LibreOffice

Software Overview

LibreOffice is an open-source office suite, similar to Microsoft Office (even the application icon colors match), that allows you to create various types of documents. It descended from OpenOffice.org in 2010 and is closely related to Apache OpenOffice.

LibreOffice consists of the following applications:

• Writer - A word processor
• Calc - A spreadsheet application
• Impress - A presentation creator
• Draw - A vector graphics editor
• Math - A mathematical equation creator
• Base - A database management application

Once you begin creating a document, you’ll find that each application in the suite offers familiar features to the corresponding Microsoft Office application. For example, Writer documents are a substitute for Microsoft Word documents and provide many traditional styles and formatting options, such as fonts, text indentation, table insertion, and the format paintbrush. Calc, which is a substitute for Microsoft Excel, features a similar spreadsheet to Excel but is noticeably missing the macro functionality.

Impress is LibreOffice’s answer to Microsoft PowerPoint and is great for creating basic slide presentations. Draw is comparable to Microsoft Visio and Publisher and is a good option for creating diagrams, even presentations. Base is similar to Microsoft Access, with similar features, such as reports, SQL, and forms. And finally, LibreOffice’s Math application is a useful tool for creating formulas and incorporating them into other LibreOffice suite documents created by Writer and Calc.

Summary

While it doesn’t offer all of the same functions, LibreOffice is an attractive alternative to Microsoft Office. It is compatible with many office productivity formats, including Microsoft Office files, such as .DOCX and .XLSX. If you’re looking for a cost-effective (it is free but is open to donations) office suite solution, LibreOffice is a great option.

Primary File Type

.ODTOpenDocument Text Document

Supported File Types

Additional Related File Types