OpenOffice.org OpenOffice - 1.0 User Manual download pdf (Page 7)

Introduction

What are styles?

Most users are used to writing documents according to physical attributes. For example, one

would specify the font family, font size and weight (say, Helvetica 12pt, bold).

Styles are logical attributes. We use styles every day. For example, there are two styles of

computers: desktop and laptop. Each has its own set of distinctive properties. You never say

“my computer is a low-weight, one-piece unit with an LCD screen attached to a rectangular

casing containing the computing components ad the keyboard. Instead, you say “I have a

laptop”.

OpenOffice.org styles are a way to do the same thing for your document. Using styles means

that you stop saying “font size 14pt, Times New Roman, bold, centered”, and you start saying

“title”. In other words, styles means that you shift the emphasis from what the text looks

like, to what the text is.

Why use styles?

OpenOffice.org (OOo) brings a powerful notion of styles. Styles help improve consistency in

a document. They also make major formatting changes easy. For example, you may decide

to change the indentation of all paragraphs, or change the font of all titles. For a long

document, this simple task can be prohibitive. Styles make the task easy.

The time is 9:50 A.M. and Jane is finishing the 30-page paper for school

that is due at 10:00 A.M. She looks over the assignment one more time, and

suddenly she realizes that:

• The text must use Arial font instead of Times New Roman.

• The headings must be dark blue and indented.

• The title must appear at the top-right of every page except the first.

• Even numbered pages must have a wider right margin, and odd

numbered pages must have a wider left margin.

Thankfully, Jane used OpenOffice.org and styles. She makes all the

changes in 2 minutes and hands in the paper on time.

Introduction to Styles 1

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OpenOffice.org OpenOffice - 1.0 User Manual Page 7