Related articles * [Apache OpenOffice](/index.php/Apache_OpenOffice "Apache OpenOffice") From [Home - LibreOffice](https://www.libreoffice.org/): *LibreOffice is the free power-packed Open Source personal productivity suite for Windows, Macintosh and Linux, that gives you six feature-rich applications for all your document production and data processing needs: Writer, Calc, Impress, Draw, Math and Base.* ## Contents * [1 Installation](#Installation) * [2 Theme](#Theme) * [2.1 Firefox themes](#Firefox_themes) * [2.2 Disable startup logo](#Disable_startup_logo) * [3 Extension management](#Extension_management) * [4 Language aids](#Language_aids) * [4.1 Spell checking](#Spell_checking) * [4.2 Hyphenation rules](#Hyphenation_rules) * [4.3 Thesaurus](#Thesaurus) * [4.4 Grammar checking](#Grammar_checking) * [4.5 Offline help for en-US](#Offline_help_for_en-US) * [5 Installing macros](#Installing_macros) * [6 Speed up LibreOffice](#Speed_up_LibreOffice) * [7 Troubleshooting](#Troubleshooting) * [7.1 Font substitution](#Font_substitution) * [7.2 Anti-aliasing](#Anti-aliasing) * [7.3 Hanging when using NFSv3 shares](#Hanging_when_using_NFSv3_shares) * [7.4 LibreOffice does not detect my certificates](#LibreOffice_does_not_detect_my_certificates) * [7.5 Run .pps files in edit mode (without slideshow)](#Run_.pps_files_in_edit_mode_.28without_slideshow.29) * [7.6 Exit while pushing the save button](#Exit_while_pushing_the_save_button) * [7.7 Media support](#Media_support) * [7.8 Default paper size in Writer and Draw](#Default_paper_size_in_Writer_and_Draw) * [7.9 LibreOffice toolbars unreadable with dark themes](#LibreOffice_toolbars_unreadable_with_dark_themes) * [7.10 LibreOffice toolbars unreadable with dark Breeze/Plasma 5 theme](#LibreOffice_toolbars_unreadable_with_dark_Breeze.2FPlasma_5_theme) * [7.11 AutoText expected default behaviour not functional in system locales other than en_US](#AutoText_expected_default_behaviour_not_functional_in_system_locales_other_than_en_US) * [8 See also](#See_also) ## Installation [Install](/index.php/Install "Install") one of the following packages: * [libreoffice-fresh](https://www.archlinux.org/packages/?name=libreoffice-fresh) is the feature branch, with new program enhancements. * [libreoffice-still](https://www.archlinux.org/packages/?name=libreoffice-still) is the maintenance branch. **Note:** * In the past, the installation of at least 1 language pack was required. Currently, LibreOffice detects your system defaults; manual installation of a language pack is no longer mandatory. See [help.libreoffice.org](https://help.libreoffice.org/Scalc/cui/ui/optlanguagespage/ignorelanguagechange#User_interface) for additional information. * If you want the UK-English language pack, install [libreoffice-fresh-en-gb](https://www.archlinux.org/packages/?name=libreoffice-fresh-en-gb), not [libreoffice-fresh-uk](https://www.archlinux.org/packages/?name=libreoffice-fresh-uk) (Ukrainian) or [libreoffice-fresh-br](https://www.archlinux.org/packages/?name=libreoffice-fresh-br) (Breton)! * For SDK install [libreoffice-fresh-sdk](https://www.archlinux.org/packages/?name=libreoffice-fresh-sdk). * For Qt and GTK+ visual integration, see [#Theme](#Theme). Check the optional dependencies pacman displays. If you want to use LibreOffice Base, you must install a Java Runtime Environment: see [Java](/index.php/Java "Java"). You may need [hsqldb2-java](https://aur.archlinux.org/packages/hsqldb2-java/) to use [some modules](https://wiki.documentfoundation.org/Base#Java_and_HSQLDB) in LibreOffice Base. ## Theme LibreOffice includes support for [GTK+](/index.php/GTK%2B "GTK+") and [Qt](/index.php/Qt "Qt") theme integration. See also [Uniform look for Qt and GTK applications](/index.php/Uniform_look_for_Qt_and_GTK_applications "Uniform look for Qt and GTK applications"). Toolkit libraries are checked in the following order: ``` gtk3 > gtk > kde4 > generic ``` To force the use of a certain VCL UI interface, use one of the `SAL_USE_VCLPLUGIN=gen`, `SAL_USE_VCLPLUGIN=kde4`, `SAL_USE_VCLPLUGIN=gtk` or `SAL_USE_VCLPLUGIN=gtk3` [environment variables](/index.php/Environment_variables "Environment variables"). These variables can be uncommented in `/etc/profile.d/libreoffice-fresh.sh` or `/etc/profile.d/libreoffice-still.sh`; note that this has no effect using [LXDE](/index.php/LXDE "LXDE") desktop environment since the `SAL_USE_VCLPLUGIN` [environment variable](/index.php/Environment_variable "Environment variable") is afterwards set to `gtk` by the script `/usr/bin/startlxde`. In order to use `gtk3` toolkit with [LXDE](/index.php/LXDE "LXDE") the `SAL_USE_VCLPLUGIN` [environment variable](/index.php/Environment_variable "Environment variable") needs to be set after launching the desktop environment. However, if it looks like it is using Windows 95/98 icons, go to *Tools > Options...