1. Proprietary: MS Word is to Open Source: ABI Word A comparative study of a proprietary software to its open source counterpart.

2. A word processor is a computer application used for the production; including composition, editing, formatting, and possibly printing; of any sort of printable material. computerapplicationcomputerapplication Before only proprietary software prevailed in the cyber world; but in today’s generation, alternatives had gained popularity almost equal to the latter. We are not confined to only one type of word processor to consider for our needs. Open source software stands as an alternative for proprietary software.

3. Abi Word AbiWord is a free and open source software word processor. AbiWord was adopted by some Open source developers and AbiWord continued to be developed. AbiWord is part of GNOME Office, a collection of office applications with some degree of integration. AbiWord is a free and open source software word processor. AbiWord was adopted by some Open source developers and AbiWord continued to be developed. AbiWord is part of GNOME Office, a collection of office applications with some degree of integration. AbiWord is GNU Free Software software, which means that you will always have the freedom to use it, make copies of it, and improve it. AbiWord is GNU Free Software software, which means that you will always have the freedom to use it, make copies of it, and improve it.GNU Free SoftwareGNU Free Software AbiWord has been created by a worldwide group of volunteers and currently supports many languages and operating systems. AbiWord has been created by a worldwide group of volunteers and currently supports many languages and operating systems. languagesoperating systems languagesoperating systems AbiWord is a free word processing program similar to Microsoft® Word. AbiWord is a free word processing program similar to Microsoft® Word.

4. Features and Functionalities AbiWord supports both basic word processing features such as lists, indents and character formats, and more sophisticated features including tables, styles, page headers and footers, footnotes, templates, multiple views, page columns, spell checking, and grammar checking.

5. Interface Currently, while many interface similarities remain, cloning the Word interface is not a top priority. Currently, while many interface similarities remain, cloning the Word interface is not a top priority. File formats AbiWord is packaged with several import/export filters, including HTML, Microsoft Word (DOC), Office Open XML (DOCX), OpenDocument (ODT), Rich Text Format (RTF) and Text documents (TXT). AbiWord is packaged with several import/export filters, including HTML, Microsoft Word (DOC), Office Open XML (DOCX), OpenDocument (ODT), Rich Text Format (RTF) and Text documents (TXT). Grammar Check The AbiWord project includes a grammar checking plugin using Link Grammar. The AbiWord project includes a grammar checking plugin using Link Grammar.

6. Multi Platform Enjoy your favorite Word Processor on the operating system you like to use - be it Windows, Linux, QNX, FreeBSD or Solaris. AbiWord has been designed to integrate perfectly with the operating system it runs on. Enjoy your favorite Word Processor on the operating system you like to use - be it Windows, Linux, QNX, FreeBSD or Solaris. AbiWord has been designed to integrate perfectly with the operating system it runs on.Interoperability AbiWord is able to read and write all industry standard document types, such as OpenOffice.org documents, Microsoft Word documents, WordPerfect documents, Rich Text Format documents, HTML web pages and many more. AbiWord is able to read and write all industry standard document types, such as OpenOffice.org documents, Microsoft Word documents, WordPerfect documents, Rich Text Format documents, HTML web pages and many more.

7. Advanced Document Layout Give your document that professional, scientific or fun-to-read look using AbiWord's advanced document layout options. Internationalization Dictionaries exist for over 30 languages. AbiWord supports right-to- left, left-to-right, and mixed-mode text. This means that in addition to supporting European languages, AbiWord supports languages like Hebrew and Arabic as well.

8. Mail Merge With AbiWord's Mail Merge capabilities, you can let AbiWord automate that job for you. This allows you to generate form letters, print documents or convert documents to any file format AbiWord supports - all from the command line! With AbiWord's Mail Merge capabilities, you can let AbiWord automate that job for you. This allows you to generate form letters, print documents or convert documents to any file format AbiWord supports - all from the command line! Extensible Plugin Architecture Our plugin system was designed to give AbiWord all the functionality you might expect from a modern Word Processor. A variety of plugins can be used to extend AbiWord's functionality, ranging from Document Importers to a Thesaurus, Image Importers and a Text Summarizer. Our plugin system was designed to give AbiWord all the functionality you might expect from a modern Word Processor. A variety of plugins can be used to extend AbiWord's functionality, ranging from Document Importers to a Thesaurus, Image Importers and a Text Summarizer.

9. Microsoft Word Microsoft Word is Microsoft's word processing software. Beginning with the 2003 version, the branding was revised to emphasize Word's identity as a component within the Office suite; Microsoft began calling it Microsoft Office Word instead of merely Microsoft Word. The latest releases are Word 2007 for Windows and Word 2008 for Mac OS X, while Word 2007 can also be run emulated on Linux. There are commercially available add-ins that expand the functionality of Microsoft Word.

