2-D and 3-D charts including line, area, column, pie, XY, stock and net with dozens of variants.

IMPRESS is the fastest, most powerful way to create effective multimedia presentations. Your presentations will truly stand out with special effects, animation and high-impact drawing tools.

DRAW will produce everything from simple diagrams to dynamic 3D illustrations and special effects.

New to Version 2, BASE enables you to manipulate database data seamlessly within OpenOffice.org. Create and modify tables, forms, queries, and reports, either using your own database or Base’s own built-in HSQL database engine.
Find out more or try it today!

[adigal]

3. Thank you - I'll check it out! n/t

[Minnesota Libra]

10. Gman, I have a question about "Open Office", would I be able to.........

.....open "Word" an "Works" documents in "Open Office" or would I loose all that?? I assume it is compatible with "Windows"?? Also, I use "Firefox" for my browser and of course sometimes need to copy and paste a quit document or write/edit an email before sending it out in "Outlook Express" (yuck). So would "Open Office" be compatible with all this?? BTW, is there an email program that is safer and less hackable than "OutLook Express"??

Thanks for all your help.:hug:

[RoyGBiv]

11. Some answers ...

I'm not Gman, of course, but while I'm here ...

Regarding the e-mail question, since you use Firefox, try Thunderbird as your e-mail client. It's developed by the Mozilla Foundation as well. It has its own internal editor, spell checker, etc. that work quite well for most tasks.

As for what OO can do, let me put it this way. I don't even have a hard drive in my system with Windoze on it, and I can open, edit, and save in Word's .doc format using OpenOffice, which does have a Windoze version. I'm not absolutely certain about Works as I've never had the opportunity to try it, and from looking just now I'm not seeing it in the list of filters. Does Works use a special format, or does it save in Rich Text or something else?

[Minnesota Libra]

14. "Rich Text or something else"?? I have no idea what that means but.......

.... I do know "Microsoft Works" came with my computer so of course it's a Windows based word processor, that's about all I know. It might just be a less powerful suite but it does come with a spreadsheet, templates of all kinds, but I'm not sure if it has a calculator feature (that I've never had occasion to use).

My son is the one that sent me the "Microsoft Word" suite because before that I was using "Microsoft Works" all the time but I know they are very similar.

Maybe this will help, "Microsoft Works saves word processing documents as "name here.wps" but "Microsoft Word saves word processing documents as "name here.doc" Does any of this make sense???

I have many more documents AND PICTURES OF MY GRAND BABY somewhere in "Microsoft Works" so basically all I need to know is can I transfer documents from Works to Open Office. This might be why my computer came with "Works", it might not have that transfer feature. If that is the case what do I do?? Should I stick with what I have or is there a way around it??

Boy, am I full of questions, right?? I know just enough about my compute to realize I don't know a lot. :blush:

[RoyGBiv]

16. More answers ...

Okay, I looked it up. You can't without a little work.

First, here's a brief, simplistic primer on document formats:

Word processors and text editors save files in a "format." The simplest format is plain text, typically signified by a file with a .txt extension. The problem with the plain text format is that it can't save much, or any, of the information in the document that does things like define a font, color, centering, margins, etc., i.e. formatting information. One step up from this is the Rich Text Format, typically signified by files with the extension .rtf. It saves a lot of the formatting information and is transferrable between most systems, but it won't save information that is unique to a particular word processing program.

Programs like Word, Works, and Wordperfect have their own proprietary formats. If you use a plain text editor like Windows' Notebook to look at a document saved in, for example, Word format (a .doc file), you'll see a lot of weird characters embedded in the document. Those are essentially formatting codes that Word can read and understand and use to display the document in a specific way. In order to open a Word document in a different word processor and have it display properly, that word processor has to be able to understand these codes and "convert" them to its own system. This can be difficult because of the closed nature of most companies that produce word processors in addition to the fact these companies often change the format in various ways when they update their product. The Word format used today isn't the same as the format they used for Windows 95 versions. They want to lock you into using their products, so they make moving them around between systems difficult. But, "filters" have been developed that help with this, at times in cooperation with the companies that produce the proprietary products when they want to keep customers and encourage them to upgrade to the new format. You have to be able to open your documents saved in the old format.

