#LibreOffice anytime always

[ailelie]

I'll have to consider a Google break-up. But this reminds me how I did just go through separation with Microsoft 365.

My very first step was listing out all the places where I use Microsoft and thinking through what my requirements were for replacing them. OneDrive, for the longest time, was my sticking point. This program has saved me twice now when I've had computer issues. I needed something that would keep copies of my files in the cloud, connect with multiple folders, sync instantly, and connect with my phone. I also wanted to pay no more than I was already paying for Microsoft 365. Finally, it had to be easy to use.

For the Office Suite, I just needed something that could open and edit my Microsoft files and have similar features. I rarely use Word/Excel/etc outside of work, though that may change if I do breakup with Google (I use Google Sheets for myriad things).

OneDrive

To replace the online drive and sync, I've switched to pCloud. It isn't free, though. It costs $50-60/year for 500GB (and about a $100 for 2T).

Steps for switching:

Make sure you have downloaded everything from OneDrive to your computer. Most of your files actually live in the cloud and you'll lose access to them when you uninstall OneDrive (note: they'll still be online).

Move all of your files into your User directory or somewhere else on your computer that isn't your OneDrive folder. (Learn from my mistakes...)

Uninstall OneDrive.

Go through your files and delete all of your OneDrive folders.

Download and install pCloud and follow their directions.

(Note: pCloud does have a OneDrive import feature, but I did not use that and I do not know how well it supports uninstalling OneDrive afterward.)

I also have pCloud on my phone now. I don't know if I just have rosy glasses on, but it feels nicer than the OneDrive app.

(Note: I do not rec NextCloud. I tried it and was met with nothing but pure frustration. Plus, for basic sync, I learned I had to download another program/extension, but then it was super unclear on how to install that extra bit and etc etc etc.)

ETA: OneDrive will still exist in some pretty critical default filepaths (e.g., your desktop folder). I followed this to fix it in my registry.

Office Suite

I've downloaded LibreOffice (free!)for this. If your Calc is an utter glacier when you open it, look up how to check the "Force Skia software rendering" box. That fixed the issue for me.

If you prefer ribbons over menus, there is a view option for that, too.

I am also currently trialing Typora, which costs $15 and is beautiful. It is a Markdown editor in which your Markdown is instantly rendered.

Other Microsoft Apps

I don't tend to use other Microsoft apps much outside of work. If I used a desktop email client, I'd probably go back to Thunderbird, which I used back in college.

As for OneNote, I'm not sure. Obsidian, which I use for my worldbook for my current story, is fantastic, but I've not tried to have different projects on it at once.

For teams, there's Slack and Discord. For the Sharepoint side of teams, maybe Box, Basecamp, or Confluence? I've not really looked into this because I don't use Teams in my non-work life and there is a 0% chance my workplace transitions away from Teams and Sharepoint anytime soon.

For Notepad, Notepad++ has always been one of the first programs I download to new computers. It is stellar.

For other apps, I'm already using alternatives (e.g., VLC Media Player, Firefox, WonderShare) or they aren't programs I even knew existed (e.g., Journal?, Family?). A few, though, just feel like system tools (e.g., Snipping Tool, Calculator).

Of course, there is the Linux of it all.

I have considered linux before. I have even tried linux (Ubuntu) before.

Most of what I use these days will work with Linux, with one major and rather important-to-me exception: Scrivener.

I am yet to find a single other application I like half as well as Scrivener.

Just in time for Valentine’s Day... 💔 

Ready to break up with Google?

So are we!

We’ve rounded up a bunch of privacy-centric alternatives for everything Google.

Check out the full list over on the blog!

- The Ellipsus Team xo

[evilmememagic]

Thirding Libreoffice!

Since nobody seems to have given @iby-dysphoria-queen a direct answer I'll chime in as well.

Certified Jank Lilith tech guide below readmore

I'm writing this assuming you need to be on multiple devices because, like me, you aren't always able to access your computer when the urge strikes. So my method isn't simultaneous per-se, but pretty close to seamless for my purposes. I guess if you need to be on multiple devices to collaborate with another writer in real time, well, this might work for you but I literally just started using it this way today and it might cause a file conflict if you try to use it that way

Okay so what you gotta do is install LibreOffice on you desktop, and CollabraOffice on your mobile device (available on Playstore and IOS, if you use an entirely different device, good luck). You'll also want to download dropbox or another secure cloud file hosting service to both devices. Create a writing folder in your dropbox, then use that as your default folder for Libre and Collabra. Then just make sure you save and close before swapping devices :3

ADDENDUM- Please make sure you set this folder as online only with dropbox, otherwise it will get pissy because Collabra autosaves anytime you touch the file and having local copies is apparently just begging for file conflicts.

I hope this unsolicited tech advice is useful for someone! Please lemme know if you have a fancier way of doing this <3

We should do some 1984 big brother style reeducation but on people who use google docs as their primary word processor

[acequeenking]

Writing Questions Meme

Tagged by the uber-lovely and talented @spinninglenny

Is there a snack you like to eat while writing?

No. I don’t like to eat over my computer, so I don’t eat by it too often. If I do though, there’s probably at least a 50% chance I’m snacking on cheese, which is my forever vice.

