If you're strapped for cash or simply don't want to install Microsoft software on your Mac, OpenOffice for Mac is an excellent, if slightly imperfect alternative. The numerous settings and buttons that come with it can also be a little overwhelming too and it would be nice to see it made a little simpler and streamlined in future releases. This has certainly been improved in the latest releases but its still a sluggish old thing compared to Microsoft Office. This driver can work with database files.
However, the main one is that since it is largely based on Java, it can be rather slow and unresponsive particularly when opening new files. Microsoft Access driver can use Excel workbooks as data sources, in addition to Microsoft Access. Except when used with the queryout option, the utility requires no knowledge of Transact-SQL. Occasionally, you will experience formatting or printing issues when using documents that have been made in Microsoft Office. The bcp utility can be used to import large numbers of new rows into SQL Server tables or to export data out of tables into data files. There are some drawbacks to OpenOffice for Mac of course.
The six components OpenOffice for Mac comes with are Write, Calc (spreadsheets), Impress (presentations), Draw, Base (database management) and Formula (mathematical application). It may not be quite as polished as Microsoft Office but considering you get all this for nothing, you really can't complain.
OpenOffice for Mac includes the key desktop applications, such as a word processor, spreadsheet, presentation manager, and drawing program with a user interface and feature set similar to other office suites.
