HowTo: Linux Install LibreOffice

How do I install newly released LibreOffice under Debian, Ubuntu or Fedora Linux?

LibreOffice is a productivity suite that is compatible with other major office suites, and available on a variety of platforms. It is free software and therefore free to download, use and distribute. The following software packages are intended to give you a first impression of what LibreOffice is.

WARNING! This beta release is not intended for production use! Be advised that the current beta might replace your OpenOffice.org installation. However, in my testing it did not replaced OpenOffice.org installation.

Install LibreOffice For Debian / Ubuntu Linux

Visit this page and grab the 32 or 64 bit tar ball. You can use the wget command:
$ cd /tmp
$ wget http://download.documentfoundation.org/libreoffice/testing/LO_3.3.0-beta1_Linux_x86_install-deb_en-US.tar.gz
Sample outputs:

Fig.01: Downloading LibreOffice

Untar File

Type the following command:
$ tar -zxvf LO_3.3.0-beta1_Linux_x86_install-deb_en-US.tar.gz
Sample outputs:

en-US/
en-US/DEBS/
en-US/DEBS/desktop-integration/
en-US/DEBS/desktop-integration/libreoffice3.3-debian-menus_3.3-9526_all.deb
en-US/DEBS/libreoffice3-base_3.3.0-7_i386.deb
en-US/DEBS/lobasis3.3-core04_3.3.0-7_i386.deb
en-US/DEBS/libreoffice3-calc_3.3.0-7_i386.deb
en-US/DEBS/lobasis3.3-core07_3.3.0-7_i386.deb
en-US/DEBS/lobasis3.3-xsltfilter_3.3.0-7_i386.deb
en-US/DEBS/lobasis3.3-en-us-calc_3.3.0-7_i386.deb
en-US/DEBS/libreoffice3-math_3.3.0-7_i386.deb
en-US/DEBS/lobasis3.3-extension-presentation-minimizer_3.3.0-7_i386.deb
en-US/DEBS/lobasis3.3-en-us-help_3.3.0-7_i386.deb
en-US/DEBS/lobasis3.3-en-us-math_3.3.0-7_i386.deb
en-US/DEBS/libreoffice3-en-us_3.3.0-7_i386.deb
en-US/DEBS/lobasis3.3-core03_3.3.0-7_i386.deb
en-US/DEBS/lobasis3.3-extension-pdf-import_3.3.0-7_i386.deb
en-US/DEBS/lobasis3.3-en-us-binfilter_3.3.0-7_i386.deb
en-US/DEBS/lobasis3.3-en-us_3.3.0-7_i386.deb
en-US/DEBS/lobasis3.3-pyuno_3.3.0-7_i386.deb
en-US/DEBS/lobasis3.3-ooolinguistic_3.3.0-7_i386.deb
en-US/DEBS/lobasis3.3-ooofonts_3.3.0-7_i386.deb
en-US/DEBS/lobasis3.3-extension-mediawiki-publisher_3.3.0-7_i386.deb
en-US/DEBS/lobasis3.3-core05_3.3.0-7_i386.deb
en-US/DEBS/lobasis3.3-javafilter_3.3.0-7_i386.deb
en-US/DEBS/lobasis3.3-core02_3.3.0-7_i386.deb
en-US/DEBS/lobasis3.3-gnome-integration_3.3.0-7_i386.deb
en-US/DEBS/lobasis3.3-kde-integration_3.3.0-7_i386.deb
en-US/DEBS/libreoffice3-impress_3.3.0-7_i386.deb
en-US/DEBS/lobasis3.3-extension-presenter-screen_3.3.0-7_i386.deb
en-US/DEBS/lobasis3.3-calc_3.3.0-7_i386.deb
en-US/DEBS/lobasis3.3-core06_3.3.0-7_i386.deb
en-US/DEBS/lobasis3.3-en-us-impress_3.3.0-7_i386.deb
en-US/DEBS/lobasis3.3-testtool_3.3.0-7_i386.deb
en-US/DEBS/libreoffice3-draw_3.3.0-7_i386.deb
en-US/DEBS/lobasis3.3-graphicfilter_3.3.0-7_i386.deb
en-US/DEBS/libreoffice-ure_1.7.0-7_i386.deb
en-US/DEBS/libreoffice3-writer_3.3.0-7_i386.deb
en-US/DEBS/lobasis3.3-images_3.3.0-7_i386.deb
en-US/DEBS/lobasis3.3-extension-report-builder_3.3.0-7_i386.deb
en-US/DEBS/lobasis3.3-en-us-draw_3.3.0-7_i386.deb
en-US/DEBS/lobasis3.3-math_3.3.0-7_i386.deb
en-US/DEBS/lobasis3.3-writer_3.3.0-7_i386.deb
en-US/DEBS/libreoffice3_3.3.0-7_i386.deb
en-US/DEBS/lobasis3.3-core01_3.3.0-7_i386.deb
en-US/DEBS/lobasis3.3-ogltrans_3.3.0-7_i386.deb
en-US/DEBS/lobasis3.3-impress_3.3.0-7_i386.deb
en-US/DEBS/lobasis3.3-draw_3.3.0-7_i386.deb
en-US/DEBS/lobasis3.3-en-us-res_3.3.0-7_i386.deb
en-US/DEBS/lobasis3.3-en-us-base_3.3.0-7_i386.deb
en-US/DEBS/lobasis3.3-binfilter_3.3.0-7_i386.deb
en-US/DEBS/lobasis3.3-base_3.3.0-7_i386.deb
en-US/DEBS/lobasis3.3-en-us-writer_3.3.0-7_i386.deb
en-US/licenses/
en-US/licenses/LICENSE_en-US.html
en-US/licenses/LICENSE_en-US
en-US/readmes/
en-US/readmes/README_en-US.html
en-US/readmes/README_en-US
en-US/update

