[Solved] LibreOffice install removes OpenOffice

[Masse]

Background
I came across OpenOffice a number of years ago, when I still used Windows. Found it was way smoother to use than MS Office, so I switched.

Early 2023, I dumped Windows due to bad performance and security issues, so I replaced it with [L]Ubuntu instead. Unfortunately LibreOffice [LO] was installed by default in Ubuntu and I had to remove it every time. (No, I don't like it, as some stuff are smoother and quicker done in OO4 ... With Ubuntu 24.04 LO is optional.) Quite soon, I discovered some quirks in the Debian version of OO4, that didn't exist in the Windows version.

Have recently been using Calc a lot and discovered yesterday irritating stuff like cells being altered without my interaction, including changing dates and times ... That in addition to empty formatted cells that change to standard after awhile, regardless where ... Cells are not updated when using EXACT [text] function, when inserting or removing cells/columns. (As a result, I had to manually verify every cell of concern; over 1600 rows with one date each. Faster than starting all over in my case ...) It doesn't even update when changing the content in any of the cells ... (and no, I will not report every issue I came across, because that will take way too long time to do it properly and I found ways to avoid most of them ...)

The Issue
Relating to changed cell content, I started to suspect the hardware, so I tried to verify by installing LO and check there. Sure, my spreadsheet works correctly there, but OO4 was removed completely when installing LO ... I never had any issues keeping LO when installing the OS from scratch and installing OO4 afterwards. A short period back in 2023, I had several different Office suits installed at the same time, to check out which best covered my needs, but no clashes what so ever.

Update
When checking with LO, I saved the spreadsheet which caused OO4 to try to recover the file, claimed that the file was created with a newer version, so it requested an update. Difficult, when using the latest version ... Since, OO4 only ask for an update.

[Zizi64]

I suggest you to use the LibreOffice. AOO is a dead project.

viewtopic.php?t=108750

[RoryOF]

Usually one can safely ignore the update request when opening a file previously Saved by LibreOffice. If in any doubt when you do this, do not Save the file from OpenOffice over the existing file; give it a different name.

[Hagar Delest]

+1 for LO.
I have been an AOO diehard for many years but I had to switch few years ago because the pros using LO significantly outnumbered the cons. I have no regret so far. Note: there is a rare bug in the saving process in AOO. Many topics in this forum, so for the mere sake of your files safety, better move to LO.
It is sad that AOO could not keep up with LO but that's the way it is.

[MrProgrammer]

… OO4 was removed completely when installing LO

These are from a web searches. Disclaimer: I do not use Linux and did not review the information in these links.
OpenOffice.org: Linux installations
Ask Ubuntu: Is it possible to install OpenOffice and LibreOffice in parallel?

[Hagar Delest]

The tutorial includes a post about installing both applications: Parallel installations.

But honestly, that's kind of a hassle. Install one and then the portable version of the other. Since there is no portable package for AOO under GNU/Linux AFAIK, install AOO and then the flatpak version of LO.

Please add [Solved] at the beginning of the title in your first post (top of the topic) with the ✎ button if your issue has been fixed.

[Villeroy]

My setup:
Install LibreOffice as primary office suite.
Install OpenOffice without the desktop-integration package.
Add a starter icon manually:

Code: Select all

ln -s /opt/openoffice4/share/xdg/startcenter.desktop ~/.local/share/applications/OpenOffice.desktop

[Masse]

Thank You all for all tips, but LO is not an option for me. I don't need extra work, when doing stuff ...

[Zizi64]

Update
When checking with LO, I saved the spreadsheet which caused OO4 to try to recover the file, claimed that the file was created with a newer version, so it requested an update. Difficult, when using the latest version ... Since, OO4 only ask for an update.

Of course, because the LO uses a newer version of Open Document Format by default, but you can downgrade it in the Settings.

[Villeroy]

When checking with LO, I saved the spreadsheet which caused OO4 to try to recover the file, claimed that the file was created with a newer version, so it requested an update.

OpenOffice finds that this file is written in a newer version of the Open Document Format (ODF) and assumes that there must be some later version of itself because back then, 15 years ago, OpenOffice was the reference implementation of ODF, which is no longer true. ODF is progressing with LibreOffice. The advice to upgrade is pointless.