OpenOffice grammar checker

[webfork]

I've so far been very impressed with the OpenOffice LanguageTool grammar checker. So much so I'm wondering why it isn't in the default install. A good grammar checker was the only reason I was occasionally using MS Word.

Has anyone else tested this and, if so, do you think we should add some kind of note about it to the PFWC OpenOffice entry?

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Edit: Since the process is non-simple, I put them here in the forums.
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To enable grammar checker using Java Portable:

• Requirements: Either Java must be installed on any machine you wish to use grammar checking functions or you will need 100 megs of space for Java Portable.
  
  Instructions:
  
  1. Make sure you have OpenOfficeinstalled
  2. Download and install Java Portable to "CommonFiles\Java" to the same base directory as OpenOffice. (e.g. F:\OpenOffice and "F:\CommonFiles\Java")
  3. Download the LanguageTool
  4. Start OpenOffice main program (OpenOfficePortable.exe)
  5. From the menu, select "Tools" - "Extension Manager"
  6. Click "Add"
  7. Navigate to the LanguageTool-X.X.oxt file and select "OK"
  8. Close all OpenOffice windows
  9. Start OpenOffice Writer
  You should now see a blue curvy line under obvious grammar problems (like repeated words).

Below: a screencap of a very basic test. The format is similar enough to Microsoft's own grammar checker to not confuse the average user.

[webfork]

Sorry. I checked into this further and it requires Java is installed.

[guinness]

I thought OpenOffice was most reliant on Java?

[dmg]

OpenOffice only needs java for certain, more obscure, functions. I wonder if the portable version of Java over at PortableApps.com would work for this though.

[JohnTHaller]

OpenOffice only needs java for certain, more obscure, functions. I wonder if the portable version of Java over at PortableApps.com would work for this though.

It does indeed. OpenOffice.org Portable and Java Portable automatically work together. Just install OpenOffice.org Portable to your PortableApps directory (preferably X:\PortableApps\OpenOfficePortable) and then install Java Portable to the same directory (it'll wind up as X:\PortableApps\CommonFiles\Java). OpenOffice.org Portable's launcher will then automatically find it and configure OpenOffice.org to use it on launch, enabling all Java-based features in OpenOffice.org

If you're using your own directory layout, you can also pop java into OpenOfficePortable\Java and it'll use that instead. It's just easier to use the standard file layouts so it all works automatically.

[guinness]

OK. I knew it could work without Java, but good to know the PortableApps tip!

[webfork]

Has anyone tried getting this to work with LibreOffice?

[lautrepay]

Has anyone tried getting this to work with LibreOffice?

Yes, it does work with LibreOffice.
Current version is 1.6.
http://www.languagetool.org/
There you will find a list of the supported languages and the number of rules of each one.

[webfork]

Yes, it does work with LibreOffice.
Current version is 1.6.
http://www.languagetool.org/

Excellent, thanks