Install LibreOffice

First, update existing OpenOffice.org, enter:
$ cd en-US
$ ./update
Finally, install the same, enter:
$ cd DEBS
$ sudo dpkg -i *.deb
Sample outputs:

Preparing to replace libreoffice3 3.3.0-7 (using libreoffice3_3.3.0-7_i386.deb) ...
Unpacking replacement libreoffice3 ...
Selecting previously deselected package libreoffice3-base.
Unpacking libreoffice3-base (from libreoffice3-base_3.3.0-7_i386.deb) ...
Selecting previously deselected package libreoffice3-calc.
Unpacking libreoffice3-calc (from libreoffice3-calc_3.3.0-7_i386.deb) ...
Selecting previously deselected package libreoffice3-draw.
Unpacking libreoffice3-draw (from libreoffice3-draw_3.3.0-7_i386.deb) ...
Selecting previously deselected package libreoffice3-en-us.
Unpacking libreoffice3-en-us (from libreoffice3-en-us_3.3.0-7_i386.deb) ...
Selecting previously deselected package libreoffice3-impress.
...
..
...
(output truncated)
Setting up lobasis3.3-ogltrans (3.3.0-7) ...
Setting up lobasis3.3-ooofonts (3.3.0-7) ...
Setting up lobasis3.3-ooolinguistic (3.3.0-7) ...
Setting up lobasis3.3-pyuno (3.3.0-7) ...
Setting up lobasis3.3-testtool (3.3.0-7) ...
Setting up lobasis3.3-writer (3.3.0-7) ...
Setting up lobasis3.3-xsltfilter (3.3.0-7) ...
Setting up libreoffice3 (3.3.0-7) ...
Setting up libreoffice3-draw (3.3.0-7) ...
Setting up libreoffice3-en-us (3.3.0-7) ...
Setting up libreoffice3-impress (3.3.0-7) ...
Setting up libreoffice3-math (3.3.0-7) ...
Setting up libreoffice3-writer (3.3.0-7) ...
Setting up lobasis3.3-base (3.3.0-7) ...
Setting up lobasis3.3-binfilter (3.3.0-7) ...
Setting up lobasis3.3-calc (3.3.0-7) ...
Setting up libreoffice3-base (3.3.0-7) ...
Setting up libreoffice3-calc (3.3.0-7) ...
Processing triggers for menu ...

