This isn't exactly right under API, but it's for more advanced and programming
use, so I think this is probably the best group for these questions.
I have a small business and have been using OpenOffice in it for a while. I
generate reports for my clients with data that I process. On their computers
(which are usually running Windows), I have a Java program that loads OOo in a
headless instance to generate and print out the reports.
For a number of reasons, I'm thinking of changing my setup to something less
centralized for me. This would involve buying embedded systems from Soekris
and putting one in each client's office. (I know this sounds expensive, but
there are many solid reasons for this.) I can run Linux, specifically Debian
Linux, on these embedded systems.
In the past, I was experimenting with a Linux box that had only the command
line system and no X windows, but OOo used the X font server, so there was no
way I could run a headless instance of OOo to print out documents unless X was
there and, if I remember, X had to be running as well.
Is it possible to run OOo, now, on Linux, without having to have X on the same
system? If it's on there, does it have to be running, or just there so OOo can
use the libraries needed? It'd be just great, for me, if there were a way to
run OOo on an embedded Linux system without needing X or any of the assorted
files there or running.
Also, there's another problem that's similar. Whenever I run any word
processor on different computers, there's always the chance that each computer
could be using slightly different fonts. Sometimes a document I write on one
computer that takes up 1 page will, on another computer, be one page with a
line or two on the next page. The formatting can change from computer to
computer.
This is a problem because along with reports, I generate cover letters. Of
course, if the client has formatted a report for one page, I need it to print
on just one page. As for cover letters, I have to be sure the address will
always be in the same place.
That leads to my second question. I have used Linux and OS X before, on my own
LAN, and used X Windows and ssh with forwarding so I can run a program like OOo
on one computer, but have the display show on another computer. However, when
I do this, there are often issues with fonts and display size. The windows
don't look quite the same on the client system as they do on the server system,
when I run it directly on the server.
Is there some way to set up a server instance of OOo that can be run, across
the network, so a user can access that server version of OOo on another
computer and be sure they're looking at a window and display that shows the
document on the client computer exactly as it will be printed if, at some later
date, it's printed from the server computer?
In other words, if I have a central server computer with OOo on it, that would be the
"master" system that would do all the printing. I want a way to make sure a client can
use OOo, in some way, from their desktop box, and be sure that when they finish with a document and
save it, the formatting will stay exactly the same, with no changes in font size or anything, when
it's printed from the server. (Also, some of their text will be replaced, for instance [#Current
Quarter#] may be replace with "Jan-March." Since that would change some formatting, it
makes it even more critical that the image of the document is the same on every system and it's
also why I can't just have a client print out a PDF file of the document instead of saving it as a
.odt file.)
I'll be glad to clarify any of these questions. I think what I'm doing may be
kind of complex and I won't be surprised if I can do things in quite this way,
so I'm open to alternatives and suggestions.
Thanks for any answers or help!
Hal
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