Onedrive is shrinking
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@Dashrender said:
@scottalanmiller said:
@Dashrender said:
@BRRABill said:
@Dashrender said:
Surprisingly - lately I've actually started seeing LibreOffice on a few.
That's always what I recommend unless they have a given need for Office.
Which can be a SO/kid who wants it.
In which case I recommend O365, the family one.
I actually recommend Google Docs unless there is a specific need for MS Office.
Here too, mostly because I recommend Chromebooks so often.
I logically understand the Chromebooks - but I just can't bring myself to ever recommend them.
I love mine, it's what I mostly use now
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@Dashrender said:
@scottalanmiller said:
@BRRABill said:
I have found if you are doing a lot of work, the non-Office programs mess up formatting when going between programs. At least it used to. Shoot, we even have issues between Office versions, but they are usually pretty good.
In this case, and I'm sure that this is worth of its own thread, while I am fully aware that there are use cases for this and reasons that you need compatibility...
How often are users sharing files for editing with outside entities and why?
I've asked this in a lot of companies and the answer, while not always, has nearly always been that people were using the programs and file formats inappropriately, did not understand how to use the tools correctly and were doing weird things causing high cost and unnecessary problems.
What's creating this issue?
Well, when did Office add in the Save AS PDF option? Only after that timeframe did it start not mattering, assuming that both sides weren't editing the file.
Well, even before it was built into it as a "Save As PDF" option, they had "Save as XPS" and you were able to "Print to PDF."
I've been able to go to PDF for free since 2000, I'd guess.
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@Dashrender said:
Sure, But I'd like to hear that conversation - you're dealing with Walmart, let's assume they use Office. You need to send editable files to them, you only have LibreOffice and the formatting doesn't work. What, you're going to suggest that Walmart install LibreOffice on anyone's machine who might deal with you? Not likely.
I believe @scottalanmiller implied these formatting issues were user errors.
I do not believe that, and have seen the mess that gets made.
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@Dashrender said:
Sure, But I'd like to hear that conversation - you're dealing with Walmart, let's assume they use Office. You need to send editable files to them....
This is where I feel that it breaks down. When has anyone, ever, needed to work on a shared, editable document with Walmart? What is causing this to come up?
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@scottalanmiller said:
@Dashrender said:
@scottalanmiller said:
@BRRABill said:
I have found if you are doing a lot of work, the non-Office programs mess up formatting when going between programs. At least it used to. Shoot, we even have issues between Office versions, but they are usually pretty good.
In this case, and I'm sure that this is worth of its own thread, while I am fully aware that there are use cases for this and reasons that you need compatibility...
How often are users sharing files for editing with outside entities and why?
I've asked this in a lot of companies and the answer, while not always, has nearly always been that people were using the programs and file formats inappropriately, did not understand how to use the tools correctly and were doing weird things causing high cost and unnecessary problems.
What's creating this issue?
Well, when did Office add in the Save AS PDF option? Only after that timeframe did it start not mattering, assuming that both sides weren't editing the file.
Well, even before it was built into it as a "Save As PDF" option, they had "Save as XPS" and you were able to "Print to PDF."
I've been able to go to PDF for free since 2000, I'd guess.
Sure with a third party add-on.
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@BRRABill said:
@Dashrender said:
Sure, But I'd like to hear that conversation - you're dealing with Walmart, let's assume they use Office. You need to send editable files to them, you only have LibreOffice and the formatting doesn't work. What, you're going to suggest that Walmart install LibreOffice on anyone's machine who might deal with you? Not likely.
I believe @scottalanmiller implied these formatting issues were user errors.
I do not believe that, and have seen the mess that gets made.
No, I'm implying (or intending to) that sharing an editable file with Walmart is the user error. Not the formatting problems themselves. I think that those are an artifact of a different mistake.
