What is the difference between the Lotus Symphony embedded in Lotus Notes 8 and Lotus Symphony stand-alone?

Lotus Symphony embedded in Lotus Notes 8 has the equivalent functions of Lotus Symphony stand-alone. The embedded version provides a better integration experience with Lotus Notes. A developer can create Lotus Notes application to manipulate Lotus Symphony with LotusScript.

Lotus Notes 8 users have IBM support for the embedded editors as part of the Lotus Notes client support. Users of the stand-alone Lotus Symphony product get support through the moderated website forums. Lotus Notes users are invited to actively participate in our online community for Lotus Symphony and take advantage of the gallery of templates and clip art.

The application name also reflects the difference. Lotus Notes 8 embedded editors use the following names:

• Lotus Symphony Documents
• Lotus Symphony Spreadsheets
• Lotus Symphony Presentations

Lotus Symphony stand-alone version is called IBM Lotus Symphony.

The Lotus Symphony website is 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 binary formats. In addition, Lotus Symphony can also convert documents, spreadsheets, and presentations into Adobe® Portable Document Format (PDF) files.

Note: The following file formats are supported by the three IBM Lotus Symphony applications:

• 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), .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), 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), .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?

See the wiki article at http://www-10.lotus.com/ldd/lswiki.nsf/dx/What_are_the_client_system_requirements.

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What are the benefits of Open Document Format(ODF)?

ODF is important and valuable because it provides choice, cost effectiveness, and control over the use of your documents and the intellectual property that 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 content. Adopting ODF-supporting applications in your business or service means that you are not required to purchase an application from a single vendor to share and communicate your document data.

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Can I read and save files in Microsoft Office formats without any problem?

Although there is a high level of compatibility with Microsoft Office files, there might be some conversion issues with formatting. Report any issues in the Issues and Troubleshooting forums at the Support Forum.

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Do I need any other license to create a PDF file?

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?

You can create StarBasic macros for repeating tasks used when creating or editing IBM Lotus Symphony files.

Microsoft Office Excel macros can be imported and run natively in Lotus Symphony, but the modification to VBA macros cannot be saved.

Lotus Symphony can run Microsoft VBA code natively, but there are some APIs of VBA that are not supported, or are only partially supported. See http://www-10.lotus.com/ldd/lswiki.nsf/dx/Lotus_Symphony_VBA_API_documentation for more information about Lotus Symphony VBA interoperability.

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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 or Office 2003, some additional encryption algorithms are provided. Lotus Symphony supports opening or saving Microsoft Word and Excel files protected by the default file encryption algorithm only.

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How do I manage templates?

To create, update, and manage templates, click File > Template Organizer. In the Template Organizer window, you can create, edit, and delete folders, and import or export templates by selecting the appropriate option from the Commands menu.

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Can I set my favorite template as the default when creating files?

Yes, each of the editors supports a default template. If you want to create a file from a specified template every time, you can set it as the default by using following steps:

1. Click File > Template Organizer.
2. In the Templates list, double-click the folder containing the favorite templates.
3. Right-click the template that you want to use and select Set As Default Template from the menu. To revert back to the original blank template, select Reset Default Template > Presentation in step 3.
4. Click the Close button.

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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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Can I add digital signatures to documents?

Yes, in Lotus Symphony, click File > Digital Signatures to add invisible digital signatures to documents, spreadsheets and presentations. At this time, only documents in the ODF format can use digital signatures.

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Can I open and view documents side-by-side?

In Lotus Symphony, you can right-click the tab and select Open In New Window. You can arrange windows as you want.

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How can I change the language of the Lotus Symphony user interface?

If you have a non-English version or the all-in-one version installed, you can switch the language used in the user interface of IBM Lotus Symphony by clicking File > Preferences > Symphony > Language Settings > Regional Settings.

For details, see technote #1326094 at http://www-01.ibm.com/support/docview.wss?rs=0&uid=swg21326094.

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Why are the documents opened on a network-share write-protected on the Mac OS?

When you open documents on a network-share using Mac OS, Lotus Symphony reports an error message indicating This Document is already open in other application. The document on a network-share is sometimes not in write protect mode using Mac OS. If you want to edit the network file, copy it from the network to local hard drive to modify it.

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How can I prevent Lotus Symphony from beginning at start-up?

1. In Lotus Symphony, click File > Preferences, and then click Symphony.
2. Clear the Enable performance optimization check box.
3. Click Apply and then click OK.

Note: Turning off this option has a negative impact on Lotus Symphony performance.

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How can I restore auto-saved files?

Create a document, then select File > Recover when the menu item is not available. Auto-saved documents are listed in the window and they can be saved and opened.

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On Windows, how can I change the file type association to open the document in Symphony instead of in Lotus Notes?

On Windows XP operating systems:

1. In Explorer, click Tools > Folder Options > File Types.
2. Select ODP, ODT, or ODS, and then click Change.
3. Select IBM Lotus Symphony from the available software list.
4. Click OK. Then all files in .odp, .odt, .ods are opened in Lotus Symphony instead of Lotus Notes.

On Windows 7 or Vista operating systems:

1. Open Default Programs by clicking Start > Default Programs.
2. Select Associate a file type or protocol with a program.
3. Select .odp, .odt or .ods and click Change program.
4. Select IBM Lotus Symphony from the available software list.
5. Click OK.

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