Open Office Backup

There has been lots of conversation about a thread I added to a small business forum called Flying Solo. The thread asked users their thoughts on using paid or free software. Reading through some of the comments that people have made, it seems many are using tools such as Google docs and Open Office to access word processing tools for free.

The truth is that for most people, the basic features offered by something like Microsoft Word is probably enough. Therefore when you are running a small business (or trying to start one) every dollar saved is important. And if the free tool does enough to get you by whilst you are building your business, then that is great.

I personally have never used either Google docs or Open Office, but I decided to try them. I didn’t spend enough time on them to critique them but other than looking a little basic compared to MS Word, they offered me enough functionality to be able to use them for my day to day word processing needs. Open Office also comes in a Mac version.

This article isn’t about promoting free software, but the reality is that many small businesses use it. Many of these same businesses also have a need to backup their business critical files. A service such as Carbonite Online PC Backup is ideal for backing up your Open Office files. It will automatically select them and begin backing them up as soon as you create the file on your PC.

An extension for Open Office called Writers Tools also enables a few backup options including Remote Backup (allows you to FTP to a server) as well as Amazon S3 (competing service to Carbonite). The issue with either of these services is that you need to manually (remember to) back the file up.

If you don’t have a remote server to send to, aren’t using Amazon S3, and don’t want to manually remember to do things, then for only AUD$6 per month, you could have all of your Open Office, Text, Presentation, Database, Templates, Spreadsheet, Drawing and Formula files backed up automatically and securely.