10. Features and Functionalities The 2007 release includes numerous changes, including a new XML-based file format, a redesigned interface, an integrated equation editor and bibliographic management. The 2007 release includes numerous changes, including a new XML-based file format, a redesigned interface, an integrated equation editor and bibliographic management. Additionally, an XML data bag was introduced, accessible via the object model and file format, called Custom XML - this can be used in conjunction with a new feature called Content Controls implement structured documents. Additionally, an XML data bag was introduced, accessible via the object model and file format, called Custom XML - this can be used in conjunction with a new feature called Content Controls implement structured documents. Word 2007 uses a new file format called docx. Word 2007 uses a new file format called docx. Word 2000-2003 users on Windows systems can install a free add-on called the "Microsoft Office Compatibility Pack" to be able to open, edit, and save the new Word 2007 files. Word 2000-2003 users on Windows systems can install a free add-on called the "Microsoft Office Compatibility Pack" to be able to open, edit, and save the new Word 2007 files. Alternatively, Word 2007 can save to the old doc format of Word 97-2003. Alternatively, Word 2007 can save to the old doc format of Word 97-2003.

11. Use Quick Styles in a Word document to easily choose and apply a new style. Create professional documents effortlessly Office Word 2007 provides editing and reviewing tools that help you create professional documents more easily than ever before. Spend more time writing, less time formatting. Live visual previews, predefined style galleries, table formats, and other content help you get more out of Office Word 2007 capabilities. Office Word 2007 introduces Building Blocks for adding frequently used content to your documents. Communicate more effectively with high-impact graphics. Using Quick Styles and Document Themes you can change the appearance of text, tables, and graphics throughout your entire document to match your preferred style or color scheme.

12. Share your documents and content confidently With Office Word 2007, you can share documents with colleagues to gather feedback efficiently. With Office Word 2007, you can share documents with colleagues to gather feedback efficiently. Initiate an Office SharePoint Server 2007 review and approval workflow process directly from Office Word 2007. The Document Inspector feature helps you detect and remove unwanted comments, personally identifiable information, hidden text, or other information from the document so that private information stays that way. Initiate an Office SharePoint Server 2007 review and approval workflow process directly from Office Word 2007. The Document Inspector feature helps you detect and remove unwanted comments, personally identifiable information, hidden text, or other information from the document so that private information stays that way. A new signature line can be added to prompt other Word users for their signature, or to provide a visible digital signature within your documents. A new signature line can be added to prompt other Word users for their signature, or to provide a visible digital signature within your documents. Add Building Blocks to an Office Word 2007 document to increase efficiency and reduce errors.

13. The Office Fluent user interface of Office Word 2007 enables you to create documents more quickly than ever because it presents the right tools when you need them. Reading Mode offers you an immersive, full-screen reading experience that makes online reading easier, reducing the need to print the document. Remove unwanted information from your documents. The new Document Inspector feature can remove comments, tracked changes, metadata, or other information from your documents. Help protect your documents with a digital signature. You can digitally sign your documents so the people who read them know they haven’t changed since they left your hands. Convert your Word documents to PDF or XPS. With Office Word 2007, you can share documents in Portable Document Format file (PDF) and XML Paper Specification (XPS) format without using third-party tools.

14. You can use the Document Inspector to remove comments. Office Word 2007 enables you to digitally sign your documents, so readers know they haven’t changed since they left your hands.

15. Word has a built-in spell checker, thesaurus, dictionary, Office Assistant and utilities for transferring, copy, pasting and editing text.Office Assistant

16. Ease of Use – MS Word

17. Ease of Use- Abi Word

18. Over- all Power & Ability to Perform Expected Tasks (Comparison of word processors: MS Word and Abi Word) This table provides general information about selected word processors. This table provides general information about selected word processors.

19. This table gives characteristics of each word processor. This table gives characteristics of each word processor.

20. This table gives a comparison of what operating systems are compatible with each word processor in their last version. This table gives a comparison of what operating systems are compatible with each word processor in their last version.

21. This table gives a comparison of the file formats each word processor can import or open. This table gives a comparison of the file formats each word processor can import or open.file formatsfile formats

22. This table gives a comparison of the file formats each word processor can export or save. This table gives a comparison of the file formats each word processor can export or save.file formatsfile formats

23. Is the Open Source comparable to the Proprietary Software? YES. YES.

24. References Abi Word; http://www.abiword.com/ Abi Word; http://www.abiword.com/http://www.abiword.com/ Abi Word; http://www.abiword.com/tour/ Abi Word; http://www.abiword.com/tour/http://www.abiword.com/tour/ Abi Word; http://www.abiword.com/screenshots/ Abi Word; http://www.abiword.com/screenshots/http://www.abiword.com/screenshots/ Abi Word; http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Abi_word Abi Word; http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Abi_wordhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Abi_word Abi Word official website; www.AbiSource.com Abi Word official website; www.AbiSource.comwww.AbiSource.com Microsoft Word; http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ms_word Microsoft Word; http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ms_wordhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ms_word Microsoft Office Word- Home page; http://office.microsoft.com/en-us/word/default.aspx Microsoft Office Word- Home page; http://office.microsoft.com/en-us/word/default.aspx http://office.microsoft.com/en-us/word/default.aspx Microsoft Office Word; http://office.microsoft.com/en- us/word/HA101656411033.aspx Microsoft Office Word; http://office.microsoft.com/en- us/word/HA101656411033.aspxhttp://office.microsoft.com/en- us/word/HA101656411033.aspxhttp://office.microsoft.com/en- us/word/HA101656411033.aspx Comparison of Word Processors; http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Comparison_of_word_processo rs Comparison of Word Processors; http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Comparison_of_word_processo rs http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Comparison_of_word_processo rs http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Comparison_of_word_processo rs