Bye Bye OpenOffice, Hello Libre Office

initialdrifteg6 · 03-09-2011, 05:59 AM

This is for those who would like to remove OpenOffice and start using LibreOffice. Basically, we will remove OpenOffice, add LibreOffice repositories, and install LibreOffice. Fairly simple. Enjoy

1. Remove Open Office

Code:

sudo apt-get purge "openoffice*.*"

2. Add and Update the LibreOffice Repository (You can press ALT + F2 to bring up a command window for these steps)

gksu and sudo are essentially the same except sudo cannot be used in the command window (ALT + F2)

Code:

gksu add-apt-repository ppa:libreoffice/ppa

Code:

gksu apt-get update

3. Install LibreOffice

Code:

sudo apt-get install libreoffice libreoffice-gnome language-support-en

Testing and working on Ubuntu 10.10

corp769 · 03-09-2011, 06:04 AM

Is Libre Office any better than Open Office?

initialdrifteg6 · 03-09-2011, 06:11 AM

Not necessarily at the moment.The biggest difference that I can tell is that it's not subject to Oracle's rampage. It's a group of developers that left Oracle and built Libre Office off of OOo3.3Beta. So with it being at TDF instead of the grasp of Oracle, stuff can actually get done.

frankbell · 03-09-2011, 09:24 PM

I've been using LibreOffice since rc 2.

I have not bothered to remove Open Office, but I've pretty much stopped using OO. The two programs can exist quite nicely side-by-side on both Windows and Linux platforms (Yes, sometimes I am compelled to use Windows).

The current release of LibreOffice Writer and Calc are as stable and functional as OO Writer and Calc (I seldom use Impress unless someone emails me a slide show and never have used Math). The *.pdf export is flawless.

I understand that the goal of this release was to establish LO as a stable release, not to make significant changes. Based on my usage (which was normal usage, not testing), I would say that the Document Foundation succeeded.

I was able to use my OO templates in LO without a hiccough. I have also had to edit one of them and was able to do so, also without issue.

corp769 · 03-09-2011, 09:42 PM

So coming from your point of view, is it stable enough to use?

k3lt01 · 03-09-2011, 09:53 PM

I've been using LO since its public release and find it is just as good, if not better than OO. Apparently it has more compatibility features with MS Office but I am yet to try this out to verify it.

Quote:

Originally Posted by initialdrifteg6

gksu and sudo are essentially the same except sudo cannot be used in the command window (ALT + F2)

Not quite, you only need to use gksu or gksudo if you want to open a graphical interface otherwise plain su or sudo are enough.

corp769 · 03-09-2011, 10:01 PM

Cool, thanks. Looks like I will be installing LO tonight after work...

darkduck · 03-10-2011, 04:34 AM

I tried LO... It works. No issues so far.

darkduck · 03-10-2011, 04:35 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by initialdrifteg6

2. Add and Update the LibreOffice Repository (You can press ALT + F2 to bring up a command window for these steps)

gksu and sudo are essentially the same except sudo cannot be used in the command window (ALT + F2)

Code:

gksu add-apt-repository ppa:libreoffice/ppa

Testing and working on Ubuntu 10.10

Yes, it works in Ubuntu. But does not work in Debian. 8-(

k3lt01 · 03-10-2011, 11:32 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by darkduck

Yes, it works in Ubuntu. But does not work in Debian. 8-(

You can download the debs from LO themselves and install it in Debian, or you can enable the Experimental repository and install it from Debian themselves.

frankbell · 03-10-2011, 09:45 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by corp769

So coming from your point of view, is it stable enough to use?

Yes.

I have prepared two handouts for presentations to my local LUG using LO.

That's the last place I'd want to embarrass myself.

Edit:

It has worked just fine for me in both Lenny and Squeeze, but I had to read the README to install it properly.