The root of Apache OpenOffice (AOO) go back more than 20 years. It came out of the OpenOffice.org (OOo) project, which was an open source version of StarOffice. Millions of users have used it. It was once the default productivity suite in all Linux systems, including Ubuntu. It compatible with almost all major office suites, including Microsoft Office.
Until few years ago, after Oracle bought Sun Microsystem, the parent company of OpenOffice, some developers left the OpenOffice project and created a a new project called LibreOffice. Soon after, most Linux distributions, including Ubuntu followed and made LibreOffice the default productivity suite we now have today.
I am not going to tell you whether you should choose Apache OpenOffice over LibreOffice and vice versa. What I am going to show you is how to install Apache OpenOffice in Ubuntu and make it your default productivity suite.
Since LibreOffice and Apache OpenOffice can’t live on the same machine, you will have to completely remove LibreOffice and install AOO.
To get started, press Ctrl – Alt – T on your keyboard to open the terminal. When it opens, run the commands below to completely remove LibreOffice.
sudo apt-get remove --purge libreoffice* libexttextcat-data* && sudo apt-get autoremove
Next, change into the Downloads folder of your home directory. Or the ~/tmp folder.
cd ~/Downloads
Then download the 32-bit version of AOO (US English). The current version as of this writing is version 3.4.1.
wget http://downloads.sourceforge.net/project/openofficeorg.mirror/stable/3.4.1/Apache_OpenOffice_incubating_3.4.1_Linux_x86_install-deb_en-US.tar.gz
The 64-bit version (US English) can be downloaded using the commands below
wget http://sourceforge.net/projects/openofficeorg.mirror/files/stable/3.4.1/Apache_OpenOffice_incubating_3.4.1_Linux_x86-64_install-deb_en-US.tar.gz
After downloading, run the commands below to extract the downloaded folder.
tar -xvf Apache_OpenOffice_incubating_3.4.1_Linux_x86_install-deb_en-US.tar.gz
Next, run the commands below to install Apache OpenOffice Suite
sudo dpkg -i en-US/DEBS/*.deb
Finally, go into the desktop-integration folder of the DEBS folder and run the commands below.
sudo dpkg -i en-US/DEBS/desktop-integration/*.deb
That’s it! Go to Dash and launch the program.
If the above links don’t work in downloading OpenOffice, here’s the download page. Use it to download language-specific version.
http://www.openoffice.org/download/other.html
To revert the changes and completely uninstall OpenOffice, run the commands below.
sudo apt-get purge openoffice*.* && sudo apt-get autoremove
To install LibreOffice back in Ubuntu, use the commands below.
sudo apt-get install libreoffice libreoffice-gnome
Enjoy!
Frequently Asked Questions
How to install Apache OpenOffice suite in Ubuntu 12.10 Quantal Quetzal?
To install Apache OpenOffice in Ubuntu 12.10 Quantal Quetzal, you need to first remove LibreOffice completely and then download and install the Apache OpenOffice package following specific commands.
What is the history of Apache OpenOffice and LibreOffice?
Apache OpenOffice originated from OpenOffice.org, which was a version of StarOffice. LibreOffice was created by developers who left the OpenOffice project after Oracle acquired Sun Microsystems. Both are popular office suites for Linux systems like Ubuntu.
Can Apache OpenOffice coexist with LibreOffice on the same machine?
No, Apache OpenOffice and LibreOffice cannot coexist on the same machine. To use Apache OpenOffice, you need to remove LibreOffice completely from your Ubuntu system.
What are the compatibility features of Apache OpenOffice with other office suites?
Apache OpenOffice is compatible with major office suites, including Microsoft Office. Users can seamlessly work with documents, spreadsheets, and presentations across different office suite platforms.
How to download the 32-bit version of Apache OpenOffice in US English?
To download the 32-bit version of Apache OpenOffice in US English, you can use the wget command to fetch the installation package from the official download source.
What steps are involved in extracting and installing Apache OpenOffice in Ubuntu?
After downloading the Apache OpenOffice package, you need to extract the files and then run specific commands to install the suite on your Ubuntu system. The installation process involves using the dpkg command.
Why did most Linux distributions, including Ubuntu, switch to LibreOffice?
After the departure of developers from the OpenOffice project and the emergence of LibreOffice, most Linux distributions, including Ubuntu, chose to make LibreOffice their default productivity suite due to its ongoing development and community support.
Is Apache OpenOffice still a viable option for productivity suites on Ubuntu systems?
While LibreOffice is the default productivity suite on most Linux distributions, including Ubuntu, Apache OpenOffice remains a viable alternative for users who prefer its features and interface.
