OpenOffice has two plugins for writing e-text: eTOK and Writer’s Tools. The eTOK download can be found at: http://extensions.services.openoffice.org/project/eTOK, then click on “Get It” to begin the download. Writer’s Tools can be found at: http://extensions.services.openoffice.org/node/254, then click on”Get It” to begin the download. Installation is as simple as getting the software.

Here are the instructions to install eTOK:

1. Create a folder called eTOK.
2. Download the package from OpenOffice and place the”.oxt” in the folder you created.
3. You will want to highlight the file you just downloaded then click Open. You will see OpenOffice install the extension. Restart OpenOffice to see the menu.
4. Open OpenOffice Writer.
5. Go to: Tools – Extension Manager – Highlight “My Extensions” – click “Add.”
6. Go to: Help – click on eTOK – “Install eTOK-menu.”
7. Go to: Help – click on eTOK – “Load templates.” You will need to download the zipped file and place it in the eTOK directory you created in step 1. Unzip the file within the directory.
8. Go to: Help – click on eTOK – “Change Installation Directory.” You will want to place the exact path to the eTOK folder you created in step 1.
9. THAT’S IT! You are ready to begin \tcreating e-text with eTOK.

Here are the instructions to install Writer’s Tools:

1. Create a directory or folder called writers_tools.
2. Download and place the Writer’s Tools zip file into the directory and unzip the file.
3. Go to: Tools – Extension Manager – highlight”My Extensions” – click”Add.”
4. You want to open the file in the writers_tools directory with the “.oxt”
5. Read the User Agreement and click Accept.
6. Restart OpenOffice and you will see the Writer’s Tools menu.
7. THAT’S IT! You are ready to being creating e-books with Writer’s Tools.

If you had any problems installing the extensions listed above, make sure you have shutdown ALL your OpenOffice extensions. If you are installing these packages in Window’s make sure you shutdown the “Quick Start” option for OpenOffice. I wish everyone success with their writing careers.

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Enjoy,
Mike Kniaziewicz, MIS