What's the difference between the Lotus Symphony embedded in Lotus Notes 8 and Lotus Symphony standalone?

The software is based on the same code so they are functionally equivalent to each other. In addition, Lotus Notes 8 users have IBM support for the editors as part of the Lotus Notes client support. Lotus Symphony users have support through our moderated web site forums. Lotus Notes customers are invited to actively participate in our online community for Lotus Symphony and take advantage of the gallery for templates and clipart.
The tools have the following names in Lotus Symphony:

• IBM Lotus Symphony was IBM Productivity Tools
• Lotus Symphony Documents was Lotus Documents
• Lotus Symphony Spreadsheets was Lotus Spreadsheets
• Lotus Symphony Presentations was Lotus Presentations

The Lotus Symphony web site can be reached at http://www.ibm.com/software/lotus/symphony.

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Which file formats does Lotus Symphony support?

Lotus Symphony can save documents, spreadsheets, and presentations in a variety of file formats, including Open Document Format (ODF) and Microsoft Office formats. Lotus Symphony cannot save any of the Lotus SmartSuite file types, it only allows you open them. You would need to save the SmartSuite file as another file type such as one of the ODF or OpenOffice.org 1.1 formats. In addition, Lotus Symphony can also convert documents, spreadsheets, and presentations types into Adobe® Portable Document Format (PDF) files.

Note: The following file formats are supported by the three IBM Lotus Symphony applications. OASIS (Organization for the Advancement of Structured Information Standards) specifies the ODF (Open Document Format) file standards:

• Lotus Symphony Documents supports .doc (Microsoft), .dot (Microsoft template), .docx (Microsoft Word 2007), .dotx (Microsoft Word 2007 template),.odt (ODF), .ott (ODF template), .sxw (OpenOffice.org 1.1 format), .stw (OpenOffice.org 1.1 format template), .lwp (IBM Lotus SmartSuite®), .mwp (IBM Lotus SmartSuite template), .rtf, and .txt formats
• Lotus Symphony Spreadsheets supports .xls (Microsoft), .xlt (Microsoft template), .xlsx (Microsoft Excel 2007), .xltx (Microsoft Excel 2007 template), .ods (ODF), .ots (ODF template), .sxc (OpenOffice.org 1.1 format), .stc (OpenOffice.org 1.1 format template), .123 (IBM Lotus Smartsuite), .12m (IBM Lotus Smartsuite template), .xml, and .csv formats
• Lotus Symphony Presentations supports .ppt (Microsoft), .pot (Microsoft template), .pptx (Microsoft PowerPoint 2007), .potx (Microsoft PowerPoint 2007 template), .odp (ODF), .otp (ODF template), .prz (IBM Lotus Smartsuite), .mas (IBM Lotus Smartsuite look template), .smc (IBM Lotus Smartsuite content template), .sxi (OpenOffice.org 1.1 format), and .sti (OpenOffice.org 1.1 format template)formats.

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What are the client system requirements?

Lotus Symphony supports platforms for Microsoft Windows, Linux and Mac OS.

Note: Be sure your system meets these client system requirements:

• Supported Windows® platforms: Windows XP, Windows Vista
• Supported Linux platforms: SLED 10, RHEL 5, Ubuntu
• Supported Mac platforms: Intel processor-based Macs with Mac OS X 10.5
• At least 750MB of free disk space on Linux, at least 540MB of free disk space on Mac OS, and at least 540MB of free disk space on Windows
• At least 512MB RAM memory
• Windows installer does not support AMD64 CPU with XP/Vista 64 bit platforms installed

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Why is IBM releasing stand alone IBM Lotus Symphony?

Lotus Symphony is a set of applications for creating, editing, and sharing word processing documents, spreadsheets, and presentations. Designed to handle the majority of tasks that end users perform, Lotus Symphony supports the Open Document Format (ODF) giving organizations the ability to access, use, and maintain their documents over the long term without concern about end of life uncertainties or ongoing software licensing and royalty fees.

Note: For many end users and organizations, Lotus Symphony is a viable alternative to purchasing, deploying, and managing typical vendor-proprietary productivity suites.

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What are the benefits of ODF?

ODF is important and valuable because it provides choice, cost effectiveness, and control over the use of your documents and the intellectual property they contain. ODF enables efficient interchange of information between various parts of an organization and between organizations. By using tools that support ODF, customers are not locked into one particular vendor for their IBM Lotus Symphony. ODF helps provide interoperability and flexibility. Adopting ODF-supporting applications in your business or service means you are not required to purchase an application from a single vendor in order to share and communicate your document data.

