libreoffice

free, open-source office productivity suite including word processor

TLDR

Open a document

$ libreoffice [path/to/document]

Convert document to PDF

$ libreoffice --headless --convert-to pdf [document.docx]

Convert to another format

$ libreoffice --headless --convert-to [xlsx] [spreadsheet.ods]

Convert multiple files

$ libreoffice --headless --convert-to pdf [*.docx]

Specify output directory

$ libreoffice --headless --convert-to pdf --outdir [/output] [document.docx]

Start Writer (word processor)

$ libreoffice --writer

Start Calc (spreadsheet)

$ libreoffice --calc

Start Impress (presentations)

$ libreoffice --impress

SYNOPSIS

libreoffice [--headless] [--convert-to format] [--outdir path] [--writer|--calc|--impress|--draw] [options] [files]

LibreOffice is a free, open-source office productivity suite including word processor (Writer), spreadsheet (Calc), presentation software (Impress), drawing application (Draw), formula editor (Math), and database manager (Base).
The command line enables powerful automation. The --headless mode runs without GUI, essential for server-side document conversion. Combined with --convert-to, it can batch-convert documents between formats - commonly used for generating PDFs from various office documents.
Conversion supports filters for fine-tuned output. Format:filter syntax (e.g., csv:Text - txt - csv (StarCalc)) allows specifying exact export options. Available filters depend on installed components.
For scripting, LibreOffice supports macros in Basic, Python, JavaScript, and BeanShell. The UNO API provides programmatic document manipulation. Combined with headless mode, this enables document generation pipelines.
The quickstarter feature keeps LibreOffice partially loaded for faster document opening, useful on systems where it's frequently used.

PARAMETERS

--headless

Run without GUI (for conversion/scripting).

--convert-to format[:filter]

Convert to specified format and exit.

--outdir path

Output directory for converted files.

--writer

Open LibreOffice Writer.

--calc

Open LibreOffice Calc.

--impress

Open LibreOffice Impress.

--draw

Open LibreOffice Draw.

--math

Open LibreOffice Math.

--base

Open LibreOffice Base.

--print-to-file file

Print to file instead of printer.

--infilter filter

Force input filter.

-n, --new

Open new empty document.

-o, --view

Open in read-only mode.

--safe-mode

Start in safe mode (disabled extensions).

--nofirststartwizard

Skip first-start wizard.

--quickstart

Enable quickstarter.

--terminate_after_init

Exit after loading (for testing).

--help

Display help.

CONVERSION FORMATS

pdf

PDF document.

html

HTML web page.

docx

Microsoft Word 2007+.

doc

Microsoft Word 97-2003.

xlsx

Microsoft Excel 2007+.

xls

Microsoft Excel 97-2003.

pptx

Microsoft PowerPoint 2007+.

odt

OpenDocument Text.

ods

OpenDocument Spreadsheet.

csv

Comma-separated values.

txt

Plain text.

CAVEATS

Headless conversion requires the full LibreOffice installation. Some complex documents may not convert perfectly. Conversion spawns a separate process - watch memory usage with many files. Filter syntax can be complex. Some features require Java runtime.

HISTORY

LibreOffice was created in 2010 as a fork of OpenOffice.org after Oracle acquired Sun Microsystems. The Document Foundation was established to guide development. It has become the leading open-source office suite, included by default in most Linux distributions and available for Windows and macOS.