libreoffice

Open and edit office documents

TLDR

View documentation for the original command

$ tldr soffice

libreoffice [options] [documents...]
libreoffice --writer [options] [document]
libreoffice --calc [options] [document]
libreoffice --impress [options] [document]
...

PARAMETERS

--help
    Displays a help message with available command-line options.

--writer
    Starts the Writer (word processor) component. Can open a specific document if provided.

--calc
    Starts the Calc (spreadsheet) component. Can open a specific document if provided.

--impress
    Starts the Impress (presentation) component. Can open a specific document if provided.

--draw
    Starts the Draw (vector graphics) component. Can open a specific document if provided.

--base
    Starts the Base (database) component. Can open a specific document if provided.

--math
    Starts the Math (formula editor) component. Can open a specific document if provided.

--print
    Prints the specified document file to the default printer without opening the GUI.

--convert-to [:] [--outdir

]
    Converts the specified document to a different format. Output directory can be specified with --outdir.

--headless
    Starts LibreOffice in a non-graphical user interface mode. Useful for batch processing or server-side conversions.

--safe-mode
    Starts LibreOffice in a special mode for troubleshooting, disabling extensions and resetting user profile settings temporarily.

--nologo
    Suppresses the display of the splash screen during startup.

--norestore
    Prevents the restoration of documents that were open before a crash or normal exit.

--invisible
    Starts LibreOffice completely invisible, even in the background. Often used with --convert-to or --print.

--version
    Displays the LibreOffice version information and exits.

DESCRIPTION

The libreoffice command is the primary entry point for the LibreOffice suite on Linux. LibreOffice is a powerful, free, and open-source office productivity suite, widely used as an alternative to proprietary office software. It encompasses a comprehensive set of applications including Writer (word processing), Calc (spreadsheets), Impress (presentations), Draw (vector graphics and flowcharts), Base (databases), and Math (formula editing).

The command allows users to launch specific LibreOffice applications, open existing documents, or perform various operations like printing, document conversion, and even run the suite in a headless (GUI-less) mode for automation tasks. It supports a wide range of document formats, including those used by Microsoft Office, making it a versatile tool for both personal and professional use.

CAVEATS

While LibreOffice strives for maximum compatibility, complex documents created in proprietary office suites (e.g., Microsoft Office) might experience minor formatting or layout discrepancies upon opening or saving. Performance can sometimes be a concern with extremely large or graphically intensive files. Running multiple instances or specific configurations might require careful management of user profiles to avoid conflicts.

DOCUMENT CONVERSION POWER

The --convert-to option is extremely powerful for batch document processing. It allows users to convert documents between various formats (e.g., DOCX to PDF, ODT to EPUB) from the command line, making it ideal for scripting and automation tasks without requiring user interaction.

PROFILE MANAGEMENT AND TROUBLESHOOTING

LibreOffice stores user-specific configurations and customizations in a 'user profile'. Issues with this profile can sometimes cause crashes or unexpected behavior. The --safe-mode option is invaluable for troubleshooting, allowing you to start LibreOffice with a temporary, clean profile or disable extensions to diagnose problems.

HISTORY

LibreOffice originated as a fork of OpenOffice.org in 2010, following Oracle's acquisition of Sun Microsystems (the then-steward of OpenOffice.org). The Document Foundation was created to govern LibreOffice, ensuring its development would remain independent and community-driven. This move was motivated by a desire for a truly open and vendor-neutral office suite, leading to rapid development, new features, and widespread adoption among open-source enthusiasts and institutions worldwide.