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Will all Microsoft Office documents convert exactly?

Not entirely. Some advanced features such as embedded macros are not supported. There may be other conversion issues. Please report any issues in the Issues and Troubleshooting forums at Support Forum

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Do I need any other license to use these with my Office documents or to create a PDF?

Lotus Symphony can convert documents, spreadsheets, and presentations types into Adobe® Portable Document Format (PDF) files. No additional licenses are required.

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Can I use macros?

Users can create macros for repeating tasks used when creating or editing IBM Lotus Symphony files. These macros are not exportable to Microsoft Office and Microsoft Office macros cannot be imported into Lotus Symphony.

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Can I open a document encrypted by Microsoft Office in Lotus Symphony?

Currently Lotus Symphony and Microsoft Office use different algorithms for document encryption and decryption. In Microsoft Office XP/2003, some additional encryption algorithms are provided based on CryptoAPI. Lotus Symphony supports opening or saving Microsoft Word and Excel files protected by standard file encryption algorithm only.

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How do I manage templates?

To create, update, and manage templates, choose File > Template Organizer > Launch. On the Template Organizer dialog box that displays, you can import or remove libraries, create, edit, and delete folders, and import or export templates by choosing the appropriate option from the Actions drop-down menu.

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Can I work with encrypted Open Document Format files?

Yes. In Lotus Symphony, you are able to open and save encrypted files in Open Document Format.

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Why cannot I display the GUI when installing Lotus Symphony on ubuntu?

For ISMP installer, to make it work in GUI mode, you must disable Advanced Desktop Effects (Compiz Fusion) first before installing Lotus Symphony. To disable desktop effects, navigate your GNOME-menu to System > Preferences > Appearance. Under the tab Visual Effects, you'll find three settings: None, Normal and Extra. Choose None to diable Compiz.

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How can I install Lotus Symphony on 64-bits Ubuntu?

You can install Lotus Symphony in 32-bit mode on 64-bits Ubuntu after installing ia32-libs and libxkbfile1 first. To install Lotus Symphony on 64-bits Ubuntu, perform the following steps:

1. Install libstdc++5 (this is same as install on 32-bits Ubuntu).

   sudo apt-get install libstdc++5

2. Install ia32 libs.

   sudo apt-get install ia32-libs

3. Download and extract libxkbfile1, and make use of them.
   • Make a directory to save libs.

     sudo mkdir /libxkb

   • Download libxkbfile1 to /libxkb/*.deb (Do not install! Will extract the package manually later):

     http://ftp.us.debian.org/debian/pool/main/libx/libxkbfile/libxkbfile1_1.0.5-1_i386.deb

   • Extract the deb package.

     cd to /libxkb

     sudo dpkg -X libxkb*.deb ./

     Folder /libxkb/usr/lib will be created, the libs located in this folder.

   • Create symbol link of libxkb.

     sudo ln -s /libxkb/usr/lib/libxkbfile.so.1.0.2 /usr/lib32/libxkbfile.so.1

4. Install Lotus Symphony.
   • Download Lotus Symphony ISMP installer to a folder, such as /HOME/$USER/temp.
   • Install Lotus Symphony.

     cd to /HOME/$USER/temp

     sudo -H ./IBM_Lotus_Symphony_linux.bin

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How can I change the language of the Lotus Symphony User Interface?

If you installed Lotus Symphony in a non-English OS environment, the Symphony UI will be displayed in the native language. But you can switch language used in the user interface of IBM Lotus Symphony by clicking File -> Preferences -> IBM Lotus Symphony -> Regional Settings. Please refer to below URL: http://www-01.ibm.com/support/docview.wss?rs=899&uid=swg21326094

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Why are the help topics still in English and why can't I use the spell checker?

You might have a problem if you installed Lotus Symphony on a non-English operating system and the Lotus Symphony user interface is in your local language, but the help topics are still in English and the spell checker for your local language does not work. To fix the problem, you must install the language pack for your language. Refer to this Web site on how to install the language pack: http://www-01.ibm.com/support/docview.wss?rs=0&q1=symphony+install+pack&q2=Downloading+and+installing+language+dictionaries+in+Lotus+Symphony&uid=swg21293486&loc=en_US&cs=utf-8&lang=

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