* in the menus (which presents the Options Dialog), then select *LibreOffice > Accessibility* and uncheck "Automatically detect high-contrast mode of operating system". If that does not work immediately, you may need to change the icon set that is in use; this is also in the Options Dialog, under *LibreOffice > View* with two pop-up boxes for "Icon size and style" (the latter pop-up box should be changed to something other than "High-contrast"). ### Firefox themes LibreOffice can use Firefox themes. Enter LibreOffice options and choose *Personalization > Select Theme*, then paste the URL of your favourite one. A convenient button in the dialog box lets you open the browser. Themes can be found on [Mozilla's theme repository](https://addons.mozilla.org/firefox/themes/). ### Disable startup logo If you prefer to disable the startup logo, open `/etc/libreoffice/sofficerc`, find the `Logo=` line and set `Logo=0`. **Note:** This variable is unrelated with the Logo scripting support. ## Extension management The following additional extensions are available: * [libreoffice-extension-texmaths](https://www.archlinux.org/packages/?name=libreoffice-extension-texmaths) * [libreoffice-extension-writer2latex](https://www.archlinux.org/packages/?name=libreoffice-extension-writer2latex) For more extensions, check the [AUR](/index.php/AUR "AUR"), the built-in LibreOffice Extension manager, or [libreplanet](https://libreplanet.org/wiki/Group:OpenOfficeExtensions/List). ## Language aids ### Spell checking For spell checking, please make sure [hunspell](https://www.archlinux.org/packages/?name=hunspell) is properly installed; this should be the case for both still and fresh LibreOffice versions. Then install a language dictionary for hunspell like [hunspell-en](https://www.archlinux.org/packages/?name=hunspell-en) for English, [hunspell-de](https://www.archlinux.org/packages/?name=hunspell-de) for German, etc. Then enable the Writing aids by selecting the check-box in *Tools -> Options -> Language Settings -> Writing Aids -> Hunspell SpellChecker* after restarting LibreOffice. Finnish Unlike other languages, Finnish dictionaries use different naming. These four packages should be installed (in this order): [libvoikko](https://www.archlinux.org/packages/?name=libvoikko), [malaga](https://aur.archlinux.org/packages/malaga/), [voikko-fi](https://aur.archlinux.org/packages/voikko-fi/), [hfstospell](https://aur.archlinux.org/packages/hfstospell/) and [voikko-libreoffice](https://aur.archlinux.org/packages/voikko-libreoffice/). Greek Project [Orthos](https://sourceforge.net/projects/orthos-spell/?source=directory) provides more complete Greek spell checkers as Libreoffice extensions. Package [libreoffice-extension-orthos-greek-dictionary](https://aur.archlinux.org/packages/libreoffice-extension-orthos-greek-dictionary/) provides a Greek-only spelling dictionary, while [libreoffice-extension-orthos-greek-english-dictionary](https://aur.archlinux.org/packages/libreoffice-extension-orthos-greek-english-dictionary/) provides one that bundles Greek and US English. ### Hyphenation rules For hyphenation rules, you will need [hyphen](https://www.archlinux.org/packages/?name=hyphen) and a language hyphen rule set ([hyphen-en](https://www.archlinux.org/packages/?name=hyphen-en) for English, [hyphen-de](https://www.archlinux.org/packages/?name=hyphen-de) for German, etc). ### Thesaurus For the thesaurus option, you will need [libmythes](https://www.archlinux.org/packages/?name=libmythes) and a mythes language thesaurus (like [mythes-en](https://www.archlinux.org/packages/?name=mythes-en) for English, [mythes-de](https://www.archlinux.org/packages/?name=mythes-de) for German, etc). Greek For Greek, instead of [mythes-el](https://aur.archlinux.org/packages/mythes-el/) you may want to try out [libreoffice-extension-orthos-greek-thesaurus](https://aur.archlinux.org/packages/libreoffice-extension-orthos-greek-thesaurus/), which includes more words. ### Grammar checking For grammar checking, several tools are available. The most common is [LanguageTool](https://www.languagetool.org/). While the [languagetool](https://www.archlinux.org/packages/?name=languagetool) is available, it is not packaged as a LibreOffice extension. It is thus recommended to install the LibreOffice extension manually or with [libreoffice-extension-languagetool](https://aur.archlinux.org/packages/libreoffice-extension-languagetool/) instead. Even though the extension comes bundled with LanguageTool, this does not conflict with [languagetool](https://www.archlinux.org/packages/?name=languagetool). After this extension has been installed, please make sure