What time of day do you usually write?

Whenever the mood takes me and I have time to, but to be honest that’s almost exclusively after 10PM.

Where do you write?

In my bedroom, pretty much always. To be honest, I mostly write in bed. When I’m commuting for work, I often write notes on my phone, provided I’m not the one driving. How readable those are to anyone who isn’t me is pretty debatable.

How often do you write a new fic?

It really depends on my mood. In times when I’m really depressed or anxious, I barely write anything. My last job was awful on my mental health, so I’ve really slowed down in my writing. Now that I’ve finally left that behind, I’ve started writing more, but I haven’t gotten anything that’s postable yet.  TBH I am still trying to catch up with fic I never posted on Ao3, and responding to reviews there. I feel like I’m really getting left behind for Andromeda stuff, but I am working on it!

Right now I’m working on a fic for the Mass Effect big bang, as well as two fics for the Every Woman exchange, though neither of those are Mass Effect. I’ve got an Andromeda WIP on the Mass Effect Kink Meme, and  of course, I’m getting my writing mojo stored up for Spectre Requisitions.

Do you listen to music while you write?

YES. I never got out of the phase of making OTP playlists and anytime I have a couple I love, I make them, usually with embarrassing titles that won’t make sense to anyone but me. This is my Shakarian playlist; this is my Kryterius one. I haven’t made one for Andromeda yet but let’s be real, I will definitively make some for Jaal, Liam, Vetra, and Suvi at some point. Songs will vary in how useful they are if your tastes don’t match mine, but I hope you, too, can find some good, inspiring lines and/or fun songs.

Paper or laptop?

Laptop 60% of the time, desktop 35%, and the odd note written on my phone during breaks. It’s pretty rare that I’ll write on my phone, because as anyone who has messaged with me can verify, I can barely spell on a computer, let alone my phone.

Do you have a special pre-writing ritual?

My writing time process is this: generally have a small snack, get a drink, (hard to stay in the moment if you’re hungry or thirsty), put on a playlist in the background (either a pairing one or a mood one, depending on what I want) and open up Cold Turkey Writer to pound out a first draft. I generally set it for 20 minutes or 500 words, depending on time/inclination.

After that, I’ll either export it into Word or LibreOffice, depending on what computer I’m using for a second draft. I’ll try to fix grammar mistakes and wording mistakes. If it’s a multi-chapter fic, I move everything over to Scrivener, which I find invaluable for anything that isn’t a one-shot.

Before I post it, I like to ask a beta to look over stuff, but if I don’t have the patience or my beta isn’t into beta’ing at the moment, I use Hemingway to try to point out areas of improvement. It won’t fix your grammar, but if you are prone to long sentences like I am (and believe me, I am), it’ll point it out for you.

What do you do to get into the writing?

Generally I get an idea for a scene first, and generally it plays out in dialogue in my head while I’m doing something else first. For example, I have a fic I want to write where Vetra helps Suvi find some rare Andromeda rocks, and the two bond while trapped in a rock-slide. The image that came to me first for this was Suvi and Vetra getting stuck in a pitch black cave, and Suvi apologizing a lot while Vetra tends to her wounds. The rest of the story came to me afterward.

Generally I get one scene I know I want to write, and I work backwards and forwards until I have a full idea. Then I’ll write out a little summary. (I’m very much an architect. I like having words, and plans. I’m not married to them, but I like having somewhere to go if I panic and go OH NOES WHAT NEXT.)  Sometimes, it doesn’t work that way; sometimes, I’ll ask myself a question, and try to resolve it. After that, I write the thing out.

About 50% of the time, my first draft is almost all dialogue. I add everything else later. The hardest thing for me to add is setting, which I think is something that I need to work on. Most of the time I work intro-to-conclusion, and it’s very hard for me to not write in order.

Do you have a reward system for word counts?

Not usually. Generally I want to write, and if I feel like it’s a chore, I don’t do it. I am a big believer in the idea that sometimes taking a break is healthy. When I have to write, or want to be the words are fighting me, I try telling myself I can edit this later and power through it. Sometimes it works, sometimes it doesn’t, but I’d rather have 300 words on a page I hate than not have them at all. I can force myself to write it when I put my mind to it.

The hardest thing to conquer for me is honestly the feeling that everything I write is terrible/awful/ugly/worthless. Thankfully, that’s something that citalopram helps me with, but when it isn’t enough, I try to just re-read and edit and remind myself that things will, in fact, get better. I used to hit the delete button a lot, but I’m getting better at not doing that.

Is there anything else about your writing process your readers don’t know?

Gosh, I find this hard to answer because to be honest, I don’t know what my reader’s don’t know. I do come up with a lot of random mental headcanons I wind up writing into my fic; for example, most of my turian language in fics is bastardized Latin. However, sometimes when I have Saren talking to Nihlus, I’ll use Romanian words instead of Latin because I want to convey the idea that they have different dialects. I’ve also got an almost-embarrassing amount of back-story for their origin planets/famillies that I don’t think I’ve written out yet. 

Tagging whoever wants to do this, as you are all lovely. Five in particular I’m curious about: @lady-halibuts-chambers, @vorchagirl, @malcolminspace, @bardofheartdive, and @feedthedamnfish.