====== Ways to start OpenOffice.org  ======

Did you know all of these ways to start OpenOffice.org?  Choose the method that is most convenient for you.

===== Windows or Linux =====

  * Right click the OpenOffice.org Quickstarter icon in the system tray (next to the clock). The Quickstarter is available on Windows and certain [[../editions_of_openoffice.org|non-vanilla editions]] for Linux. On Windows, the Quickstarter does not start until you run OpenOffice.org and complete the new user registration wizard; this must be done once for each Windows user and each OpenOffice.org version. \\ {{http://lh3.ggpht.com/OOoNinja/SAt3sagaKNI/AAAAAAAAA4M/KTnlfknco2w/s512/OOo240-XP-system-tray-icon-no-tooltip-small.png|OpenOffice.org Quickstarter on Windows XP}}  \\ The Quickstarter is enabled by default.  To enable the Quickstarter, open OpenOffice.org, click on **Tools**, click on **Options**, click on **Memory**, and click **Enable systray quickstarter**.

  * Double click an existing document. \\ {{http://lh3.ggpht.com/OOoNinja/SAt9ZagaKQI/AAAAAAAAA4s/L-RWGeAogdI/s512/MyDocumentsNinja.png|OpenOffice.org documents shown in Windows XP My Documents folder}}

  * Right click on an existing document.  Then, choose **Open With**.  Then, choose OpenOffice.org.

  * Directly run the OpenOffice.org [[../editions_of_openoffice.org#path_of_executable|executable]].

===== Windows =====

  * Click **Start**, then click **All Programs**, and then click **OpenOffice.org**. \\ {{http://lh3.ggpht.com/OOoNinja/SAt4WagaKOI/AAAAAAAAA4Y/NYW-TGFKXWs/s512/DEV300_m9-XP-start_menu.png|OpenOffice.org in the Windows XP start menu}}

  * //OpenOffice.org 3.0+ only// Double click the application [[http://www.oooninja.com/2008/04/desktop-start-launch-icons.html|icon on the desktop]].

  * By default, OpenOffice.org does not create Quick Launch icons on the toolbar, but it's easy to make your own:
     -  Make sure the Quick Launch area is shown in the taskbar.
        - Right click on the Windows taskbar in a blank space.
        - Click **Toolbars**.
        - Click **Quick Launch**.
     - Click **Start**, **All Programs**, **OpenOffice.org**.
     - Drag an OpenOffice.org icon and drop it in the Quick Launch area.
     - If there is not enough space, the new icon may be hidden, but you will see an arrow.  If necessary, resize the Quick Launch area.  If you cannot resize the area, right click on a blank space and choose **Lock the Taskbar***. \\ {{http://lh4.ggpht.com/OOoNinja/SAygUagaKSI/AAAAAAAAA5U/CrCqzsT5pjQ/s640/OOo240-XP-quick-launch.png|OpenOffice.org in the Quick Launch of the Windows XP Taskbar}}

  * Drag a document onto to OpenOffice.org application desktop icon.


===== Linux =====

  * Linux has a menu similar to Windows above, but it varies between Linux distributions and window managers (GNOME, KDE, etc). Usually the start menu is in the top-left or top-right-hand corner of the screen.  It may be called the **Applications** menu.  Click on it, then **Office**, then **OpenOffice.org**.  \\ {{http://lh5.ggpht.com/OOoNinja/SA_RQVksUmI/AAAAAAAAA-M/7HgDcmlBqn4/s640/OOo240-GNOME-Applications-menu2-sm.png| Starting OpenOffice.org 2.4 from Fedora 7 GNOME's Applications menu}}

  * Here are three ways to copy the item from the start menu.  
     * In GNOME, right click on OpenOffice.org the menu. Then, choose **Add this launcher to desktop** or **Add this launcher to panel**.
     * In KDE, right click the OpenOffice.org menu item.  Then, choose **Add Item to Desktop** or **Add Item to Main Panel**.
     * In KDE, drag the OpenOffice.org menu to the desktop. 

  * Many Linux distributions will by default create an OpenOffice.org launcher on your main panel.  Click the launcher.

===== How not to start OpenOffice.org =====

After installing on Windows, you will have two icons on the desktop that are generally safe to delete.  One is the installer .exe and the other is a folder full of installation files.  The file names will differ slightly according to the version you installed, but icons remain the same.  

{{http://lh4.ggpht.com/OOoNinja/SAygUagaKRI/AAAAAAAAA5M/kDKV6PPjEUQ/s512/OOo240-XP-2-icons-can-be-deleted.png|Two installation-related icons that can be deleted}}

===== How to check whether OpenOffice.org is installed =====

FIXME this is a stub

  * Does the [[../editions_of_openoffice.org#path_of_executable|executable]] exist on the hard drive?
  * Windows: Is OpenOffice.org listed in the Control Panel under Add/Remove Programs?
  * Linux: Check your package manager
    * ''rpm -qa | grep -i openoffice''
    * ''dpkg --get-selections | grep -i openoffice''

===== Help =====

Are you having trouble starting OpenOffice.org?  See [[troubleshooting#problemopenoffice.org_won_t_start|Troubleshooting: OpenOffice.org Won't Start]].