LibreOffice What is it, what is it for and what are the best programs in this office suite?

Today, Linux is listed as one of the most powerful operating systems on the market, thanks to its peculiarities and its excellent future prospects. Since, it consists of a system that is distinguished by its independence, security, solidity and adaptability. Other than that, it’s an OS multitask Y multiuser that has captured the attention of millions of people around the world.

On the other hand, mainly Linux stands out for offering the possibility of interact with the system through a command line in the so-called linux-shell. Which guarantees greater comfort and ease for users to carry out the actions they want quickly. And if that was not enough, allows you to use a recognized office suite that is known as “LibreOffice”.

Now, since Libre Office is a powerful tool that provides excellent tools for people to unleash their creativity and increase their productivity on Linux, it is essential to know what it is and what it is for. Which we will detail below. along with the programs it contains and the differences it exhibits around OpenOffice.

What is LibreOffice and what is this program package for?

Basically, Libre Office is defined as a free office suite that was developed by The Document Foundation and works on many types of computers and operating systems, such as Linux, Windows and Mac. In that sense, it is available in more than 30 languages, in addition to that, it can be freely downloaded, installed and distributed. Assessing that it is open source and its environment is programmed in the computer languages ​​Java, Python and C++.

Added to this, given that Libre Office It is a free office automation software that has several applications and each of them supports a particular type of use, This tool is used to carry out different tasks.. Either process texts with writer, edit spreadsheets with calc, create presentations with print, manage databases with base, modify vector graphics with Draw and manage mathematical formulas with Math.

For its part, Libre Office can be used with OpenOffice manuals, extensions, document templates, macros, help and discussion forums, no inconvenience. Thanks to, was designed by the same members of the OpenOffice.org project who formed the group “The Document Foundation” with the aim of improving this suite so that it would be independent of any provider and thus provide a package of programs suitable for achieve greater professional productivity.

What are the main features of LibreOffice? How is it different from other similar software?

Beyond being characterized as free software to perform office tasks through any operating system without any restrictions, LibreOffice also reveals additional features that are of great interest.

Since, with them, it manages to distinguish itself from other similar office packages and that is why, here we detail these main characteristics:

• It is a software package completely freeso there are no costs to obtain your license.
• How do you have a public license? LGPL, Libre Office can be used, customized, modified and copied with free user assistance. In addition to that, it offers developer support through an active global community.
• Default, Libre Office is available on platforms like Microsoft Windows, MacOS and GNU/Linux distributions. It can even run on the architectures x86 and x86-64.
• Does not reveal language barriers, because is available in 30 languages and even more are being added all the time.
• As to your user interface, we emphasize that it is of great quality and presents a powerful platform to simplify the user experience. Thanks to that, it is also easy to customize.
• It has compatibility with file formats of its main competitors and, therefore, allows you to import files or save them in a different format whenever necessary. For example: Word, Excel, PowerPoint, CorelDraw, etc.

On the other hand, in view of the prodigious characteristics exhibited by freeoffice, this is estimated as an office software that reveals notable advantages for its users.

Next, we mention what these pros are:

• Security and peace of mind: Users can rest assured that they will be using a legal version of the software without any functional limitations. In addition to this, it has a permanent update service that avoids virus vulnerabilities.
• Flexibility and cost and investment savings: Since it is a completely free office suite, it is flexible for all users. This will result in great financial savings that cannot be purchased with other similar office software.
• Stability: Another point in favor of this office suite is that it provides remarkable stability by its ability to handle documents of hundreds of pages or with large amounts of images. Thus, the RAM memory of the operating system is the main limitation for it.
• Anti planned obsolescence: In addition to LibreOffice being cross-platform, it provides programmed anti-obsolescence. Which, allows you to run the program on older hardware without the need for an update in the operating systems on a constant basis.
• extensions: Fortunately, through extensions, all programmers can extend or improve the functionalities of the free applications of this software. These extensions work as plugins that are installed additionally to add extra functionality to the standard suite.
• Common code and interfaces between applications: By nature, the LibreOffice programs have been designed to share as much code as possible and thanks to this, the package occupies less disk space and reveals a higher speed on the same machine. Apart from that, this feature offers more similarities in terms of menus, windows, dialogs, etc.

List of all programs included in the LibreOffice office suite

Throughout the post, we have pointed out that Libre Office it is composed for various tools or programs that facilitate the execution of different tasks or office actions. However, in detail many users do not know what software they are or what they are for.

