The open-source software Only Office is a little-known alternative to Microsoft Office that offers a variety of functions similar to its paid counterpart. After installation, users can create text documents, spreadsheets, and presentations from the left-hand menu. Only Office lacks a database counterpart to Microsoft Access, but it does allow for the import of existing files from a PC or network drive.
One unique feature of Only Office is its ability to manage all open documents via tabs, which can be dragged out into separate windows for multitasking. The program is compatible with a variety of file formats, including Microsoft Office, Open Document Format, Rich Text Format, Adobe Acrobat, and XML-formatted files. Some layout and font issues may arise when importing documents, but these can be easily fixed with manual adjustments.
Only Office can also be extended with plugins to enhance its functionality. Some useful plugins include access to Chat-GTP AI, Zoom for online meetings, and translation services. Extensions can easily be installed from the internet, with the added ability to develop custom extensions with the open-source license.
Loading PowerPoint templates into Only Office works seamlessly, although there may be issues with special text formatting. Working with macros is also different from Microsoft Office, as Only Office uses Javascript for scripting instead of VBA.
Additionally, the program includes an OCR module for text recognition from images, allowing users to extract text from pictures in formats such as JPG and PNG. Only Office also offers an integrated PDF viewer for annotating and commenting on PDF documents, as well as the ability to design form templates for fillable PDFs.
Overall, Only Office provides a comprehensive suite of features and compatibility with Microsoft Office, making it a viable free alternative for those looking to save on office software costs.
