LibreOffice

HOWTO: FIX:

AutoInput

Hey, why has it stopped filling in the cells for me on my spreadsheet?

Tools > AutoInput

Startup Always Asks To Reopen Windows (Mac OS X)

http://ask.libreoffice.org/en/question/6752/libreoffice-startup-always-asking-reopen-windows/

'error creating new document: template already exists'

This occurs both on Linux and Windows systems, locate and delete the following file 'registrymodifications.xcu'

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

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.

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'.

GENERAL

DISABLE:

Smart Url Mailto Web Site Recognition Autocorrect

Menu >> Tools >> AutoCorrect Options >> Options >> URL Recognition UNTICK

Font Preview In Drop Down Menu For Extra Speed (ALL Platforms)

Menu >> Tools >> Options >> LibreOffice >> View >> Font Lists >> Show Preview of Fonts UNTICK

ENABLE:

Macro Recording

Tools | Options | LibreOffice | Advanced | Optional (Unstable) Options | Enable macro recording (limited) | Enable checkbox

NOTE 1: Ensure that Java integration is enable.

NOTE 2: Currently the macro recorder works only in Calc and Writer.

Quickstarter

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

Menu >> Tools >> Options >> OpenOffice.org >> Memory >> enable the checkbox

INSTALL:

Latest

sudo apt remove libreoffice*
sudo add-apt-repository ppa:libreoffice/libreoffice-7-0 Stable, or
sudo apt-add-repository ppa:libreoffice/ppa Fresh
sudo apt update
sudo apt install libreoffice
sudo apt full-upgrade
loffice --version

Manually (LINUX)

Remove the installed version:

sudo apt-get remove libreoffice*

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

Extract the tar files, install all .deb files and pretty menus and icons:

tar -xzvf Your-File-Name-Here-Main-Program.tar.gz
sudo dpkg -i Your-File-Name-Here-Main-Program/DEBS/*.deb
sudo dpkg -i Your-File-Name-Here-Main-Program/DEBS/desktop-integration/*.deb

For good measure reboot the system.

SIFR Monochrome Icon Set (LINUX)

sudo apt-get install libreoffice-style-sifr

After installation:

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

Improve Compatibility With Documents From Microsoft Office (LINUX)

sudo apt install fonts-crosextra-carlito fonts-crosextra-caladea

• Open Writer then Tools - Options - LibreOffice - Fonts
• Tick the box for 'Apply replacement table'.
• Paste in to the 'Font' box: Calibri
• Paste in to the 'Replace by' box: Carlito
• Press the button with the green tick.
• Tick the boxes for 'Always' and 'Screen' only.
• Paste in to the 'Font' box: Cambria
• Paste in to the 'Replace by' box: Caladea
• Press the button with the green tick.
• Tick the boxes for 'Always' and 'Screen' only.
• Click the OK button.

If you install Microsoft's own font (detailed below) then the above is unnecessary.

Additional Microsoft Fonts (LINUX)

Ensure LibreOffice is closed.

Install Microsoft's classic TrueType fonts:

sudo apt install ttf-mscorefonts-installer

Install Microsoft's ClearType fonts, which includes: Constantia, Corbel, Calibri, Cambria, Candara, and Consolas:

mkdir ~/.fonts
wget -qO- http://plasmasturm.org/code/vistafonts-installer/vistafonts-installer | bash

Thanks to AskUbuntu

INFO:

Location Of Custom/Added Words Dictionary

Linux (current):

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

Linux (historic):

~/.libreoffice/4/user/wordbook

PDF Creation

Helpful PDF on creating PDFs.

Zoom

To zoom in or out in LibreOffice use CTRL + mouse scroll wheel.

WRITER:

PDF Forms

https://www.maketecheasier.com/create-a-pdf-with-fillable-forms-in-libreoffice/

Command Line Export To PDF

This will convert all Word documents with the .doc extension to .pdf in the same folder ...

soffice --headless "-env:UserInstallation=file:///tmp/LibreOffice_Conversion_${USER}" --convert-to pdf:writer_pdf_Export --outdir . *.doc

... brilliant :-)

HOWTO: SET:

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'.

Header On First Page Only

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

HOWTO: MAIL MERGE

Hide A Blank Address Line

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

• Menu >> 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: PAGE FORMATTING:

Centre Vertically

Menu

• Insert > Frame > Frame

Type (tab)

Size

• Width > AutoSize (click to select)

Anchor

• To page (click to select)

Position

• Horizontal > Centre > Entire Page
• Vertical > Centre > Entire Page

HOWTO: PAGE NUMBERING:

Insert In Header/Footer

To display page numbers the following format:

1 of 56

There are two different fields that are required:

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

CALC:

HOWTO: CELL MANIPULATION:

Add Extra Text To Cells

=CONCATENATE("prefix";A1;"suffix")

Example:

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

Add Cells If Other Cells Contain Text

=SUMIF(K2:K891,"=Yes",H2:H891)

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

Trim Leading Spaces From Cell

Edit > Find & Replace

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

Thanks to OpenOffice Forum.

HOWTO: CALCULATE:

The Week Number From Date

=WEEKNUM(A1;2)

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

Percentage Increase or Decrease

=SUM(NEW-OLD)/OLD
=SUM(B5-B4)/B4

https://www.groovypost.com/howto/calculate-percentage-increases-or-decreases-in-excel/

HOWTO: OPTIONS:

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:

Menu >> Tools >> Options >> LibreOffice Calc >> General

Tick the check box next to:

Expand references when new columns/rows are inserted

HOWTO: MODIFY:

Read-Only Status To Allow Changes To The Page Print Layout On Downloaded Files

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: 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:

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.

Menu >> File >> Templates >> Save As Template

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

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. Do not be surprised if it looks like nothing has happened.
• Close the Templates Manager windows.
• Restart Calc.