Office software - Definition and Overview

In computers, an office applications suite, sometimes called an office suite, productivity suite, offimatic suite or integrated offimatic program, is a application software intended to be used by typical clerical and knowledge workers. The components are generally distributed together and able to interact with each other on a higher level than the operating system would normally allow, with a consistent user interface between the components.

Most office application suites include at least a word processor and a spreadsheet element. In addition to these, the suite may contain a presentation program, a database management system and minor graphics and communications tools. Newer variations on the office applications suite include an e-mail client, a personal information manager (or groupware package) and/or a graphics application suite.

The currently dominant office suite is Microsoft Office, the proprietary file formats of which have become a de facto standard for mainstream business use, resulting in vendor lock-in. As such, the ability to read and write Microsoft Office files in the formats is essential for any office suite seeking to displace Microsoft Office in the market.

Major office suites still available and in use

• Microsoft Office (Word, Excel, Access etc.)
• OpenOffice.org, free open source office suite, main competitor for Microsoft Office
  • StarOffice, Sun's proprietary version of OpenOffice.org
• WordPerfect Office (WordPerfect, Quattro Pro etc.)
• Lotus SmartSuite (Word Pro, Lotus 1-2-3 etc.)
• KOffice, part of KDE
• GNOME Office, part of GNOME
• AppleWorks
• Microsoft Works, aimed at home users containing Word and other applications. Some have suggested that its name is a subliminal message.
• Ability Office, low price office suite very similar to Microsoft Office.
• 602PC Suite, Word influenced word processor and other features. Freeware version available without spell checker.

Historically important office suites

• Symphony
• Framework, one of the pioneers, from Aston Tate.

External links

• Microsoft Office home page (http://office.microsoft.com/)
• OpenOffice.org home page (http://www.openoffice.org/)
• Office Suites @ sourceforge.net (http://sourceforge.net/softwaremap/trove_list.php?form_cat=131)