Apache OpenOffice Impress

Review of Apache OpenOffice Impress

Apache OpenOffice Impress is a competent presentation software component of the widely-used OpenOffice suite. It positions itself as a robust alternative to proprietary options, particularly Microsoft PowerPoint, by offering a comprehensive set of tools for creating presentations. The software is freely available and open-source, a significant advantage for individuals and organizations seeking cost-effective solutions.

Upon launching Impress, users are presented with a familiar interface layout, featuring a slide pane on the left, a central work area for designing slides, and task panes on the right for accessing various options and tools. This layout is intuitive for anyone who has used presentation software before, minimizing the learning curve.

Impress provides a good range of features for designing visually appealing slides. The inclusion of 2D and 3D clip art, while perhaps not as extensive as some commercial libraries, offers quick options for adding graphics. The drawing tools are surprisingly capable, allowing users to create custom shapes and diagrams directly within the application, which is a valuable asset.

One of Impress's strengths lies in its multimedia support. Embedding audio and video is straightforward, enabling the creation of dynamic presentations. The animation and transition effects are plentiful, allowing for significant customization in how content is revealed and how slides progress. While some effects may appear dated compared to the latest software versions, they are functional and provide sufficient options for most presentation needs.

The concept of master pages is well-implemented and crucial for maintaining design consistency across a presentation. Users can define layouts, backgrounds, and formatting on master slides, and these changes propagate to all slides utilizing that specific master. This significantly simplifies the process of creating branded or themed presentations.

Compatibility with Microsoft PowerPoint (.ppt and .pptx) is a key feature and generally works well for basic presentations. However, complex formatting, embedded fonts, or advanced features from PowerPoint might not always translate perfectly, requiring some adjustments after opening in Impress. This is a common challenge when dealing with file format compatibility across different software suites.

The ability to export to PDF is well-executed, producing clean and reliable PDF documents ideal for sharing and distribution. The option to export to Flash (.swf) is a notable inclusion, although the relevance of Flash has decreased over time.

For users who require more advanced functionality, Impress supports macros, allowing for the automation of repetitive tasks. While the macro language and development environment might feel less refined compared to some proprietary alternatives, it provides helpful automation capabilities for power users.

The 'Non linear presentation' and 'Interactive Presentations' features are particularly interesting. These allow presenters to break away from a strictly linear flow, providing flexibility in responding to audience questions or focusing on specific topics as needed. This level of interactivity is a valuable asset for certain presentation styles.

Performance-wise, Impress generally performs adequately, though it can occasionally experience slowdowns when dealing with very large presentations or complex embedded media, particularly on older hardware. Saving and loading times are generally acceptable.

Community support for Impress, as part of the larger OpenOffice project, is available through forums and documentation. While not as extensive as the support available for commercial products, it is sufficient for resolving most common issues.

In conclusion, Apache OpenOffice Impress is a solid, free, and open-source presentation application that provides a comprehensive set of features for creating effective presentations. Its compatibility with Microsoft PowerPoint, robust multimedia support, and drawing tools make it a viable alternative for many users. While it may lack some of the very latest features and polish of premium software, its core functionality is strong and its price point unbeatable.