Therefore, below, we will mention each and every one of the programs included in the LibreOffice office suite:

Writer

East is he word processor contained within LibreOffice and thus, it is characterized as a software suitable for the creation, editing and layout of text documents in different formats. Therefore, it is used as a tool to make a quick letter or even to produce an entire book with the tables of contents, necessary illustrations, bibliography and diagrams to present.

Added to this, LibreOffice Writer offers the possibility of password protect documents, add digital signatures, use symbols, formulas, charts, spreadsheets, forms, bookmarks, hyperlinks, etc. And if that was not enough, features autocomplete as you type and automatic spell checking. It is a tool that allows you to export text files in PDF formats and the HTML-extension without additional software, it is even able to function as an editor to create and edit web pages.

calc

It consists of a spreadsheet that operates as an application for manipulation and computation of numerical and alphanumeric data presented in the form of tables. In this way, it facilitates the analysis of data and the presentation of its final results. through 2D and 3D graphics. In addition to this, it allows adding data from external databases and offers the possibility of open or edit files in Excel format without any limitations.

Among other features, Calc has a system that manages to define series of graphs based on the provision of user information, automatically. Added to that, it comes configured with a PDF file creator and, therefore, has the ability to distribute documents that can be opened and read by users on any device. It should be noted that, likewise, allows you to export spreadsheets in PDF format in order to provide greater confidentiality.

Print

It is a utility that offers all common multimedia presentation tools. This means that it consists of a program that allows you to create multimedia presentations quickly and easily, just as it happens with Microsoft PowerPoint, for example. So, by default, Impress provides special effects, animation, and drawing tools in order to obtain quality results.

In addition to this, it should be noted that, its original format is ODP and, in addition, it allows exporting the presentations to the SWF format so that playable on any computer with a Flash player installed. On the other hand, Impress is able to read and write in the PPT file format that corresponds to PowerPoint and even manages to export its original files in pdf format. It should be noted that it is also integrated with the advanced graphic functions corresponding to the Draw and Math components of LibreOffice.

Base

East is the database software that contains LibreOffice and has a similar operation to Microsoft Access. In this sense, LibreOffice Base is characterized by providing tools for daily work regarding databases within a simple interface. Thanks to that, facilitates the creation and editing of forms, queries, tables, reports, relationships, views, etc.. In other words, it simplifies the management and handling of databases in an intuitive way.

In addition to this, Base has the ability to analyze and edit relationships through a diagram view. Additionally, by default, it adds HSWLDB as its relational database engine and its original extension is ODB. As if that were not enough, he has the ability to work as a “front end” for different database systems, such as: Access (JET), MySQL/PostgreSQL and ODBC data source.

drawing

is defined as a vector graphics editor and as a diagramming tool. Therefore, it offers the necessary utilities to create diagrams and drawings from scratch without any complications. Be it simple diagrams, flowcharts and even 3D artistic drawings. So it’s a program similar to Microsoft Publisher and Scribus desktop software.

For its part, Draw has a peculiarity that distinguishes it from the rest and refers to the Smart Connector that contains, which allows you to define your own connection points to obtain much more simplicity when making or building the required graphics. It should be noted that it has the ability to import graphics from the most common formats and save them in more than 20 different configurations (HTML, PDF, PNG and Flash).

Math

It is based on a formula or equation editor that offers the possibility of quickly create, design, edit, and display mathematical, chemical, scientific, or electrical equations in a standard written notation. To be able to do this, the LibreOffice program makes use of a markup language whose original extension is .ODF. Thanks to this, Math can be used to create complex formulas that contain characters not available for the standard font set.

Now, all the formulas designed by means of Math, can be used in other LibreOffice documents and this gives the user the possibility of embedding them in the document as objects; for example, in the word processor of the office suite. Among other details, it is worth noting that Math supports numerous fonts and is able to export the equations to other file formats like PDF, ODF, MathML, etc..

LibreOffice vs OpenOffice Which is better and how are they different?

Also know as “Apache OpenOffice”OpenOffice is an office package that has a set of computer programs through which it is possible to develop different tasks in favor of create, edit and store documents to be used in the workplace or business. Which operates as free software and has open source because is based on the collaboration of users. Now, given that it works as an office suite that allows you to process texts, manage spreadsheets.

Also make presentations, manage databases and design formulas, OpenOffice is remarkably similar to LibreOffice. Taking into account that both are available on Linux, Windows and MacOS, in addition to the fact that share most of the code. However, despite their similarity, the truth is that these two office software can be differentiated from one another based on several parameters. Thus, it is possible to define which is better between the two in order to acquire a better user experience.

