LibreOffice

 Note:  The following are compatible with all operating platforms

'error creating new document: template already exists': How To Rectify
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:

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

Windows XP:

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

Splash Screen - Alter: How To
You will need to replace two files:

intro.png about.png

Also you will need to edit the file:

sofficerc

Splash Screen - Disabling: How To
Open a Terminal and switch to root

cd /etc/openoffice nano sofficerc

Find the entry 'Logo' changing its value from '1' to '0'

Save changes (CTRL+o) then exit (CTRL+x)

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

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

Linux (historic):

~/.libreoffice/3/user/wordbook

Custom/Added Words Dictionary - Unable To Add New Words: How To Fix
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'.

Installing LibreOffice 3.x In Linux
 Ensuring That LibreOffice Remains Updated To Current Version Release 

System --> Administration --> Software Sources --> 3rd Tab [Updates] --> Ubuntu Updates --> Tick 'Proposed Updates'

Click Close. This will automatically start a system software update. Follow the prompts as normal.

 Up To And Including Ubuntu 9.10 

http://ubuntuforums.org/showthread.php?t=1404156

Delete the old version

sudo apt-get remove openoffice*.*

Go to the OpenOffice website: http://download.openoffice.org/ and download the Linux .deb file.

Extract the tar file

tar -xzvf LibO_3.4.2_Linux_x86-64_helppack-deb_en-GB.tar.gz

There will be a folder called LibO_3.4.2rc3_Linux_x86-64_install-deb_en-US

Install all the .deb files

sudo dpkg -i ~/LibO_3.4.2rc3_Linux_x86-64_install-deb_en-US/DEBS/*.deb

Install the pretty menus and icons

sudo dpkg -i ~/Desktop/OOO320_m12_native_packed-1_en-US.9483/DEBS/desktop-integration/openoffice.org3.2-debian-menus_3.2-9472_all.deb

Reboot for good measure

sudo reboot

Quickstarter
To enable the Quickstarter which places an icon in the system tray in both Linux & Windows:

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

Default Font - How To Set
From the main 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'.

Hiding 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

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

Default Font: How To Set
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 pop-up window right click on 'Default' (which on a default set up should be the first entry) 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


 * Give the new template a name.

From the main menu:

File --> Templates --> Organise


 * In the new pop-up window expand 'My Templates' by double clicking on it.
 * Select the previously created template, right click on it and then click on 'Set As Default Template'.
 * Click 'Close'.
 * Finally close and reopen Calc to access the new default template.

Formula Expansion
By default, when you insert a row JUST above a cell containing a formula, it will not expand the formula reference to include the new row. To fix this, go into Tools > Options > LibreOffice Calc > General > Tick Expand references when new columns/rows are inserted...



How to combine cells in Microsoft Excel and LibreOffice Calc
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