Microsoft Office License for MLS computers

[rolfejr]

I am trying to find an approved method for purchasing and using Microsoft Office 2010 on MLS computers (or at least one MLS computer in the stake clerk's office). I know they have OpenOffice installed on them, but our Stake Presidency and clerks all use and are familiar with Microsoft Office (particularly Excel) and OpenOffice just doesn't have the funcionality or familiarity they need. I did find an article here:
https://tech.lds.org/wiki/index.php/Software
that discourages using budget funds to purchase Microsoft Office, but our MLS computer has had Microsoft Office on it for years (a retail edition the stake presidency purchased), and it is our (very strong) preference to continue to use Microsoft Office. This is all being brought up now because we would like to upgrade to Office 2010. A non-profit license of Office 2010 standard is just over $50, so it's not really that expensive, but is there a recommended method of purchasing the software?

It just so happens that I also work for a division of the church in which I occasionally deal with software licenses using contracts with both CDW and Softchoice. I can purchase through those channels using our department's non-profit 501c certificate, but I don't know if that is appropriate, since we fall under the Corporation of the Presiding Bishopric and not really the ecclesiastical side of things.

I am basically looking for some advice on what the appropriate course of action would be to acquire Office 2010. Our stake presidency is set on using Microsoft Office, but I don't want to purchase a retail edition when we would qualify for a non-profit license.

[aebrown]

I did find an article here:
https://tech.lds.org/wiki/index.php/Software
that discourages using budget funds to purchase Microsoft Office

I don't think that is actual policy, but just an encouragement to be frugal. If your stake presidency wants to purchase the software with budget funds, that is their choice.

A non-profit license of Office 2010 standard is just over $50, so it's not really that expensive, but is there a recommended method of purchasing the software?

There is no special method that is recommended. The only requirement is that the software is properly licensed for the unit (no attempts to share a license with an individual). So it's important to be organized and know where the license is.

It just so happens that I also work for a division of the church in which I occasionally deal with software licenses using contracts with both CDW and Softchoice. I can purchase through those channels using our department's non-profit 501c certificate, but I don't know if that is appropriate, since we fall under the Corporation of the Presiding Bishopric and not really the ecclesiastical side of things.

I don't see how it could be appropriate to use your department's 501(c) certificate.

I am basically looking for some advice on what the appropriate course of action would be to acquire Office 2010. Our stake presidency is set on using Microsoft Office, but I don't want to purchase a retail edition when we would qualify for a non-profit license.

I don't know just how this particular non-profit licensing works, but I would think that your stake would qualify for a non-profit license. But I don't think you can expect much help from the Church on the licensing issues, since the Church has a different (free) recommended office suite.

[marianomarini]

I don't think that is actual policy, but just an encouragement to be frugal. If your stake presidency wants to purchase the software with budget funds, that is their choice.

Thinking that this is a "personal" wish I'll find inappropriate to use "community" found.
I think that Stake President (and who soever "NEED" MSOffice) can buy it and then remove it when he/they will be released.
I don't see any problem in that!

[russellhltn]

Thinking that this is a "personal" wish I'll find inappropriate to use "community" found.
I think that Stake President (and who soever "NEED" MSOffice) can buy it and then remove it when he/they will be released.
I don't see any problem in that!

The requirement is that the software is licensed to the unit, but there's nothing wrong with accepting a donation of the software by the folks that want it so badly.

However, the leaders also need to realize that as they move on to new units, they're going to run into the same situation.

[harddrive]

The requirement is that the software is licensed to the unit, but there's nothing wrong with accepting a donation of the software by the folks that want it so badly.

However, the leaders also need to realize that as they move on to new units, they're going to run into the same situation.

Why not just do the work at home and send the data around in an email. That is what we do in our stake. We do use OpenOffice for simple stuff, but for the most part a lot of us keep things on our personal computers.

[aebrown]

Why not just do the work at home and send the data around in an email. That is what we do in our stake. We do use OpenOffice for simple stuff, but for the most part a lot of us keep things on our personal computers.

That works for some documents. But it's impractical for us to do mail merge to labels or to envelopes or to double sided printing at home. We need the power of the stake printer to facilitate those operations, and we need to do them directly from the word processor in the clerk's office.

But each ward and stake needs to work out the flow that works best for them.

[kisaac]

I know they have OpenOffice installed on them...

Our old stake policy was that unit computers had only the software specified-
In that way, nobody had to question if any unit was in compliance -Is that version licensed correctly to your unit, or did the elders secretary bring up his own copy from home because he preferred to do his reporting with it? It just eliminated the need for the tech specialist (or anyone else) to ask the question.

[aclawson]

Microsoft also has free copies of a web-based version of the office applications online....

[marianomarini]

Being this a tech forum I let willingly fall the "appropiate" question (use community funds for personal wishes) but I'm still interest in what you can do with MSOffice but with OOffice.org (soon LibreOffice). I used for several years MSO before OO comes forth. Since that time I used OO without any missed funcionality (execpt Access).
So I will appreciate some examples of these "funcionalities" missed into OO rigth now. (Familiarity can be acquired).

[aebrown]

Being this a tech forum I let willingly fall the "appropiate" question (use community funds for personal wishes) but I'm still interest in what you can do with MSOffice but with OOffice.org (soon LibreOffice). I used for several years MSO before OO comes forth. Since that time I used OO without any missed funcionality (execpt Access).
So I will appreciate some examples of these "funcionalities" missed into OO rigth now. (Familiarity can be acquired).

There's really no reason for that kind of discussion in this thread (but you're welcome to start such a discussion in another thread). The original post made it clear that the major motivation for the purchase is that the stake presidency and clerks already had familiarity with MSOffice. Anyone who has used both OpenOffice and MSOffice knows that there are significant differences in how you do things in the two systems, even if you can actually get the same work done. Although you are correct that "familiarity can be acquired," that's not necessarily a good use of time for all these leaders and clerks, who have better things to do with their time. It's within policy for the stake to purchase MSOffice, and we're not talking about very much money here, so I see no reason to try to talk that stake presidency out of a very reasonable decision. This thread should stay focused on how to buy the software so that financial and licensing policies are properly observed, which I believe have been addressed.