Here are the main distinctions between LibreOffice and OpenOffice:

license types

While it is true, Open Office Y Libre Office have been developed under the same foundations. Since, the OpenOffice sidebar code was incorporated by LibreOffice. However, by nature, OpenOffice uses the Apache license and, instead, LibreOffice uses a dual license LGPLv3 and MPL.

Reason why, even though Libre Office you can take the code from Open Office and add it to your office suite, This can not happen otherwise. Because of this, while Libre Office you will have the power to implement any idea instantly with the same code of OpenOffice, the latter will not be able to carry it out due to the type of license it uses. Thanks to this, in terms of license, LibreOffice is much more versatile and advantageous.

Interface

Both LibreOffice and OpenOffice have the same launcher through which it is possible to run the program you need at any given time. However, regarding his appearance, the characteristic interface of OpenOffice differs markedly from that of LibreOffice. Since, the latter has a side panel.

In that sense, the LibreOffice interface it is much more modern, attractive and clean than that of OpenOffice. Whereas, the OpenOffice interface looks more obsolete as it does not present notable renovations by Apache. Also, LibreOffice allows you to customize the appearance in a remarkable way and therefore, it also takes the lead in this aspect.

Consumption and performance

In terms of consumption and memory load, OpenOffice is characterized by being an office suite that does not occupy the entire memory of the system and only, it focuses on loading the program that the user is going to execute. Thanks to that, the consumption that reveals it is not excessive and as a consequence, it works even better regardless of the hardware (even on older computers).

On the other hand, LibreOffice is an office suite that, by default, usually loads the entire suite into the computer’s memory. Which means that no matter what application you use, the tool will be loaded in its entirety and therefore, it will be necessary. reserve between 200 and 500 MB in RAM just for it, other than that it is a Java dependent utility. Which, minimizes its performance by revealing higher consumption and therefore, he sins in this respect.

Format Compatibility

Another parameter to distinguish between Libre Office Y OpenOffice, refers to the supported formats in each of them. Thus, even though Both programs use ODF or “Open Document Format” formats.the truth is that LibreOffice also has compatibility with Microsoft Office configurations.

This allows you open, view and save documents created in Word, Excel, PowerPoint, etc.. Instead, although OpenOffice has the ability to open Office documents in their new format, Unfortunately, it does not offer the required option to save these formats without any restrictions..

So, its compatibility with Office is not complete and this, decreases its capacity in a certain way. Therefore, as far as compatibility with Office formats is concerned, LibreOffice gains the upper hand compared to OpenOffice. Taking into account that said compatibility is absolute and does not reveal any type of error when storing the documents in question.

Installation and space requirements

Specifically, OpenOffice requires some installation time equal to 5 minutes and 20 seconds and on the other hand, Libre Office has revealed a shorter duration that exhibits only 3 minutes and 45 seconds.

Whereas, these times have been obtained during the recommended installation test for both suites; which provides a shortcut icon to the desktop. Now, after completing the installation processes for both office suites, OpenOffice reveals a memory space of 301 MB and with the sum of other components around 400MB.

While, by default, LibreOffice requires 574 MB because the help files must be uploaded separately, even if it is distributed as an original package. Thus, ultimately, OpenOffice requires less disk space than LibreOfficebut the latter has the ability to be installed on any operating system much faster. Which means that, despite the fact that its space requirement is greater, the truth is that it compensates this with the speed it exhibits at the time of installation.

The portable versions

Both LibreOffice and OpenOffice are provided in portable versions and in view of this, both tools provide a great advantage over Microsoft’s office suite. Therefore, they guarantee an optimal alternative when carrying out its installation through a pendrive that avoid dependency on other English installations, for example.

Now, comparing OpenOffice with LibreOffice, we highlight that the first supplies several packages according to each language; instead, LibreOffice is a multilingual universal package that is distributed in such a way. Reason for which, Libre Office reveals a greater benefit than Open Office being marketed that way resulting in a much more suitable and practical solution.

conclusion

In general terms, LibreOffice is an office suite that provides greater advantages to users. Since, although these two suites show similar interfaces and a very similar operation, certainly, LibreOffice is a more modern solution than OpenOffice.

Apart from that, Libre Office it has more frequent updates, it is distributed as a universal package, it is much more efficient, is capable of implementing OpenOffice novelties without license problems and it has a larger community of developers working towards making it powerful software. Whereas, OpenOffice is considered obsolete and it lacks certain features that are ideal for considering it as a complete alternative today.