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@scottalanmiller said:
@BRRABill I just meant that it is a matter of fully explaining it, making a full sales pitch and sticking to your guns and not just letting people pull the "it's social acceptable to be foolish and not smart" that is so often seen as a social acceptable excuse - especially in the US. A culture of glorifying stupidity is pervasive and while I don't mean to make social commentary, it trickles down to simple things like people not wanting to make a hard decision or just "wanting" something without a reason or just being generally illogical. And if we let people do that, they will, over and over again to their own detriment. We have to hold them accountable because we care about them - treat them like we would want to be treat, show some tough love and make sure that they understand that while it is their decisions, we don't just "respect" any foolhardy decision that they make.
This same idea is in all the threads.
It's nice like using O365 is bad. Yes, they could save $120 a year. But if they like it, and are used to it, and it works...It's not the end of the world.
Is some of it reluctance to switch? Sure.
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@scottalanmiller said:
@Dashrender said:
Sure, But I'd like to hear that conversation - you're dealing with Walmart, let's assume they use Office. You need to send editable files to them....
This is where I feel that it breaks down. When has anyone, ever, needed to work on a shared, editable document with Walmart? What is causing this to come up?
Really, I'm guessing you're right. It's probably that companies don't want to worry about what it takes to view/edit/update/access their old files created in the previous solution.
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@scottalanmiller said:
No, I'm implying (or intending to) that sharing an editable file with Walmart is the user error. Not the formatting problems themselves. I think that those are an artifact of a different mistake.
We get it all the time.
The client wants the presentation or reports to edit themselves after the fact.
This is the main reason we switched to PowerPoint way back when, which is a horrible program.
Wait ... let me guess you response ....
WHY would you give the CLIENT the editable files?
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@BRRABill said:
@scottalanmiller said:
@BRRABill I just meant that it is a matter of fully explaining it, making a full sales pitch and sticking to your guns and not just letting people pull the "it's social acceptable to be foolish and not smart" that is so often seen as a social acceptable excuse - especially in the US. A culture of glorifying stupidity is pervasive and while I don't mean to make social commentary, it trickles down to simple things like people not wanting to make a hard decision or just "wanting" something without a reason or just being generally illogical. And if we let people do that, they will, over and over again to their own detriment. We have to hold them accountable because we care about them - treat them like we would want to be treat, show some tough love and make sure that they understand that while it is their decisions, we don't just "respect" any foolhardy decision that they make.
This same idea is in all the threads.
It's nice like using O365 is bad. Yes, they could save $120 a year. But if they like it, and are used to it, and it works...It's not the end of the world.
Is some of it reluctance to switch? Sure.
Well, there's a whole lot more to it than that. Scott's additional point is that if you don't need to spend that $120/user, then as a public company it's borderline criminal because you're not going what's best for your investors (saving them money).
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@Dashrender said:
@scottalanmiller said:
@Dashrender said:
@scottalanmiller said:
@BRRABill said:
I have found if you are doing a lot of work, the non-Office programs mess up formatting when going between programs. At least it used to. Shoot, we even have issues between Office versions, but they are usually pretty good.
In this case, and I'm sure that this is worth of its own thread, while I am fully aware that there are use cases for this and reasons that you need compatibility...
How often are users sharing files for editing with outside entities and why?
I've asked this in a lot of companies and the answer, while not always, has nearly always been that people were using the programs and file formats inappropriately, did not understand how to use the tools correctly and were doing weird things causing high cost and unnecessary problems.
What's creating this issue?
Well, when did Office add in the Save AS PDF option? Only after that timeframe did it start not mattering, assuming that both sides weren't editing the file.
Well, even before it was built into it as a "Save As PDF" option, they had "Save as XPS" and you were able to "Print to PDF."
I've been able to go to PDF for free since 2000, I'd guess.
Sure with a third party add-on.
Is that bad? It was done through the printer feature and was very simple and standard. It's unfortunate that MS Office lacked the power and features of OpenOffice but you "get what you pay for" I guess
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Here's a good example of how people have abused Excel and used it for ridiculous things.
http://www.vertex42.com/ExcelTemplates/excel-gantt-chart.html
To go off of my post from way above ha.
