How to Install FreeOffice on Debian 12

Introduction

Before we begin talking about how to install FreeOffice on Debian 12, let's briefly understand – What is FreeOffice?

FreeOffice is a powerful and user-friendly office suite that offers a range of essential tools for everyday productivity. Developed by SoftMaker, it includes a word processor, spreadsheet program, and presentation software, all of which are compatible with Microsoft Office formats.

With its intuitive interface and extensive features, FreeOffice allows users to create, edit, and share documents seamlessly. Whether you are a student, professional, or home user, FreeOffice provides a cost-effective solution for all your office needs.

In this tutorial, you will install FreeOffice on Debian 12. We will also address a few FAQs on how to install FreeOffice on Debian 12.

Advantages of FreeOffice

1. Compatibility with Microsoft Office formats - Easily open, edit, and save documents in popular formats such as DOCX, XLSX, and PPTX.
2. User-friendly interface - Intuitive design makes it easy to learn and use the software for all levels of proficiency.
3. Powerful features - Enjoy a comprehensive suite of tools, including a word processor, spreadsheet, and presentation software.
4. Cost-effective - FreeOffice offers a no-cost alternative to expensive office suites, providing excellent value for individuals and businesses.
5. Seamless document management - Create, edit, and share files effortlessly, ensuring efficient collaboration among team members.

Install FreeOffice on Debian 12

Step 1: Update the Debian system prior to installing FreeOffice

It is essential that you make sure your Debian system has the most recent packages installed before beginning the installation process. This enhances the system's stability and security.. Use the following commands to update your system:

sudo apt update

Use the following command to upgrade any out-of-date packages after the package list has been updated:

sudo apt upgrade

Step 2: Install Required Packages

You must add the APT repository in order to install FreeOffice on Debian. Make sure to use the following command to install the required packages before proceeding:

sudo apt install dirmngr ca-certificates software-properties-common apt-transport-https curl -y

To handle secure communication with external servers and manage the APT repositories, these packages are paramount.

Step 3: Import FreeOffice APT Repository on Debian

This step involves importing the GPG key needed to confirm the legitimacy of the packages. The installed packages are verified to originate from a reliable source by using the GPG key. The command to import the key is as follows:

curl -fsSL https://shop.softmaker.com/repo/linux-repo-public.key | gpg --dearmor | sudo tee /usr/share/keyrings/softmaker.gpg > /dev/null

Next, use the following command to add the FreeOffice APT repository to the list of repositories on your system:

echo 'deb [signed-by=/usr/share/keyrings/softmaker.gpg] https://shop.softmaker.com/repo/apt stable non-free' | sudo tee -a /etc/apt/sources.list.d/softmaker.list

Step 4: Update Package List

It is necessary to update your package list to include the newly added source after adding the FreeOffice APT repository. To do this, run the following command:

sudo apt update

Step 5: Install FreeOffice on Debian using APT Command

Using the following command, you can now install FreeOffice after adding the repository and updating the package list:

sudo apt install softmaker-freeoffice-2021

Launch FreeOffice on Debian 12

It's now time to open the apps and begin using FreeOffice on your Debian system after the installation went well. We'll walk you through starting FreeOffice apps on Debian in this section.

Search > Application Finder > FreeOffice

Launch FreeOffice Applications

You can now find and open the FreeOffice applications by using the Applications Menu. There are three primary applications in the suite:

• TextMaker: A strong word processing program for writing and editing documents.
• PlanMaker: A spreadsheet program for data management and analysis.
• Presentations: A presentation tool for making eye-catching slideshows.

First-Time Tips with FreeOffice on Debian 12

We'll go over some pointers and advice in this section to get you started with FreeOffice on Debian Linux. We'll go through general advice, customizations, and other useful details for TextMaker, PlanMaker, and Presentations, the three primary FreeOffice applications.

Select FreeOffice User Interface with Debian

A FreeOffice application will ask you to select the style of its user interface when it launches. There are two interface styles available in FreeOffice:

• Ribbon-style interface: This sleek interface organizes tools and features into tabs and is reminiscent of Microsoft Office. It will feel easier to use this option if you are familiar with Microsoft Office.
• Classic interface with toolbars: Older iterations of Microsoft Office and other conventional office suites are comparable to this style. It shows toolbars with icons for different tools and features.

Select the interface that works best for your workflow and preferences. Later on, you can modify your selection by selecting File > Options > Appearance.

