| Need help with Writer's Tools? Read Writer's Tools Manual. | |:------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|

Writer's Tools is a set of utilities designed to help OpenOffice.org users perform a wide range of tasks. Using Writer's Tools, you can back up documents, look up and translate words and phrases, manage text snippets, and keep tabs on document statistics.

Writer's Tools includes the following utilities:

• Lookup Tool lets you look up the currently selected word in several online references, including Cambridge Dictionaries, WordNet, and Google Define.
• Google Translate can help you to quickly translate selected text fragments between different languages using the Google Translate service.
• Show on the Map tool allows you to select a city, a street name, or a post code and map it using Google Maps.
• Email Backup tool can be used to quickly send a backup copy of the currently opened document to a specified email address.
• Multi-format Backup tool saves the currently opened Writer document in the Word, RTF, and TXT formats. The backup files are stored in a zip archive with a date stamp.
• Remote Backup allows you to quickly save a backup copy of the current document on a FTP server.
• Amazon S3 Backup tool backs up the currently opened document to Amazon S3.
• Start/Stop Timer tool can be used to keep tabs on the time spent on the currently opened document and save the time data (the document name, used time, and date) in the accompanying WriterDB database.
• Text Markup formats the document using the DokuWiki markup.
• Shorten Selected URL tool lets you shorten the currently selected URL using a link shortening service of your choice.
• Bookmarks tool allows you to bookmark often-used documents, so you can access them with a few mouse clicks.
• Add to Notebook tool is designed to quickly add text snippets, links, and notes to the supplied database. You can also categorize and tag the added entries.
• Database tool opens the WriterDB database, where you can use the available forms to manage notes and tasks.
• Tasks tool is a no-frills to-do manager that allows you to keep tabs on your tasks.
• Visual Word Count tool shows the current word count and lets you monitor your writing progress.

Need help with Writer's Tools? Join the WriterTools group.

You can grab the latest development release of Writer's Tools from the SVN repository.

What people say about Writer's Tools

"If you're using OO.org as your main word processor, the Writer's Tools extension is a must-have." Lifehacker

"This is awesome, very nice add-on indeed." Lifehacker

"Verdict: A great tool for Openoffice users" ComputerActive (4 out of 5 stars).

"That's an awesome array of tools. I've been procrastinating about installing OpenOffice.org, but this suite of tools has kicked me into a download." Becoming A Writer Seriously

"If you use Writer, you're sure to find Writer's Tools helpful" PC Pro, April 2008, p. 187

"Just installed Writer’s Tools, an OpenOffice extension that is made of 100% pure awesome." Paper Graffiti

"Writer's Tools is such a varied collection that it will be a rare writer who can't find some features in it that they want to use." Linux Journal

"As a professional writer I am really thankful for this great tool. Among lots of other features, I like the easy email backup feature very much. Thanks for this extremely usefull addon!" JoLong

"Thanks for such an amazing toolbox, Dmitri!" Paper Graffiti

"Get it; it’s really good!" SolidOffice

"If you are just like me, who spends a great deal of time sitting behind OpenOffice writing articles, then Writer’s Tools is the extension that you must have." 9 Must-Have OpenOffice.org Extensions

"Awesome, just awesome. Where’s all this good stuff for Word? Damn, I may have to follow my own advice and switch to OpenOffice myself." Get More from OpenOffice with Writer's Tools Extension

"To the staggeringly stupendous scribes who shaped Writer's Tools so spectacularly: I just downloaded and installed OpenOffice and your Writer's Tools extension and I have to say that the stock functionality of OO.o3 is wonderful but your extension is absolutely ridiculously awesome and has made me turn my back on Word 2003. I haven't had a chance to play with the other programs but I can honestly say that in a matter of 30 minutes you and your extension changed a lifetime of hesitant yet obedient serfdom to the ever-present Microsoft and her silica clad hand of despotism and greed. Long live OpenOffice and especially Writer's Tools. If you were next to me right now I would give ya' the biggest, most cuddliest bear hug you could ever imagine. Love you so long time Writer's Tools inventors. Love you soooo long time." Post in the Writer's Tools group by Michael J.

Writer's Tools has been featured in the Beginning OpenOffice.org 3 book.