you have a [Java](/index.php/Java "Java") 8 runtime installed ([jre8-openjdk](https://www.archlinux.org/packages/?name=jre8-openjdk)). Indeed, Languagetool uses Java and may slow down or briefly hang LibreOffice, particularly while opening documents. Fortunately this is usually only when initially opening a document and is usually not apparent otherwise. Once installed, you want to enable it as the default environment for LibreOffice. To do that go to "Tools" --> "Options" --> "Advanced" and select the appropiate JRE (it will be shown as 1.8.0) then press "Ok". You will be prompted to restart the LibreOffice suite. Once restarted you will be able to install Languagetools without trouble. Other grammar tools can also be found on the [LibrePlanet extension page](https://libreplanet.org/wiki/Group:OpenOfficeExtensions/List), on the [official LibreOffice Extensions website](https://extensions.libreoffice.org/) or [OpenOffice's Website](https://www.openoffice.org/lingucomponent/grammar.html). Please note all OpenOffice extensions are guaranteed to work with LibreOffice. French French-speaking users are advantaged here: they do not need to install LanguageTool nor Java. Dicollecte provides a nice Python extension, specifically designed for Frenchs. You can install it [from the website](https://www.dicollecte.org/grammalecte/telecharger.php) or via [libreoffice-extension-grammalecte-fr](https://aur.archlinux.org/packages/libreoffice-extension-grammalecte-fr/). In any case, this extensions also comes with the French dictionaries otherwise provided by [hunspell-fr](https://www.archlinux.org/packages/?name=hunspell-fr). ### Offline help for en-US As of version 5.2.2, [libreoffice-fresh](https://www.archlinux.org/packages/?name=libreoffice-fresh) provides the offline help files for en-US. Help files for different locales is provided by the appropriate libreoffice language package, (i.e., [libreoffice-fresh-en-za](https://www.archlinux.org/packages/?name=libreoffice-fresh-en-za) provides the help files for en-ZA locales). ## Installing macros If you intend to use macros, you must have a Java Runtime Environment enabled. A Java Runtime Environment is enabled by default, but disabling it [speeds up the program](#Speed_up_LibreOffice). The default path for macros in Arch Linux is different from most Linux distributions. Its location is: `~/.config/libreoffice/4/user/Scripts/`. ## Speed up LibreOffice Some settings may improve LibreOffice's loading time and responsiveness. However, some also increase RAM usage, so use them carefully. They can all be accessed under *Tools > Options*. * Under *Memory*: * Reduce the number of Undo steps to a figure lower than 100, to something like 20 or 30 steps * Under *Graphics cache*, set Use for LibreOffice to 128 MB (up from the original 20 MB) * Set *Memory per object* to 20 MB (up from the default 5 MB). * If LibreOffice is used often, check *Enable systray Quickstarter* * Under *Advanced*, uncheck *Use a Java runtime environment* **Note:** For a list of functionality written in Java only, see: [https://wiki.documentfoundation.org/Development/Java](https://wiki.documentfoundation.org/Development/Java). ## Troubleshooting ### Font substitution These settings can be changed in the LibreOffice options. From the drop-down menu, select *Tools > Options > LibreOffice > Fonts*. Check the box that says *Apply Replacement Table*. Type `Andale Sans UI` in the font box and choose your desired font for the *Replace with* option. When done, click the *checkmark*. Then choose the *Always* and *Screen only* options in the box below. Click OK. You will then need to go to *Tools > Options > LibreOffice > View*, and uncheck "Use system font for user interface". If you use a non-antialised font, such as Arial, you will also need to uncheck "Screen font antialiasing" before menu fonts render correctly. ### Anti-aliasing Execute: ``` $ echo "Xft.lcdfilter: lcddefault" | xrdb -merge ``` To make the change persistent, add `Xft.lcdfilter: lcddefault` to your `~/.Xresources` file, and make sure to run `$ xrdb -merge ~/.Xresources` ([source](https://bugs.launchpad.net/ubuntu/+source/cairo/+bug/271283/comments/23)). See [X resources](/index.php/X_resources "X resources") for more details. If this does not work, you can also try adding `Xft.lcdfilter: lcddefault` to your `~/.Xdefaults`. If you do not have this file, you will have to create it. ### Hanging when using NFSv3 shares If LibreOffice hangs when trying to open or save a document located on a NFSv3 share, try prepending the following lines with a `#` in `/usr/lib/libreoffice/program/soffice`: ``` # file locking now enabled by default SAL_ENABLE_FILE_LOCKING=1 export SAL_ENABLE_FILE_LOCKING ``` To avoid overwriting on update you