LibreOffice Writer
| Company type | Open-source software |
|---|---|
| Industry | Word processing software |
| Predecessor | OpenOffice.org Writer |
| Founder | The Document Foundation |
| Products | Word processing and desktop publishing application |
| Owner | The Document Foundation |
| Website | www |
LibreOffice Writer serves as the open-source and cost-free word processing and desktop publishing application within the LibreOffice package, created by The Document Foundation. It originated as a derivative of OpenOffice.org Writer and provides functionalities and file compatibility comparable to Microsoft Word and Corel's WordPerfect.
Distributed under the Mozilla Public License version 2.0, Writer operates across various operating systems such as Linux, FreeBSD, macOS, and Microsoft Windows. Additional platforms receive support through community-developed builds. The ecosystem collaborator Collabora utilizes LibreOffice’s core codebase to deliver mobile applications compatible with Android, iOS, iPadOS, and ChromeOS. Furthermore, LibreOffice Online enables cloud-based access to Writer, Calc, and Impress, functioning as the foundation for commercial offerings like Collabora Online.
Key capabilities
- Writer can open and save a variety of file types, including the default OpenDocument format (ODT), as well as Microsoft Word formats (DOC, DOCX), RTF, and XHTML.
- Integrated spelling and grammar checking powered by (Hunspell).
- Equipped with drawing tools, form creation features, calculation utilities, and an equation editor.
- Export options encompass standard and hybrid PDFs (which include attached ODF sources) along with fillable PDF forms.
- Supports importing and editing of PDF documents.
- Provides visual editing capabilities for HTML and XHTML files with WYSIWYG functionality.
- Enables exporting to HTML, XHTML, XML, and ebook formats such as EPUB.
- Facilitates creation of tables of contents, indexes, and bibliographies.
- Offers document signing, password protection, and encryption via public-key cryptography (GPG).
- Revision management tools include change tracking and document comparison features.
- Integrates with databases for bibliography management.
- Includes MailMerge capabilities for generating form letters, mailing labels, and envelopes.
- Supports scripting and remote control through the UNO API.
- Allows manual adjustment of OpenType stylistic sets and character variants via font window controls.
Supported file formats
Microsoft Word versions 97–2003 Microsoft Word from 2007 onwards Microsoft Works (word processing) Microsoft WriteOpenDocument (word processing) OpenOffice.org XML (word processing) Plain text TXT Yes Supports multiple encodings Software602 (T602) 602, TXT Yes StarOffice StarWriter versions 3/4/5 SDW, SGL, VOR Dropped in version 4.0; reintroduced in 5.3; supports up to version 3.6 Unified Office Format (word processing) UOT Yes WordPerfect WPD Yes WordPerfect Suite 2000/Office 1.0 WPS Yes WriteNow version 4.0 WN, NX^D Supported since version 4.1| File format | Extension | Read/Write | Details |
|---|---|---|---|
| AbiWord | ABW, ZABW | Supported since version 4.2 | |
| AppleWorks (word processing) | CWK | Supported since version 4.1 | Previously known as ClarisWorks |
| Apple Pages | PAGES | Supported since version 5.0 | |
| AportisDoc (Palm) | PDB | Yes | Java required |
| BroadBand eBook | LRF | Yes | |
| DocBook | XML | Yes | |
| FictionBook | FB2 | Supported since version 4.2 | |
| Hangul WP 97 | HWP | Yes | "5.x" newer files not supported |
| HTML | HTM, HTML | Yes | |
| Ichitaro versions 8–11 | JTD, JTT | Yes | |
| Lotus Word Pro | LWP | Yes | |
| MacWrite Pro 1.5 | MW, MCW | Supported since version 4.1 | |
| Microsoft Pocket Word | PSW | Yes | Java required |
| Rich Text Format | RTF | Yes | |
| Microsoft Word 2003 XML (WordprocessingML) | XML | Yes | |
| Microsoft Word versions 4/5/6.0/95 | DOC, DOT | Yes; writing supported up to version 3.6 | |
| DOC, DOT | Yes | ||
| DOCX, DOTX, DOCM, DOTM | Yes | ||
| WPS, WPT | Yes | 'Microsoft Works' Mac formats supported starting from version 4.1 | |
| WRI | Supported since version 5.1 | ||
| ODT, FODT, OTT | Yes | ||
| SXW, STW | Yes |
See also
- LibreOffice Calc
- Comparison of office suites
- Comparison of word processors
- List of word processors
- Comparison of desktop publishing software
- List of desktop publishing software
External links
- Official features overview at LibreOffice.org