Installation Location

LibreOffice is located at /opt/libreoffice3/ and binaries are stored in /opt/libreoffice3/program/ directory. You need to type the following command to use the same:
$ cd /opt/libreoffice3/program/
Various components:

1. simpress - LibreOffice Impress is a presentation program, similar to Microsoft PowerPoint and Apple Keynote
2. sdraw - LibreOffice Draw is a vector graphics editor application, similar to Microsoft similar features to desktop-publishing software.
3. scalc - LibreOffice Calc is a spreadsheet application, similar to Microsoft Excel and Lotus 1-2-3.
4. swriter - LibreOffice Writer is a word processor application, similar to Microsoft Word and WordPerfect.
5. sbase - LibreOffice Base is a database management program, similar to Microsoft Access.
6. smath - LibreOffice Math is a tool for creating and editing mathematical formula, similar to Microsoft Equation Editor.
7. soffice - LibreOffice

To start LibreOffice Writer, enter:
$ /opt/libreoffice3/program/swriter filename
OR
$ ./swriter
Sample outputs:

Fig.02: Libreoffice Writer a word processor in action

Alternatively, you can type the following and pick program as you like:
./soffice
Sample outputs:

LibreOffice Screenshot

A Note About Fedora Linux (RPM) Installation

Type the following commands to download the same for RPM based distros such as Fedora Linux. All builds are English-only (en-US). Also note that the LibreOffice branding and renaming is new and work in progress. You may still see old graphics, icons or old websites references in help systems. Use the wget command to download rpm tar ball, enter:
$ wget http://download.documentfoundation.org/libreoffice/testing/LO_3.3.0-beta1_Linux_x86_install-rpm_en-US.tar.gz
Use the tar command to untar it, enter:
tar -zxvf LO_3.3.0-beta1_Linux_x86_install-rpm_en-US.tar.gz
Sample outputs:

