Last updated: 2012-09-01
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.
Please note: With this new 3.4 release, a JRE (Jave Runtime Environment) is no longer packaged with OpenOffice. However, you may still need a JRE for full functionality of AOO 3.4. (See Java and Apache OpenOffice). Please ensure that your system has at least Java 1.6 installed for full functionality.
Welcome to Apache OpenOffice Quick-Start Guide for Windows environments. Below you will find step-by-step instructions to download and install Apache OpenOffice version 3.4 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 3.4, 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 3.4:
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 www.openoffice.org, and click on the large green Download button displayed in the middle of the web page. This will display the downloads page.
For those languages where more than one mirror site is available you will be prompted to choose the operating system (platform). "Windows" is at the top of the list.
Choose a mirror (download location) closest to you.
Click the "Continue to Download" button to proceed to download Apache OpenOffice to your computer. You will be prompted by a dialog window as to where you want to place the download file on your computer. Note this down, as you will need to find it later to install Apache OpenOffice on your computer.
Note: You may also want to copy the downloaded file to a backup medium (CD-ROM, ZIP disk, etc.).
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 3.4. 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 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 will need to be connected to the internet if you select "I want to register now" and click Finish. Your browser will display a welcome message on the Apache OpenOffice web site and then redirect you to a user survey page.
If you are not connected to the internet, you can choose to register later.
Registration of Apache OpenOffice and completion of the user survey is optional and is not required for you to ensure full use of Apache OpenOffice.
Note: Registration of the Apache OpenOffice programme is completely separate to subscribing to various Apache OpenOffice mailing lists and registering yourself with the "www.openoffice.org" site to submit bugs, enhancement requests and contribute to projects.
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!
If you want Java integration, you want to make sure you have the latest JRE installed. It should be at least JRE 1.6. You can find the JRE for Linux at the Java JRE for Linux download site. Or, you can choose to have the JRE included with your Apache OpenOffice download. Alternatively, a JRE might be included on the installation media of your distro as part of a complete Java development environment.
tar -xvzf "linux package name".tar.gz
su
to root, if necessary, and navigate to Apache OpenOffice installation directory (the unpacked
archive).cd
into the RPMS subdirectory of the installation directory.rpm -Uvih *rpm
./opt
directory.cd
to desktop-integration
in the installation directory,If you want Java integration, you want to make sure you have the latest JRE installed. It should be at least JRE 1.6. You can find the JRE for Linux at the Java JRE for Linux download site. Or, you can choose to have the JRE included with your Apache OpenOffice download. Alternatively, a JRE might be included on the installation media of your distro as part of a complete Java development environment.
tar -xvzf "linux package name".tar.gz
su
to root, if necessary, and navigate to Apache OpenOffice installation directory (the unpacked
archive).cd
into the DEBS subdirectory of the installation directory.sudo dpkg -i *.deb
./opt
directory.cd
to desktop-integration
in the installation directory,Many Linux distributions now include a version of Apache OpenOffice in their own native package manager format (.rpm, .deb, etc.). These packages have been built and are supported by the distributions' own teams, 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 (e.g. the Fedora rpms have disabled the parts of Apache OpenOffice which require Java).
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.
Installing Apache OpenOffice on MacOS X
See also: the Mac porting project pageThe best resources to help you with installation problems are: