How to Install Apache OpenOffice on Ubuntu

Posted on the 10 May 2023 by Top10

OpenOffice is a popular open source software suite that offers various productivity tools. It is a great alternative to proprietary office suites like Microsoft Office and is widely used by businesses and individuals around the world. OpenOffice provides many tools for word processing, spreadsheets, presentations, graphics, and databases. One of the main advantages of OpenOffice is that it is free, meaning anyone can download and use it royalty-free.

If you are an Ubuntu user and want to install OpenOffice on your system, you have come to the right place. In this article, we'll take a look at what OpenOffice is, what it's used for, and the various methods for installing OpenOffice on Ubuntu. We will also discuss the advantages and disadvantages of using OpenOffice, its features and how to use it.

What is Apache OpenOffice used for?

OpenOffice is an office suite that provides tools for word processing, spreadsheets, presentations, graphics, and databases. Here are some examples of using OpenOffice:

  • Working with Text: OpenOffice Writer is a tool that can be used to create and edit documents such as letters, reports, and summaries. It offers a range of formatting options, spell checking, and other features to help users create professional-looking documents.
  • Spreadsheets: OpenOffice Calc is a spreadsheet tool that allows you to create and manage budgets, financial statements, and other data-based documents. It offers a range of features, charts, and other features to help users analyze and visualize data.
  • Presentations: OpenOffice Impress is a tool that allows you to create and deliver presentations for meetings, classes, and other events. It offers a number of templates, transitions, and other features to help users create interesting and informative presentations.
  • Graphics: OpenOffice Draw is a graphical tool that allows you to create and edit diagrams, flowcharts, and other visual aids. It offers a range of shapes, lines, and other features to help users create professional-looking graphics.
  • Databases: OpenOffice Base is a tool that you can use to create and manage databases for personal or business use. It offers forms, reports, and queries that help users organize and analyze data.

All in all, OpenOffice is a versatile office suite that can be used for a variety of tasks and projects, from basic word processing to complex data analysis. Its free and open source make it a great alternative to proprietary office suites. Its compatibility with various platforms and file formats makes it easy to share and collaborate with others.

Advantages and disadvantages of OpenOffice

Before we dive into the installation process, let's take a quick look at some of the advantages and disadvantages of OpenOffice.

Benefits of OpenOffice

  • Free and Open Source: OpenOffice is free to use and redistribute, and its source code is available under an open source license. Anyone can modify and improve the software without license fees or restrictions.
  • Cross-Platform: OpenOffice is available for a variety of operating systems including Windows, macOS, Linux, and Solaris. This makes it easier to share documents and collaborate with users across platforms.
  • Compatibility: OpenOffice can open and save files in a variety of formats, including Microsoft Office formats. This makes it easy to migrate from proprietary office suites to OpenOffice without losing existing documents.
  • Feature rich: OpenOffice offers many features and tools for word processing, spreadsheets, presentations, graphics, and databases. It can solve complex problems and work with large amounts of data, and its user interface is intuitive and easy to use.

Disadvantages of OpenOffice

  • Limited support: OpenOffice is developed and maintained by a community of volunteers and does not have a dedicated support team or help desk. If you encounter technical problems or need help, you can rely on online forums and community support.
  • Compatibility Issues: Although OpenOffice can open and save files in Microsoft Office formats, some compatibility issues can arise with complex documents that use advanced functions or macros. This can result in formatting problems or data loss when opening or saving files in various formats.
  • Outdated user interface: OpenOffice hasn't been significantly redesigned in years, and its user interface can seem dated compared to today's office suites. This may make it less attractive to users who are used to more modern and streamlined interfaces.

System requirements

Before installing OpenOffice on Ubuntu, make sure your system meets the minimum requirements. OpenOffice requires a 64-bit Linux system with at least 1 GB of RAM and 1.5 GB of free disk space.

Removing LibreOffice or any other older version of Office installed on your Ubuntu OS is vital to avoid conflicts during installation. To do this, check out the next section, as the process is detailed:

Removing LibreOffice / old versions of Office

If you have LibreOffice installed on your Ubuntu system and you want to uninstall it before installing OpenOffice, to ensure a trouble-free installation, you can follow these steps:

1. Firstly, open the Terminal by pressing "Ctrl+Alt+T" on your keyboard.

2. Enter the following command to uninstall LibreOffice and related packages:

sudo apt remove libreoffice*

3. This command will remove all LibreOffice packages and their dependencies from your system.

4. Press Enter and enter the administrator password when prompted.

Note: For security reasons, you will not see the password you enter.

5. Once the uninstall process is complete, you can clean up any remaining files and dependencies by running the following command:

sudo apt autoremove

This command will remove all unused packages and dependencies installed with LibreOffice.

6. After cleaning, you can install OpenOffice using one of the methods mentioned in this article.

Note: Removing LibreOffice will free up disk space and avoid potential conflicts between the two office suites. It is worth noting that removing LibreOffice will also remove all documents and settings associated with it. Therefore, before deleting, it is recommended to back up all important files.

Various Methods for Installing OpenOffice on Ubuntu

There are other methods for installing OpenOffice on Ubuntu, including the following:

Method 1: Using the terminal

One of the most common ways to install OpenOffice on Ubuntu is using the terminal. Unfortunately, OpenOffice is not available in the standard Ubuntu repositories, so you must download and install it manually. Below are the steps to install OpenOffice from the official website via the terminal:

Step 1: Launch the terminal by pressing "Ctrl+Alt+T" on your keyboard.

Step 2: Update your system's package list by running the following command:

sudo apt update 

Step 3: Download the OpenOffice installation package by running the following command:

wget

This command will download the OpenOffice installation package (version 4.1.14) for 64-bit Linux in English (en-US).

Step 4: Unzip the downloaded package by running the following command:

cd Downloads 
tar -xvf Apache_OpenOffice_4.1.14_Linux_x86-64_install-deb_en-US.tar.gz

Step 5: Change to the extracted directory with the following command:

cd en-US/DEBS/

Step 6: Install OpenOffice by running the following command:

sudo dpkg -i *.deb

Step 7: Once the installation is complete, navigate to the desktop integration folder by running the following command:

cd desktop-integration/

Step 8: Install the required Debian packages for desktop integration by running the following command:

sudo dpkg -i *.deb

Step 9: Once the installation is complete, you can launch OpenOffice by typing the following command in the Terminal:

soffice 

This will launch the OpenOffice application and you can start using various OpenOffice tools such as Writer, Calc, Impress, Draw or Base.

Please note that the commands above assume that you are installing the English (en-US) version of OpenOffice 4.1.14 on a 64-bit Linux system. If you need another language or version, please visit Apache OpenOffice official website to find the appropriate download link and modify the commands accordingly.

Method 2: Using the Software Center

Another way to install OpenOffice on Ubuntu is by using the Software Center. Here are the steps to follow:

Step 1: Click on the Ubuntu Software icon on the left side of the screen.

Step 2: Search for "OpenOffice" in the search bar.

Step 3: Click on the "OpenOffice" icon and then on the "Install" button. (Install button is not showing as I already have it installed)

Step 4: Once the installation is complete, you can launch OpenOffice by finding it in the Activity menu or by typing "soffice" in the Terminal.

Method 3: Download from the OpenOffice website

You can also download OpenOffice directly from the OpenOffice website. Following are the steps to follow:

Step 1: Go to OpenOffice website and click the "Download" button.

Step 2: Select the version of OpenOffice you want to download and click the Download button.

Step 3: Once the download is complete, navigate to the downloaded file and double click it to start the installation process.

Step 4: Follow the instructions on the screen to complete the installation.

OpenOffice, in general, is a powerful and versatile office suite that offers a range of features and tools for word processing, spreadsheets, presentations, graphics, and databases. Its free and open source nature makes it a great alternative to proprietary office suites. Compatibility with multiple platforms and file formats makes it easy to share and collaborate with other users. By following the installation methods described in this article, you can easily install and use OpenOffice on Ubuntu and take advantage of its many features and benefits.

How to use OpenOffice

Now that you've installed OpenOffice on Ubuntu, let's take a quick look at how to use it. Here are some tips to help you get started:

Launch OpenOffice by finding it in the "Activities" menu or by typing "soffice" in the Terminal.

Select the application you want to use (Writer, Calc, Impress, Draw or Base) from the main menu.

Use the toolbar and menu options to format a document, spreadsheet, presentation, graphic, or database.

Save your work regularly by clicking the Save button or using the keyboard shortcut Ctrl+S. Export a document, spreadsheet, presentation, graphic or database to a file format that can be shared with others.

Conclusion

OpenOffice is a powerful and versatile software suite that offers a range of word processing, spreadsheet, presentation, graphics, and database tools. It is a great alternative to proprietary office suites like Microsoft Office and is widely used by businesses and individuals around the world. In this article, we have looked at the various methods of installing OpenOffice on Ubuntu, its advantages and disadvantages. We also discussed its features and how to use it.

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