How to use the same OOo options/config in Win and Linux?

[tico]

I've decided to install Ubuntu using Win XP on a dual boot system. I've go a question before doing so. I use OpenOffice in my Win XP. Everything is configured and personalized. So, here is the point: I'd like to use the same configuration/personalized options in Windows and Ubuntu, in other words, I'd like to have the same the same OOo templates, bars etc. used by Win and Ubuntu. Is this possible?

[9point9]

I think so although I haven't tried. I've have a similar thing working with Thunderbird so all of my mailboxes are shared across the two. Not that it makes any difference since Windows went titsup last week...

For a start, you need to have OOo's settings in a partition that is writeable from from both Windows and Linux. You can do it on NTFS with Captive installed under Linux but I've not had that set up properly before so wouldn't know. A more reliable method to use is a shared FAT32 file which you can save all of your work too from both environments. I will describe that, with Captive on NTFS it would be easier, once Captive is setup.

Skip this if your Windows installation is on FAT or you're using Captive:
The Windows OOo settings in c:/Documents and Settings/[user]/Application Data/OpenOffice.org2.0 can be copied to this FAT32 partition. Putting it somewhere like settings/OpenOffice.org2.0 sounds sensible, it'll be a custom name. You then need to change the settings in Tools > Options > OpenOffice.org > Paths to point to the new directory.

You then need to set the Linux version to use the same files. You could do this by changing all of the files but this is complex. A simple way is without having run OOo under Linux (or having run it and deleted the settings) create a symlink in your home directory to the Windows settings.

eg.

[tico]

Thanks for your reply. I'll install Ubuntu and try to configure things (this will probably take some time). I tell you later what happened...