Working with Graphics Text in OpenOffice.org

"One of the least understood features of OpenOffice.org is graphics text. People understand vaguely that it differs from regular text, but exactly how it differs or why anyone should care is mostly unknown. However, if you know the distinction, graphics text can work for you in ways that regular text cannot.

"Simply put, graphics text is a series of characters that OpenOffice.org treats as an object that is little different from other objects such as lines, squares, ellipses or other primitives. By contrast, you can manipulate the frame that contains regular text as though it were an object, but the regular text itself has its own, separate editing features.

"But why would you care? The answer depends on what type of document you are creating. If your document is completely text, then probably you have no need for graphics text. However, if you are designing a brochure, and moving graphics around, or doing a chart whose parts you want to label, then text that is just another object becomes convenient for you. Not only is graphics text easier to move around, but you can position it in ways that regular text does not support."

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