As of release 3.4, a JRE (Jave Runtime Environment) is no longer packaged with OpenOffice. However, you may still need a JRE for full functionality. (See Java and Apache OpenOffice). Please ensure that your system has at least Java 1.6 installed for full functionality.
Apache OpenOffice 4.x versions have significant changes to your OpenOffice directory setup which effect your older OpenOffice profile. The Apache OpenOffice 4.0 Release Notes provide an explanation of these changes. However, you should have the opportunity to migrate your old profile settings to the new profile area.
Welcome to Apache OpenOffice Quick-Start Guide for Windows environments. Below you will find step-by-step instructions to download and install Apache OpenOffice 4.x versions on your system. You may want to print this instruction sheet for reference before beginning to download and install Apache OpenOffice.
If you are experienced with the Windows operating system, you can use the instructions provided in the next section. Otherwise, skip to Comprehensive Installation Instructions section.
To download and install Apache OpenOffice 4.x, follow this checklist:
This section describes in detail how to install Apache OpenOffice on your computer system.
The first thing you'll want to do is read through these instructions completely, and use the Apache OpenOffice site to answer any questions you might have. The site contains documentation for users of all levels, beginner to advanced; a good place to get started for all new users of Apache OpenOffice would be browsing the FAQ.
Note: Log in as an administrator if your computer only allows people with administrator privileges to install programmes.
Your computer needs these resources as a minimum to run Apache OpenOffice 4.x versions:
To download Apache OpenOffice from our website, you do not need to login. Also, it does not cost anything other than what your costs are to connect to the internet and download a large file.
If your connection is not very fast (and or you are behind a dial up connection), you might consider a program that enables you to pause/resume the download. We've listed some popular download managers here.
To download the most current version of Apache OpenOffice:
Display Download Apache OpenOffice, and click on the large green download button displayed on the top of the web page.
NOTE: Much of the information that follows here can be found in the Win 86 Setup Guide, secton 4. Installer Setup from the developer wiki.
Windows Explorer users will want to find the file and double-click to launch the unpacking and installation program. Alternately, Mozilla/Netscape users will want to open the Download Manager, highlight the file, and click Launch File. In either case, the unpacking program will start.
The Welcome window is displayed to note that you have downloaded Apache OpenOffice 4.x.x. Click Next to continue.
The License Agreement window appears.
Note: You will need to use the scroll bar to view all of the license text If you do not wish to accept the license, you will be prompted to confirm this before the installation programme closes.
The Customer Information window appears.
You may leave this form blank, or enter your User Name and if applicable, Organisation.
Note: If you logged in as administrator you will be prompted to install for all users.
The Setup Type window appears.
The File Type window is displayed.
The default configuration is that all the file types are selected. This means that the Apache OpenOffice programme will start when these file types are opened. De-select (click on the ticks) to view, edit and print these file types with your existing word processing, spreadsheet or presentation program.
Note: If you change your mind, returning to the prior state is tedious. You will need to reassociate all word processing, spreadsheet or presentation files with the appropriate file type. You can watch this video to find information on how to proceed in this kind of situations.
You can use file types not associated with Apache OpenOffice, by starting Apache OpenOffice then open the file by choosing Open from the File menu.
The Ready to Install the Program window is displayed.
Click the Back button to return to previous windows to change your installation options, otherwise click Install to begin the installation process.
Click the Finish button when the Installation Wizard Finished window is displayed.
If you logged in as administrator, logout. Each user can then invoke Apache OpenOffice from the program menu which will allow the user to configure Apache OpenOffice as a workstation copy with no further effort on the part of the user.
When you first run Apache OpenOffice after a successfully installing the program, you will be prompted to accept the license, enter your user name and register your copy.
Login using your user account, and if you installed Apache OpenOffice successfully it will appear on the Programs sub-menu of the Start menu.
Click on one of the Apache OpenOffice components (we recommend Writer). The Welcome window is displayed.
Click Next to display the License Agreement window.
Scroll to read the license and click Accept to continue. The Transfer personal data window is displayed.
If you wish to reuse personal data from a previous installation click [Next].
If you do not wish to reuse any settings from a previous installed version, unmark the checkbox and click [Next].
You are prompted to enter your name. This is used in the document properties, templates and when you record changes made to documents. This is useful if you are working on a document with others, but you don't need to complete this information in order to proceed. This information can also be entered later when using the program.
You have successfully installed and run Apache OpenOffice. You should now refer to the online help (Choose "Apache OpenOffice Help" from the Help menu) or connect to the internet to obtain support from the web site by clicking the Support tab available from any web page.
Thank you for using Apache OpenOffice, and welcome!
Apache OpenOffice 4.x versions will be flagged by the new Gatekeeper facility in OS X Mountain Lion. This is a feature to help guard against malware on Mac systems. There is a procedure laid out at the following link to allow applications not installed from the Mac App store to run. See the article at Mac support at https://support.apple.com/en-us/HT202491.
Installing Apache OpenOffice on MacOS X
See also: the Mac porting project page
The following preinstallation steps are recommended for Linux distributions. These should be taken to assure that you have a clean install of Apache OpenOffice due to internal considerations and/or the installation of LibreOffice, if it exists, on your system.
"whereis soffice"
from a console./usr/bin/soffice
-- to libreoffice instead.tar -xvzf "linux package name".tar.gz
su
to root, if necessary, and navigate to Apache OpenOffice installation directory.cd
into the RPMS subdirectory of the installation directory.rpm -Uvih *rpm
./opt
directory.cd
to desktop-integration
(in the installation directory),
tar Apache-OpenOfficeX.X.X.tar.gz
package or using programs such as Ark, or File-Roller.cd
into the DEBS subdirectory of the installation directory.sudo dpkg -i *.deb
or become root using su
command./opt
directory.cd
to desktop-integration
(in the installation directory),Note: Apache OpenOffice executable is called soffice
and is located in /opt/OpenOffice4/program/
A softlink is created on your /usr/local/bin/ directory. You can always map to the original at /opt/ if it doesnt start
for whatever reason.
The Linux downloads provided on the Apache OpenOffice site (mirrors) are generic for either the RPM- or DEB-based package managers. If you have experience in directly installing these types of packages on your system, one of these types of installs should work for you. They are not specific to a particular Linux distribution.
Some Linux distributions now include a version of Apache OpenOffice in their own native package manager format (.rpm, .deb, etc.) either from their own repositories or community repositories which they support. These packages have been built and are supported by the distributions' own teams or community members, not by Apache OpenOffice. Some distributions have strict policies around licensing, which means they have chosen to disable parts of Apache OpenOffice which rely on software which does not meet their criteria.
Note: Please check carefully before using a third-party build that it does actually include all the parts of Apache OpenOffice that you will require. Replacing a 'native' distribution build with the full Apache OpenOffice original build can be tricky, but can usually be successfully accomplished by completely removing the existing 'native' install.
The following links are additional resources for installing Apache OpenOffice on Linux by other parties. We hope you find them useful.
The best resources to help you with installation problems are:
A more extensive, though older, Installation Guide is available in PDF and ODT formats from the Apache OpenOffice Documentation Project.
You may also find the Installation FAQs useful as well.