5 stunning issues you are able to do with LibreOffice from the command line

LibreOffice has all of the productiveness options you’d need from an workplace software program suite, making it a preferred open supply various to Microsoft Office or Google Suite. One of LibreOffice’s powers is the flexibility to function from the command line. For instance, Seth Kenlon not too long ago defined how he makes use of a world command-line option to convert multiple files from DOCX to EPUB with LibreOffice. His article impressed me to share another LibreOffice command-line ideas and methods.

Before we take a look at some hidden options of LibreOffice instructions, you want to perceive how you can use choices with functions. Not all functions settle for choices (apart from the fundamentals just like the --help choice, which works in most Linux functions).

$ libreoffice --help

This returns descriptions of different choices LibreOffice accepts. Some functions do not have many choices, however LibreOffice has just a few screens value, so there’s lots to play with.

That stated, listed here are 5 helpful issues you are able to do with LibreOffice on the terminal to make the software program much more helpful.

1. Customize your launch choices

You can modify the way you launch LibreOffice. For occasion, if you wish to open simply LibreOffice’s phrase processor element:

$ libreoffice --writer  #begins the phrase processor

You can open its different elements equally:

$ libreoffice --calc  #begins the Calc doc
$ libreoffice --draw  #begins an empty Draw doc
$ libreoffice --web  #begins and empty HTML doc

You can also entry particular assist recordsdata from the command line:

$ libreoffice --helpwriter

Or for those who need assistance with the spreadsheet utility:

$ libreoffice --helpcalc

You can begin LibreOffice with out the splash display screen:

$ libreoffice --writer --nologo

You may even have it launch minimized within the background whilst you end working in your present window:

$ libreoffice --writer --minimized

2. Open a file in read-only mode

You can open recordsdata in read-only mode utilizing --view to stop by chance making and saving modifications to an necessary file:

$ libreoffice --view instance.odt

three. Open a doc as a template

Have you ever created a doc to make use of as a letterhead or bill type? LibreOffice has a wealthy built-in template system, however you may make any doc a template with the -n choice:

$ libreoffice --writer -n instance.odt

Your doc will open in LibreOffice and you may make modifications to it, however you will not overwrite the unique file while you reserve it.

four. Convert paperwork

When you want to do a small activity like changing a file to a brand new format, it might probably take as lengthy for the appliance to launch because it takes to do the duty. The answer is the --headless choice, which executes LibreOffice processes with out launching the graphical consumer interface.

For instance, changing a doc to EPUB is a fairly easy activity in LibreOffice—nevertheless it’s even simpler with the libreoffice command:

$ libreoffice --headless --convert-to epub instance.odt

Using wildcards means you’ll be able to convert dozens of paperwork without delay:

$ libreoffice --headless --convert-to epub *.odt

You can convert recordsdata to a number of codecs, together with PDF, HTML, DOC, DOCX, EPUB, plain textual content, and plenty of extra.

5. Print from the terminal

You can print LibreOffice paperwork from the command line with out opening the appliance:

$ libreoffice --headless -p instance.odt

This choice prints to the default printer with out opening LibreOffice; it simply sends the doc to your printer.

To print all of the recordsdata in a listing:

$ libreoffice -p *.odt

(More than as soon as, I’ve issued this command after which run out of paper, so be sure you have sufficient paper loaded in your printer earlier than you begin.)

You may print recordsdata to PDF. There’s often no distinction between this and utilizing the --convert-to-pdf choice nevertheless it’s straightforward to recollect:

$ libreoffice --print-to-file instance.odt --headless

Bonus: Flatpak and command choices

If you put in LibreOffice as a Flatpak, all of those command choices work, however you need to go them by Flatpak. Here’s an instance:

$ flatpak run org.libreoffice.LibreOffice --writer

It’s much more verbose than a neighborhood set up, so that you could be impressed to write a Bash alias to make it simpler to work together with LibreOffice instantly.

Surprising terminal choices

Find out how one can lengthen the ability of LibreOffice from the command line by consulting the person pages:

$ man libreoffice

Were you conscious that LibreOffice had such a wealthy set of command-line choices? Have you found different choices that no one else appears to learn about? Share them within the feedback!