calligrastage

Launch the presentation application

$ calligrastage

$ calligrastage [path/to/presentation]

$ calligrastage --[help|version]

calligrastage [Qt-options] [KDE-options] [options] [file...]

file...
    Specifies one or more paths to presentation files (e.g., ODP, PPTX) to be opened upon application launch.

--help
    Displays a help message about general Qt and KDE command-line options and exits.

--version
    Prints the application's version information and exits.

--author
    Shows information about the application's author(s) and exits.

--license
    Displays the licensing terms under which the application is distributed and exits.

--desktop desktopentry
    Specifies the desktop entry file name to use for the application.

--caption caption
    Sets the specified caption as the title in the application's window title bar.

--icon icon
    Uses the specified icon file as the application's window icon.

--geometry geometry
    Sets the initial size and position of the application's main window (e.g., 1024x768+100+100).

--display displayname
    Connects to the X server specified by displayname.

--config file
    Uses an alternative configuration file instead of the default.

--stylesheet file
    Applies a custom stylesheet from the specified file to the application.

calligrastage is the powerful presentation application within the Calligra Suite, a comprehensive office suite developed by KDE. It allows users to create professional and engaging multimedia presentations from scratch or by importing existing files. Key features include a robust slide editor, support for rich text, integration of images, charts, and various media types, as well as advanced vector graphics capabilities inherited from the Calligra framework.

Users can design master slides for consistent branding, apply a wide range of transitions and animations, and export presentations to various formats, including the OpenDocument Presentation (ODP) format, and import/export from Microsoft PowerPoint (PPTX). Its intuitive user interface, coupled with its focus on open standards and integration with the KDE desktop environment, makes it a viable choice for students, educators, and business professionals seeking a free and open-source alternative to proprietary presentation software.

calligrastage is primarily a graphical user interface (GUI) application. Its command-line interface is limited to opening files, displaying help/version information, and basic X/KDE environment configuration. Most functionality, such as creating content, editing slides, or managing presentations, is accessible only through the GUI. Performance may vary depending on system resources, especially with large presentations or complex graphics. Compatibility with presentations created in other office suites (e.g., Microsoft PowerPoint, LibreOffice Impress) is generally good but may occasionally show minor formatting discrepancies.

Unlike many command-line utilities, calligrastage's primary interaction model is through its graphical user interface. Command-line options are mainly for initial setup or opening specific files, with all creative and editing tasks performed within the application window. Users are expected to launch the application and then utilize its menus, toolbars, and canvas for presentation creation and management.

calligrastage is a core component of the Calligra Suite, an office suite forked from KOffice in 2010. KOffice, which began development in 1997, aimed to provide a free and open-source office solution for the KDE desktop environment. The fork to Calligra was initiated to allow for more rapid development, a focus on modern technologies, and a broader scope beyond traditional office documents, including applications for graphic design and project management.

Stage, as the presentation application, inherited its foundational code from KOffice's KPresenter. Since the Calligra fork, it has undergone continuous development, focusing on improving user experience, feature parity with proprietary alternatives, and robust support for the OpenDocument Format (ODF), aligning with the open standards movement. Its development is closely tied to the KDE community and its release cycles.

calligra(1), calligrawords(1), calligrasheets(1), libreoffice(1), libreoffice-impress(1), okular(1)