can copy `/usr/lib/libreoffice/program/soffice` in `/usr/local/bin`. Original post [here](http://195.110.9.173/computing/debian/bugs/openoffice-over-nfs.jspx). ### LibreOffice does not detect my certificates If you cannot see the certificates when trying to sign a document, you will need to have the certificates configured in Mozilla Firefox (or Thunderbird). If after that LibreOffice still does not show them, set the `MOZILLA_CERTIFICATE_FOLDER` environment variable to point to your Mozilla Firefox (or Thunderbird) folder: ``` export MOZILLA_CERTIFICATE_FOLDER=$HOME/.mozilla/firefox/XXXXXX.default/ ``` [Certificate detection](https://wiki.openoffice.org/wiki/Certificate_Detection). ### Run .pps files in edit mode (without slideshow) The only solution is to rename the `.pps` file to `.ppt`. Add the following script to your home directory and use it to open every .pps file. Very useful to open `.pps` files received by email without the need to save them. ``` #!/bin/bash f=$(mktemp --suffix .ppt) cp "$1" "${f}" && libreoffice "${f}" && rm -f "${f}" ``` ### Exit while pushing the save button Try either of the following workarounds: * Delete the `~/.config/libreoffice` folder. It will erase all the settings linked to LibreOffice and so, LibreOffice will recreate them on the next launch. * Go to menu Tools > Options > LibreOffice > General and check `Use LibreOffice dialogs`. * The GTK3 integration provided by `libvclplug_gtk3lo.so` has been identified as the cause of this problem. [[1]](https://forums.opensuse.org/showthread.php/510439-LibreOffice-crashes-when-saving) See [#Theme](#Theme) to use a different VCL, such as `gtk`. ### Media support If embedded videos are just gray boxes, make sure to have installed the [GStreamer plugins](/index.php/GStreamer#Installation "GStreamer") required. ### Default paper size in Writer and Draw If the default paper size in blank Writer and Draw documents is persistently incorrect for your locale, try installing the [libpaper](https://www.archlinux.org/packages/?name=libpaper) optional dependency and either updating `/etc/papersize` (for a system-wide change) or exporting the `PAPERSIZE` environment variable (for a user change) with your preferred paper size. See [papersize(5)](https://jlk.fjfi.cvut.cz/arch/manpages/man/papersize.5). **Note:** [libpaper](https://www.archlinux.org/packages/?name=libpaper) defaults to **Letter** paper size if nothing else has been set. ### LibreOffice toolbars unreadable with dark themes See [https://bugs.documentfoundation.org/show_bug.cgi?id=94632](https://bugs.documentfoundation.org/show_bug.cgi?id=94632) To use toolbar icons compatible with dark themes, set [environment variable](/index.php/Environment_variable "Environment variable") `VCL_ICONS_FOR_DARK_THEME=1` As an alternative workaround, run *libreoffice* with a light theme (e.g. with environment variable `GTK_THEME=Adwaita:light`). ### LibreOffice toolbars unreadable with dark Breeze/Plasma 5 theme If you do not want to install [breeze-gtk](https://www.archlinux.org/packages/?name=breeze-gtk) change the icon style in *Tools > Options > LibreOffice > View > Icon Style* to a readable one provided by LibreOffice. Otherwise [install](/index.php/Install "Install") the Breeze theme for [GTK+](/index.php/GTK%2B "GTK+"), [breeze-gtk](https://www.archlinux.org/packages/?name=breeze-gtk), and, if using a LibreOffice version < 5.3.0, the Breeze dark icons for LibreOffice, [libreoffice-breeze-icons](https://aur.archlinux.org/packages/libreoffice-breeze-icons/). Just enable "Breeze Dark" or another readable icon style in *Tools > Options > LibreOffice > View > Icon Style* then. If that is not enough, ensure that LibreOffice starts using the `gtk` interface - see [#Theme](#Theme). If this still does not work correctly, try using the `gen` interface instead. [[2]](https://bbs.archlinux.org/viewtopic.php?id=206813) ### AutoText expected default behaviour not functional in system locales other than en_US If expected default AutoText behaviour is not present (for example, typing `fn` in a document in Writer and then pressing the `F3` key does not result in the automatic insertion of a numbered function) when the system locale is not `en_US` you need to add the default `en_US` AutoText templates to your AutoText path. To do this, go to *Tools > AutoText*, then click on *Path...* and add the following path to the list: `/usr/lib/libreoffice/share/autotext/en-US`. AutoText should now work as expected by default. ## See also * [Libreoffice Extensions](https://extensions.libreoffice.org/extensions) * [Libreoffice Templates](https://extensions.libreoffice.org/templates) * [Wikipedia:LibreOffice](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/LibreOffice "wikipedia:LibreOffice")