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@Dashrender said:
The same could be said with the local hospital that we deal with. There's almost no chance they are going to roll out LibreOffice just because we choose to use it.
And yet everyone did exactly that at some point based on something no more substantial. But what are you doing with them that you are exchanging editable documents?
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@BRRABill said:
@scottalanmiller said:
@BRRABill I just meant that it is a matter of fully explaining it, making a full sales pitch and sticking to your guns and not just letting people pull the "it's social acceptable to be foolish and not smart" that is so often seen as a social acceptable excuse - especially in the US. A culture of glorifying stupidity is pervasive and while I don't mean to make social commentary, it trickles down to simple things like people not wanting to make a hard decision or just "wanting" something without a reason or just being generally illogical. And if we let people do that, they will, over and over again to their own detriment. We have to hold them accountable because we care about them - treat them like we would want to be treat, show some tough love and make sure that they understand that while it is their decisions, we don't just "respect" any foolhardy decision that they make.
This same idea is in all the threads.
'> It's nice like using O365 is bad. Yes, they could save $120 a year. But if they like it, and are used to it, and it works...It's not the end of the world.
Is some of it reluctance to switch? Sure.
You've lost me.
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@scottalanmiller said:
@Dashrender said:
@scottalanmiller said:
@Dashrender said:
@scottalanmiller said:
@BRRABill said:
I have found if you are doing a lot of work, the non-Office programs mess up formatting when going between programs. At least it used to. Shoot, we even have issues between Office versions, but they are usually pretty good.
In this case, and I'm sure that this is worth of its own thread, while I am fully aware that there are use cases for this and reasons that you need compatibility...
How often are users sharing files for editing with outside entities and why?
I've asked this in a lot of companies and the answer, while not always, has nearly always been that people were using the programs and file formats inappropriately, did not understand how to use the tools correctly and were doing weird things causing high cost and unnecessary problems.
What's creating this issue?
Well, when did Office add in the Save AS PDF option? Only after that timeframe did it start not mattering, assuming that both sides weren't editing the file.
Well, even before it was built into it as a "Save As PDF" option, they had "Save as XPS" and you were able to "Print to PDF."
I've been able to go to PDF for free since 2000, I'd guess.
Sure with a third party add-on.
Is that bad? It was done through the printer feature and was very simple and standard. It's unfortunate that MS Office lacked the power and features of OpenOffice but you "get what you pay for" I guess
LOL - bad, no. More work, absolutely. Worthwhile - probably! Gods know how many times I installed a PDF printer for myself and countless others.
Heck I can't figure out why we maintain a copy of everything that we finalize into PDF, we still keep the Word version too.
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@Dashrender said:
@scottalanmiller said:
@Dashrender said:
Sure, But I'd like to hear that conversation - you're dealing with Walmart, let's assume they use Office. You need to send editable files to them....
This is where I feel that it breaks down. When has anyone, ever, needed to work on a shared, editable document with Walmart? What is causing this to come up?
Really, I'm guessing you're right. It's probably that companies don't want to worry about what it takes to view/edit/update/access their old files created in the previous solution.
Ah, had not thought of that. Legacy files inside the same company. That could be an issue. Although I think that LO handles that a lot better than MSO. But that might be my limited experience. But I've never seen a versioning issue with LO, have seen lots of MSO.
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@BRRABill said:
@scottalanmiller said:
No, I'm implying (or intending to) that sharing an editable file with Walmart is the user error. Not the formatting problems themselves. I think that those are an artifact of a different mistake.
We get it all the time.
The client wants the presentation or reports to edit themselves after the fact.
This is the main reason we switched to PowerPoint way back when, which is a horrible program.
Wait ... let me guess you response ....
WHY would you give the CLIENT the editable files?That's what I've said a few times now
Don't give them editable files. There are exceptions, of course. We work with companies with whom we do shared marketing and they sometimes hand us templates or something. But it is extremely rarely and nearly useless. And could be resolved easily in other ways in nearly all cases.I think it is just a case of extreme laziness in most cases. Think of this in "real life" before computers. When were you exchanging documents with the intent of your customers or partners modifying them. That would be weird. It was always that you gave them finished document. There are exceptions, the "books" going to your accountant, for example. But by and large, you don't have a workflow that requires multiple companies editing a single document.