en-US/
en-US/RPMS/
en-US/RPMS/desktop-integration/
en-US/RPMS/desktop-integration/libreoffice3.3-freedesktop-menus-3.3-9526.noarch.rpm
en-US/RPMS/desktop-integration/libreoffice3.3-mandriva-menus-3.3-9526.noarch.rpm
en-US/RPMS/desktop-integration/libreoffice3.3-redhat-menus-3.3-9526.noarch.rpm
en-US/RPMS/desktop-integration/libreoffice3.3-suse-menus-3.3-9526.noarch.rpm
en-US/RPMS/libreoffice-ure-1.7.0-9526.i586.rpm
en-US/RPMS/lobasis3.3-en-US-help-3.3.0-9526.i586.rpm
en-US/RPMS/lobasis3.3-extension-presentation-minimizer-3.3.0-9526.i586.rpm
en-US/RPMS/lobasis3.3-en-US-base-3.3.0-9526.i586.rpm
en-US/RPMS/lobasis3.3-writer-3.3.0-9526.i586.rpm
en-US/RPMS/lobasis3.3-testtool-3.3.0-9526.i586.rpm
en-US/RPMS/lobasis3.3-en-US-binfilter-3.3.0-9526.i586.rpm
en-US/RPMS/lobasis3.3-images-3.3.0-9526.i586.rpm
en-US/RPMS/libreoffice3-base-3.3.0-9526.i586.rpm
en-US/RPMS/lobasis3.3-draw-3.3.0-9526.i586.rpm
en-US/RPMS/libreoffice3-math-3.3.0-9526.i586.rpm
en-US/RPMS/libreoffice3-impress-3.3.0-9526.i586.rpm
en-US/RPMS/lobasis3.3-gnome-integration-3.3.0-9526.i586.rpm
en-US/RPMS/lobasis3.3-en-US-impress-3.3.0-9526.i586.rpm
en-US/RPMS/lobasis3.3-en-US-3.3.0-9526.i586.rpm
en-US/RPMS/libreoffice3-en-US-3.3.0-9526.i586.rpm
en-US/RPMS/libreoffice3-calc-3.3.0-9526.i586.rpm
en-US/RPMS/lobasis3.3-ogltrans-3.3.0-9526.i586.rpm
en-US/RPMS/lobasis3.3-pyuno-3.3.0-9526.i586.rpm
en-US/RPMS/lobasis3.3-math-3.3.0-9526.i586.rpm
en-US/RPMS/lobasis3.3-calc-3.3.0-9526.i586.rpm
en-US/RPMS/lobasis3.3-core06-3.3.0-9526.i586.rpm
en-US/RPMS/lobasis3.3-kde-integration-3.3.0-9526.i586.rpm
en-US/RPMS/lobasis3.3-ooolinguistic-3.3.0-9526.i586.rpm
en-US/RPMS/lobasis3.3-en-US-draw-3.3.0-9526.i586.rpm
en-US/RPMS/lobasis3.3-en-US-calc-3.3.0-9526.i586.rpm
en-US/RPMS/lobasis3.3-en-US-res-3.3.0-9526.i586.rpm
en-US/RPMS/lobasis3.3-binfilter-3.3.0-9526.i586.rpm
en-US/RPMS/lobasis3.3-en-US-math-3.3.0-9526.i586.rpm
en-US/RPMS/lobasis3.3-impress-3.3.0-9526.i586.rpm
en-US/RPMS/libreoffice3-writer-3.3.0-9526.i586.rpm
en-US/RPMS/lobasis3.3-core02-3.3.0-9526.i586.rpm
en-US/RPMS/lobasis3.3-core03-3.3.0-9526.i586.rpm
en-US/RPMS/lobasis3.3-base-3.3.0-9526.i586.rpm
en-US/RPMS/lobasis3.3-extension-pdf-import-3.3.0-9526.i586.rpm
en-US/RPMS/lobasis3.3-javafilter-3.3.0-9526.i586.rpm
en-US/RPMS/lobasis3.3-core04-3.3.0-9526.i586.rpm
en-US/RPMS/lobasis3.3-ooofonts-3.3.0-9526.i586.rpm
en-US/RPMS/lobasis3.3-extension-mediawiki-publisher-3.3.0-9526.i586.rpm
en-US/RPMS/lobasis3.3-en-US-writer-3.3.0-9526.i586.rpm
en-US/RPMS/lobasis3.3-extension-report-builder-3.3.0-9526.i586.rpm
en-US/RPMS/lobasis3.3-core07-3.3.0-9526.i586.rpm
en-US/RPMS/lobasis3.3-extension-presenter-screen-3.3.0-9526.i586.rpm
en-US/RPMS/libreoffice3-3.3.0-9526.i586.rpm
en-US/RPMS/lobasis3.3-core05-3.3.0-9526.i586.rpm
en-US/RPMS/lobasis3.3-graphicfilter-3.3.0-9526.i586.rpm
en-US/RPMS/lobasis3.3-xsltfilter-3.3.0-9526.i586.rpm
en-US/RPMS/libreoffice3-draw-3.3.0-9526.i586.rpm
en-US/RPMS/lobasis3.3-core01-3.3.0-9526.i586.rpm
en-US/licenses/
en-US/licenses/LICENSE_en-US.html
en-US/licenses/LICENSE_en-US
en-US/readmes/
en-US/readmes/README_en-US.html
en-US/readmes/README_en-US
en-US/update

Type the following commands:
# cd en-US
# ./update
# cd RPMS
# rpm -ivh *.rpm
All binaries are located at /opt/libreoffice3/program directory. To start LibreOffice, enter:
$ /opt/libreoffice3/program/soffice

Can I Run LibreOffice And OpenOffice.Org?

Yes, you can run the both as they are installed in different directories:

• OpenOffice.Org Location: /usr/lib/openoffice/program/
• LibreOffice Location: /opt/libreoffice3/program/

To start OO calc, enter:
/usr/lib/openoffice/program/scalc
To start LibreOffice calc, enter:
/opt/libreoffice3/program/scalc
Sample outputs:

Fig.04: OpenOffice.Org vs LibreOffice