The developers of OpenOffice have included filters for various file formats, including Word and Wordperfect. Unfortunately, they do not have a filter for Microsoft Works documents. This is not surprising since Microsoft Word itself cannot read a Works document. In order to do it, you have to convert the file using a utility MS produces that converts the Works format into Word, allowing you to import it into Word or any other program, like OpenOffice's Writer that understands the Word format.

The short answer is that, no, you can't automatically read a Works document in OpenOffice (or in Word), but you can open that document in Works, Save As ... some other format like Rich Text, and then open it in OpenOffice (or Word). You could also use MS's conversion utility for Works documents to do this efficiently for several documents and then import them into OpenOffice (or Word).

Side Note: This, in an extremely shallow nutshell, is the impetus behind a current battle being waged over an Open Document format, i.e. a standardized format that all word processors can understand on all platforms, making exchanging documents between different systems easy. Some New England state (I sadly cannot remember which off the top of my head) in addition to California (I think) are leading the way in putting legal force behind such a standard, at least for state government.

[Minnesota Libra]

18. But it still sounds like I might be better off in the long run with.......

......something like "Open Office"?? At least I wouldn't have to worry about the constant expensive upgrades. Am I right??

I simply hate anything Windows/Microsoft based. Especially anything Windows internet based because it's always so full of vulnerable holes.

Thank you very much for that primer - it really helped and was very easy to follow.:yourock: I really learned something.:headbang: I take it you must either work with this stuff every day o you teach it??:toast: :bounce: :pals:

[RoyGBiv]

21. You would ...

Be better off, that is. And you'd be adding to the now steady stream of people kicking the Microsoft habit, which it sounds like you'd like to do. I'm all for helping people with that as much as I can. If nothing else, you wouldn't have to worry about the near constant need to upgrade, find filters, keep track of registration codes in case your hard drive dies, spend countless hours and money on plugins to do things the bloated pile of garbage that is Word should do already ... I rant, I rant. :-)

OpenOffice has its own format, but you can also save it in any other format it understands, including the 1.0 version of the OpenDocument format and Word, which means you can save your work and never have to worry about being able to share with someone else or being able to open it yourself should something happen to your computer. The hard part will be the initial steps in the conversion process, i.e. converting all your current documents that you wrote with Works into something OO can understand. It's worth it, imo.

No problem on the primer. As I said, it's simplistic, but it gets the point across better than the details would. I don't teach it or even really deal with it on a day to day basis. (Well, I have a tendency to write weekly memos to the powers-that-be within my company with yet another analysis of how our exclusive reliance on Microsoft products hurts our profits, but I'm sure they wish I'd shut up about it.) I'm simply a long-time, strong supporter of the OpenSource community and take a special interest in these sorts of things. One might not think it on the surface, but my political interests merge quite nicely with this. MS is an enormous corporation that has essentially enslaved much of the world. OpenSource is, to offer a grandiose comparison, the Underground Railroad transporting people away from slavery.

[RoyGBiv]

2. You can't ...

You can only download Excel illegally.

I second Gman's advice. OpenOffice will do everything you need for the bottom dollar price of $0.00.

[adigal]

Can this open Excel documents??

Thanks.

[RoyGBiv]

8. Yes ...

You can actually do more with Calc, the OO spreadsheet program similar to Excel, than you can with a standard install of Excel.

From the product's website ...

Calc

The all-purpose spreadsheet

CALC is the spreadsheet program you've always wanted. Newcomers find it intuitive and easy to learn; professional data miners and number crunchers will appreciate the comprehensive range of advanced functions.

Advanced DataPilot technology makes it easy to pull in raw data from corporate databases; cross-tabulate, summarise, and convert it into meaningful information.

Natural language formulas let you create formulas using words (e.g. "sales - costs").

The Intelligent Sum Button inserts a sum function or a subtotal automatically, depending on context.

Wizards guides you through choosing and using a comprehensive range of advanced spreadsheet functions.

Styles and Formatting makes it easy to apply flexible cell formatting options, including freely rotating contents, templates, backgrounds, borders, and many more. You can be your own spreadsheet expert thanks to templates with built-in functions, allowing you to concentrate on your real work.

Scenario Manager allows "what if ..." analysis at the touch of a button - e.g. compare profitability for high / medium / low sales forecasts.

Hide or reveal Design Themes with a single click - use CALC's defaults or add your own.

Save your spreadsheets in OpenDocument format, the new international standard for office documents. This XML based format means you're not tied in to CALC. You can access your spreadsheets from any OpenDocument compliant software.