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@Dashrender said:
@BRRABill said:
@scottalanmiller said:
@BRRABill I just meant that it is a matter of fully explaining it, making a full sales pitch and sticking to your guns and not just letting people pull the "it's social acceptable to be foolish and not smart" that is so often seen as a social acceptable excuse - especially in the US. A culture of glorifying stupidity is pervasive and while I don't mean to make social commentary, it trickles down to simple things like people not wanting to make a hard decision or just "wanting" something without a reason or just being generally illogical. And if we let people do that, they will, over and over again to their own detriment. We have to hold them accountable because we care about them - treat them like we would want to be treat, show some tough love and make sure that they understand that while it is their decisions, we don't just "respect" any foolhardy decision that they make.
This same idea is in all the threads.
It's nice like using O365 is bad. Yes, they could save $120 a year. But if they like it, and are used to it, and it works...It's not the end of the world.
Is some of it reluctance to switch? Sure.
Well, there's a whole lot more to it than that. Scott's additional point is that if you don't need to spend that $120/user, then as a public company it's borderline criminal because you're not going what's best for your investors (saving them money).
Based on the big picture, not on the individual action, of course.
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@Dashrender said:
@scottalanmiller said:
@Dashrender said:
@scottalanmiller said:
@Dashrender said:
@scottalanmiller said:
@BRRABill said:
I have found if you are doing a lot of work, the non-Office programs mess up formatting when going between programs. At least it used to. Shoot, we even have issues between Office versions, but they are usually pretty good.
In this case, and I'm sure that this is worth of its own thread, while I am fully aware that there are use cases for this and reasons that you need compatibility...
How often are users sharing files for editing with outside entities and why?
I've asked this in a lot of companies and the answer, while not always, has nearly always been that people were using the programs and file formats inappropriately, did not understand how to use the tools correctly and were doing weird things causing high cost and unnecessary problems.
What's creating this issue?
Well, when did Office add in the Save AS PDF option? Only after that timeframe did it start not mattering, assuming that both sides weren't editing the file.
Well, even before it was built into it as a "Save As PDF" option, they had "Save as XPS" and you were able to "Print to PDF."
I've been able to go to PDF for free since 2000, I'd guess.
Sure with a third party add-on.
Is that bad? It was done through the printer feature and was very simple and standard. It's unfortunate that MS Office lacked the power and features of OpenOffice but you "get what you pay for" I guess
LOL - bad, no. More work, absolutely. Worthwhile - probably! Gods know how many times I installed a PDF printer for myself and countless others.
Heck I can't figure out why we maintain a copy of everything that we finalize into PDF, we still keep the Word version too.
I think that we do that too. There is something to be said for having the working copy that you can use to make something new and keeping the final to show what you gave to someone. It's a bit like a snapshot, in that way.
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@scottalanmiller said:
@Dashrender said:
@scottalanmiller said:
@Dashrender said:
Sure, But I'd like to hear that conversation - you're dealing with Walmart, let's assume they use Office. You need to send editable files to them....
This is where I feel that it breaks down. When has anyone, ever, needed to work on a shared, editable document with Walmart? What is causing this to come up?
Really, I'm guessing you're right. It's probably that companies don't want to worry about what it takes to view/edit/update/access their old files created in the previous solution.
Ah, had not thought of that. Legacy files inside the same company. That could be an issue. Although I think that LO handles that a lot better than MSO. But that might be my limited experience. But I've never seen a versioning issue with LO, have seen lots of MSO.
You're probably right. And had they started there 18 years ago instead of Office 97, that might make sense. But assuming the need to share with outside vendors is real, the incompatibilities of OpenOffice back there where horrible. So it just wasn't a choice. @BRRABill even said as much, that's why they moved to Office away from other big names at the time.
