LibreOffice

FIX: 'error creating new document: template already exists'
This occurs both on Linux and Windows systems, locate and delete the following file 'registrymodifications.xcu'

Locations:

Linux:

~/.config/libreoffice/3/user

Windows Vista/7/8:

C:\Users\%username%\AppData\Roaming\LibreOffice\3\user\registrymodifications.xcu

Windows XP:

C:\Documents and Settings\%username%\Application Data\LibreOffice\3\user

FIX: Unable To Add New Words to Custom/Added Words Dictionary
If you find that you cannot add custom/new words to LibreOffice's 'standard.dic' it may be because it has lost the path to it.

Old file path:

~/.libreoffice/3/user/wordbook

New file path:

~/.config/libreoffice/3/user/wordbook

This may happen due to configuration changes to either LibreOffice or to the host operating system over time.

From the menu:

Tools --> Options

In the new pop-up window:

Language Settings --> Writing Aids --> User-defined dictionaries --> New

Give your dictionary a name, for instance: User_Added.

Set the language if so desired, click 'OK', then 'OK' again.

You will now find you will be able to add new words to either the 'standard.dic' (if it actually exists) and/or 'User_Added.dic'.

HOWTO: Disable Smart URL Mailto Web Site Recognition AutoCorrect
Tools > AutoCorrect Options > Options > URL Recognition UNTICK

HOWTO: Enable Quickstarter
Enabling Quickstarter places an icon in the system tray both in Linux & Windows:

Tools --> Options --> OpenOffice.org --> Memory and enable the checkbox

HOWTO: Install LibreOffice Manually (LINUX)
Remove the installed version:

'''Linux Terminal:~$ sudo apt-get remove libreoffice-core

Download the latest version here, or the Pre-Release version here along with the appropriate 'Help' installer.

Extract the tar files:

'''Linux Terminal:~$ tar -xzvf Your-File-Name-Here-Main-Program.tar.gz tar -xzvf Your-File-Name-Here-Help-Program.tar.gz

Install all the .deb files

'''Linux Terminal:~$ sudo dpkg -i Your-File-Name-Here-Main-Program/DEBS/*.deb sudo dpkg -i Your-File-Name-Here-Help-Program/DEBS/*.deb

Install the pretty menus and icons

'''Linux Terminal:~$ sudo dpkg -i sudo dpkg -i Your-File-Name-Here-Main-Program/DEBS/desktop-integration/*.deb

For good measure reboot the system.

TWEAK: Disable Font Preview In Drop Down Menu For Extra Speed (All Platforms)
Tools > Options > LibreOffice > View > Font Lists > Show Preview of Fonts + Show Font History > Untick

HOWTO: INSTALL: Sifr Monochrome Icon Set (LINUX)
Terminal:~$ sudo apt-get install libreoffice-style-sifr

After installation:

Menu >> Tools >> Options >> LibreOffice >> View >> Icon Size & Style >> Sifr

HOWTO: INSTALL: Microsoft ClearType Fonts (LINUX)
http://www.microsoft.com/typography/ClearTypeFonts.mspx

These fonts are really nice, especially Calibri.

To get them, follow these instructions:-


 * 1) Install the package 'cabextract'.
 * 2) Download the free PowerPointViewer from the Microsoft web site.
 * 3) cabextract -F ppviewer.cab PowerPointViewer.exe
 * 4) cabextract -F '*.TT?' -d /usr/share/fonts/vista /path/to/folder/with/ppviewer.cab
 * 5) fc-cache -fv

Enjoy.

Thanks to: http://www.oooninja.com/2008/01/calibri-linux-vista-fonts-download.html

INFO: Custom/Added Words Dictionary - Location
Linux (current):

~/.config/libreoffice/4/user/wordbook

Linux (historic):

~/.libreoffice/4/user/wordbook

HOWTO: ALTER: Default Font (All Platforms)
Menu >> Tools >> Options

In the new pop-up window:

LibreOffice Writer >> Basic Fonts (Western)

At this point you can define the font typeface and point size, when done click 'OK'.

HOWTO: Header On First Page Only

 * Set cursor to first page (Ctrl+Home)
 * Press F11 or choose Format --> Styles and Formatting
 * Double-click on style named "First Page"
 * Choose Insert - Header - First Page
 * Fill header

HOWTO: Hide A Blank Address Line When Mail Merging
Mail addressing letters or envelopes have a different number of lines in their address. The following method will show you how to add a blank line/field via a mail merge known as a 'Hidden Paragraph', which basically hides an entire line based on the testing of a condition parameter.

Place cursor immediately in front of the shaded field you wish to hide if it is blank


 * Select Insert -> Fields -> Other
 * Click the Functions tab
 * Select 'Hidden Paragraph' in the 'Type' section
 * Type "NOT field-name" in the 'Condition' box, where field-name is the name of the mail merge/form letter field
 * Click the 'Insert' button
 * Click the 'Close' button
 * Do the mail merge

HOWTO: Insert Page Number In Header/Footer
To display page numbers the following format:

1 of 56

There are two different fields that are required:


 * Insert --> Fields --> Page number
 * Type a space then your divider, normally 'of' then
 * Insert --> Fields --> Page count

HOWTO: Trim Leading Spaces From Cell
Edit > Find & Replace

Search for: ^ *(.*) *$ Replace with: $1 Options: Regular expressions: ON Click "Replace All".

Thanks - https://forum.openoffice.org/en/forum/viewtopic.php?f=9&t=15879&start=0

HOWTO: Get Week Number From Date
=WEEKNUM(A1;2)

Thanks - http://weeknumber.net/how-to/libreoffice-openoffice

TWEAK: Formula Expansion
By default inserting a row JUST above a cell containing a formula will not expand that formula reference to the new row.

To fix:

Tools > Options > LibreOffice Calc > General

Tick the check box next to:

Expand references when new columns/rows are inserted



HOWTO: Add Extra Text To Cells
=CONCATENATE("prefix";A1;"suffix")

Example:

=CONCATENATE("Start";A!;"End")

HOWTO: Change The Page Print Layout On Downloaded Files (read-only)
When you download a file in your web browser and want to change the print layout, you cannot because it is read only. To fix this, press the button with the pen to make it editable.

HOWTO: Combine Cells in Calc and Microsoft Excel
Effectively this will pull the entries from designated cells and combine them in to another cell (where the formula resides). For example a house number, an address line, a town and a postcode.

=A1&":"&B1&"-"&C1

HOWTO: Set Default Font (All Platforms)
Sadly setting the default font in Calc is not as simple as the method used for Writer. The programmers seem to have taken a page from the Microsoft Office Programmers' Play Book!

From the main menu:

Format --> Styles and Formatting


 * In the new window right click on 'Default' and select 'Modify'.
 * Click on the 'Fonts' tab, at this point you can define the font typeface and point size, when done click 'OK'.
 * Close the 'Styles and Formatting' window.

From the main menu:

File --> Templates --> Save As Template


 * Give the new template a name.
 * Click the close window button

From the main menu:

File --> Templates --> Manage


 * From the Templates Manager window select the 'Spreadsheets' tab.
 * Click once on the template created above.
 * Click the 'Set as default' button.
 * Close the Templates Manager windows.
 * Restart Calc.