Of course, you are free to use your old Microsoft Excel spreadsheets, or save your work in Excel format for sending to people who are still locked into Microsoft products. If all they want to see is your results, then use Portable Document Format (.pdf) - no need to buy any extra software.

Screenshot:

[adigal]

23. Wow! Thank you! n/t

[Tesha]

24. It can open many Excel documents.

(Last I knew, though, not all. And does it support VBA macros?
I don't think so but would be happy to be corrected.)

Tesha

[SoCalDem]

4. Buy a registered copy?

:)

[adigal]

5. I am willing to buy a registered copy

and I am asking where I can get one online to download.

Thanks for your helpful advice. :)

[SoCalDem]

6. The first copy was already in my computer

and on my new laptop, my son just transferred it onto it for me :)

I know there are places on the wed to find "regustration codes" but I would be afraid of viruses doing that.

[rusty_parts2001]

9. Be wary of "free" downloads of Excel

They are almost 100% guaranteed to put a virus in your computer!

[SoCalDem]

19. I ordered it from Dell with Office

Excel was part of the package:)

[Atman]

7. "Safe" and "Microsoft" don't belong in the same sentence.

Does...not...com...pute...

[FloridaPat]

12. You can get a lot of software on Limewire. I have had any problems

with it so far.

[RoyGBiv]

15. So far ...

FWIW, that is a very, very, very bad idea.

The IIPA, ESA, and SIIA have been known to "seed" P2P networks with files appearing as popular piracy targets, like MS Office, that "phone home" and expose software pirates to authorities. As has already been noted, many of these files that aren't law enforcement plants are virus or trojan infected. The last two computers I cleaned had file systems that were essentially destroyed due to using Limewire and apparently trading illegally shared files.

Note, I am no prude on this issue. I'm simply offering a warning. You expose yourself to great risk by doing things like this. If one trades files on networks like this, one best make certain he or she not only has excellent virus protection and a good firewall but also intimately understands how these protections work and how they need to be configured. Also be aware that no matter how good your protections, you still are at risk. Rootkits, for example, aren't commonly found passively, which is the manner in which most people use their virus protection. You can get a rootkit embedded in your system without ever knowing it.

[hexola]

17. Someone posted a letter from Comcast - BUSTED

It can happen - Dont download warez...or Sapranos episodes...(mentioned in the comcast charge...)

[mike_c]

13. let me second or third or whatever the nomination of OpenOffice....

Use its spreadsheet program Calc just like Excel. It will read your Excel files and save files in Excel format if that's what you want to do. It is the bomb, and it's utterly free.

[Wrinkle_In_Time]

20. Thirded or fourthed. Please try Open Office instead of ...

... an illegal download of Excel (there are no legal ones). Please don't go the route of illegal software. I'm not a big Microsoft fan, but I am a fan of Open Source Software (OSS) like OpenOffice or paying developers for a proprietary product that you find useful.

Software piracy is a selfish, short-sighted, screw-the-other-guy philosophy: which I think is antithetical to DU's philosophy.

[RoyGBiv]

22. Software Piracy ...

It's also antithetical to the OpenSource philosophy, regardless of how proprietary vendors try to portray FOSS developers and users. In fact, piracy undermines the ability of FOSS products to make inroads into the marketplace. Someone pirating a copy of Office when they could download and use legally a perfectly good package like OpenOffice only lends false credence to the MS claim that their products are better. "See, even if they can get something for free, they'd rather steal our stuff." I *hate* that crap.

[Jersey Devil]

25. If you must, but only to try - newsgroups

I know technically it's piracy but before I buy a program I want to try it out and you can get just about anything on the newsgroups. I get it and try it and if I like it I buy it.

First you have to get a newsgroup reader (outlook express won't cut it) like Free Agent Or Newsbin (a free download at places like download.com so you can browse the binary newsgroups like alt.binaries.warez. Then you have to download the parts (actually it's sort of email, cut into very small parts so that it does not exceed your ISP's email size limits) and finally you have to reassemble all the parts using a program like WinRAR (free version). Finally, in most cases you would have to either extract the files to your hard drive or burn to disk if it is an image file.

[BlackVelvet04]

26. I think I have an

Office 97 disc that is not being used on my computer. If I can find it, do you want it? I'd be willing to ship it to you.

If you want it please private message me.

BTW, this is a disc used on a computer that has been destroyed, although it has been registered.