Install LibreOffice with DEB package

The DEB package dominates Linux because it is part of the repository of the most widely used Linux-based operating systems for three decades. The DEB file extension was developed by the Debian Project in the mid 1990s, close to the time the project was started.

Debian was at the beginning of Linux, and many operating systems are based on it. The most popular derivative is Ubuntu, and most Linux distros are based on Ubuntu. Therefore most Linux applications are packaged in DEB.

Many of Debian and Ubuntu based distros come with LibreOffice preinstalled, but many of them also do not have the latest versions of the office suite. This Web page covers several different ways of downloading the latest DEB packages and installing them through the Terminal.

The sections of this Web page are as follows:

  • Download
  • Install

Download

The DEB package can be downloaded directly from the Website, an associated Web page listing mirror sites, or it can be acquired through peer-to-peer hosting.

Here is the link to download the DEB package:

Mirrors

The Document Foundation has established relationships with organizations worldwide to host the same DEB file that can be downloaded from their main Web server.

This takes a load off of its main servers, and these mirror Websites around the world may be faster and more reliable downloads for those who are nearest to them. Someone in Russia may be better served a mirror in Moscow than one in San Fransisco, for example.

The established mirror Websites contain the LibreOffice packages for each type of operating system: EXE for Windows, DMG for Mac, and DEB and RPM for Linux.

For the DEB package – Linux (64-bit) (deb):

  1. On the download page: make sure that Linux (64-bit) (deb) is the selection in the drop-down menu for the latest or next latest version.
  2. Then click the Info link below the corresponding Download button.

This opens a Web page with a list of mirrors for downloading the package, as well as links to several documents.

  • Simply click the desired one to download the DEB package.

Torrent

A torrent file for LibreOffice can either be downloaded from the download page on the LibreOffice Website or the mirror page for the DEB package.

From the download page:

  1. Make sure that Linux (64-bit) (deb) is the selection in the drop-down menu for the latest or next latest version.
  2. Then click the Torrent link below the corresponding Download button.

On the DEB mirror page:

  1. Click the Torrent link in the P2P section.

The download will start. If the browser is Firefox, a dialog will appear prompting the user to simply download the file or open the file with the installed torrent client. Choose one, then click OK.

Installing

The easiest way to install the downloaded DEB package is through the Terminal. There is one step that can be performed through the graphical user interface. The steps are as follows:

  1. Extract the files and folders from the packaged download.
  2. Point the Terminal at the folder where the unpacked files and folders are located.
  3. Run the installation command.

Extracting

Double clicking the downloaded DEB package will launch the default archive manager application installed on the operating system.

  1. Go to the folder where the DEB package has been downloaded.
  2. Double click it. A window launches with an Extract button in it.
  3. Click the Extract button. This launches a window where you can choose the folder in your operating system where you want to extract the folders or files in the package.
  4. Choose the folder where you want to extract the DEB files and folders to.
  5. Click the Extract button in the window.

Uninstalling the older version

It is possible to have one of the latest versions of LibreOffice alongside the older version of LibreOffice that comes preinstalled on Ubuntu or the Ubuntu or Debian based operating system you are using, but it is recommended that you uninstall the older version first.

Here are the steps to uninstall the older version:

  1. Launch the Terminal application.
  2. Type one of the two commands
    • sudo apt-get remove libreoffice-core
    • To remove LibreOffice configuration files: sudo apt-get remove –purge libreoffice-core
  3. Press the Return or Enter key on the keyboard.
  4. Type the password used to log in to the operating system.
  5. Press the Return or Enter key on the keyboard.
  6. Type “Y” when you are asked the following question: Do you want to continue?
  7. Press the Return or Enter key on the keyboard. The process will continue. When it finishes a prompt will appear where another command can be entered.

Pointing the Terminal

Change the directory location with the Terminal. This needs to be done before entering the installation command.

  1. Launch the Terminal.
  2. Type CD and the path to the folder where the DEBS folder is located. The video demonstrates this.
  3. Press the Return or Enter key on the keyboard.

Now the install command can be entered.

Installation command

With the Terminal pointed at the DEBS folder, type the following command:

  • sudo dpkg -i *.deb

Press Enter or Return on your keyboard. The operating system login may need to be typed.