calligrawords

Launch the word processor application

$ calligrawords

$ calligrawords [path/to/document]

$ calligrawords --[help|version]

calligrawords [options] [file(s)...]
calligrawords [--help|-h|--version]

The file(s) argument specifies one or more document paths to open upon launching the application. If no files are specified, Calligra Words will open with a new, empty document.

file(s)...
    Specifies one or more document files to be opened when Calligra Words starts. These files will be loaded into separate document windows or tabs.

--help, -h
    Displays a concise help message with available command-line options and then exits.

--version
    Shows the application's version information and then exits.

Standard Qt/KDE options...
    Calligra Words supports many standard options provided by the Qt framework and KDE Plasma desktop environment for controlling window behavior, display, and session management. These include options like --display for X display, --geometry for window size and position, and others, though specific application-level options are minimal.

Calligra Words is the full-featured word processing application that is part of the Calligra Suite, an integrated office productivity suite developed by KDE. It provides a robust environment for creating, editing, and formatting documents, ranging from simple letters to complex reports and books.

Users can incorporate text, images, tables, and various graphical elements within their documents. Words supports the Open Document Format (ODF) as its native file format, ensuring interoperability with other office suites like LibreOffice. Additionally, it offers capabilities for importing and exporting documents in various formats, including Microsoft Word's DOCX. While primarily a graphical user interface (GUI) application, Calligra Words can be launched from the command line, often with options to open specific files or control display settings.

Calligra Words is fundamentally a graphical application; its command-line interface is primarily for launching the GUI and opening files, not for headless processing or complex scripting. It requires a graphical environment (X or Wayland) and the necessary KDE/Qt libraries to function. Its availability depends on your Linux distribution's package repositories and whether the Calligra Suite is installed.

Calligra Words uses the Open Document Format (ODF) as its native file format, specifically the ODT (Open Document Text) variant. This commitment to an open standard ensures compatibility and interoperability with other ODF-compliant office applications, such as LibreOffice Writer. While ODF is preferred, Calligra Words also provides import and export filters for proprietary formats like Microsoft Word's DOCX, though fidelity can vary with complex documents.

Calligra Words traces its roots back to KWord, the word processing component of the KOffice suite, which was the original office suite for the KDE desktop environment. In 2010, the KOffice project underwent a significant architectural rewrite, leading to the creation of the Calligra Suite, with KWord being refactored and renamed to Calligra Words. This transition aimed to improve adherence to open standards like ODF, enhance extensibility, and streamline the codebase. While KOffice development eventually ceased, the Calligra Suite continued, focusing on unique features, robust ODF support, and integration within the KDE ecosystem.

libreoffice --writer, abiword, calligrasheets(1), calligraplan(1), kword(1)