Getting Started with FreeOffice TextMaker with Debian

One of the more potent word processors in the FreeOffice suite is TextMaker. Here are some pointers to get you going:

• Templates: A wide range of pre-made templates for various document kinds, including reports, resumes, and letters, are available in TextMaker. Go to File > New > New from template to view the templates.
• Formatting: Using the formatting sidebar or toolbar, you can quickly add formatting to your text. You can apply bold, italics, and underlining in addition to changing the font's sizes, styles, and colors.
• Styles: Many pre-built styles for headings, paragraphs, and lists are available in TextMaker. Make use of these styles to keep your document professional and consistent throughout. You can access styles by selecting the Styles tab or the Styles and Formatting button located in the toolbar.
• Track Changes: Track Changes allows you to work together on documents with other people. You can keep track of and examine edits made by various users with this feature. Navigate to Review > Track Changes to activate the feature.

Getting Started with FreeOffice Presentations with Debian

Within the FreeOffice suite, Presentations is a flexible presentation program. To make captivating slideshows, use the following advice:

• Templates: Go to File > New > New from template to access a variety of pre-designed templates. You can quickly and simply create presentations that look professional by using templates.
• Slide Layouts: Make your slides unique by experimenting with different layouts. The positioning of text, images, and other elements on a slide is determined by its layout. A slide can be rearranged by right-clicking on it in the slide pane and choosing Layout.
• Transitions: Use transitions to give your slides some visual appeal. Your presentation can become more dynamic and engaging by using transitions. Select a slide, then select Transitions > Choose Transition to add a transition.
• Animations: Adding animation to your text, images, and other objects will improve it. Select an object on the slide, then select Animations > Select Animation to add animations.

Getting Started with FreeOffice PlanMaker with Debian

One of the more feature-rich spreadsheet programs in the FreeOffice suite is called PlanMaker. To properly manage and evaluate your data, make use of the following advice:

• Templates: Go to File > New > New from template to use pre-designed templates for a variety of uses, including invoices, calendars, and budgets.
• Formatting: Format cells to show text, dates, and numbers in various styles. You can use the toolbar, Format Cells, or right-click a cell to access formatting options.
• Functions: There are numerous built-in functions in PlanMaker that can be used to perform calculations, including SUM, AVERAGE, and VLOOKUP. You can access functions by selecting Insert > Function or by clicking the fx button in the toolbar.
• Charts: To visually represent your data, create charts that are visually appealing. Choose the data you wish to include, then choose Insert > Chart to insert a chart. Select the type of chart that best fits your data and alter its look.
• Conditional Formatting: Use conditional formatting in your spreadsheet to highlight particular data. Using this feature, you can apply styles to cells that satisfy particular requirements, which facilitates the identification of trends and outliers. Choose the cells you wish to format, then select Format > Conditional Formatting to view the available options for conditional formatting.
• Data Validation: To guarantee the correctness of your data, apply data validation rules to individual cells. Data validation can offer a drop-down list of acceptable values or restrict the type of data that can be entered into a cell. By right-clicking a cell and choosing Data Validation, you can configure data validation.

You can easily become an expert user of FreeOffice TextMaker, PlanMaker, and Presentations on your Debian Linux system by following these tips. To increase your output and effectiveness, familiarize yourself with the features and settings of each application.

Additional Commands with FreeOffice on Debian 12

You can use the commands and advice in this section to update and uninstall FreeOffice from your Debian system.

Update FreeOffice on Debian

Maintaining an up-to-date FreeOffice installation is crucial if you want to take advantage of the newest security patches, bug fixes, and features. Enter the following commands into your terminal to see if there are any updates. These commands will use the APT package manager to check your system for updates for all installed packages, including FreeOffice:

sudo apt update && sudo apt upgrade

Even if automatic updates are turned on, it's a good idea to periodically run these commands to make sure your system and the installed packages stay current.

Remove FreeOffice From Debian

Follow these instructions to remove the Office suite and associated files from your Debian system if you decide to stop using FreeOffice.

Remove FreeOffice Package

First, use the following command to remove the FreeOffice package:

sudo apt remove softmaker-freeoffice-2021

It's wise to remove the FreeOffice APT repository for security and housekeeping reasons if you don't intend to use it again. The repository can be deleted by using the following command:

sudo rm /etc/apt/sources.list.d/softmaker.list

Alternatively, you can use the following command to remove the GPG key linked to the FreeOffice repository:

sudo rm /usr/share/keyrings/softmaker.gpg

You can make sure that FreeOffice and all associated files are totally removed from your Debian system by following these instructions.

FAQs to Install FreeOffice on Debian 12

Conclusion

We hope this tutorial helped you understand how to install FreeOffice on Debian 12.

If you have any queries, please leave a comment below, and we’ll be happy to respond to them for sure.