LibreOffice Cheat Sheet

Updated 2026-05-26

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LibreOffice is a free, open-source office suite developed by The Document Foundation, offering comprehensive productivity tools across six core applications for word processing, spreadsheets, presentations, diagrams, mathematical formulas, and database management. As a cross-platform suite compatible with Windows, macOS, and Linux, LibreOffice provides strong Microsoft Office interoperability through support for DOCX, XLSX, and PPTX formats while using the Open Document Format (ODF) as its native standard. What sets LibreOffice apart from proprietary alternatives is its extensibility through macros, templates, and add-ons, combined with deep customization options that allow users to tailor the interface, automate workflows, and maintain full control over their documents without vendor lock-in or subscription costs. LibreOffice 26.2 (released February 2026) added Markdown import/export, improved Microsoft Office compatibility, and performance improvements for large documents across all applications.

What This Cheat Sheet Covers

This topic spans 17 focused tables and 162 indexed concepts. Below is a complete table-by-table outline of this topic, spanning foundational concepts through advanced details.

Table 1: Core ApplicationsTable 2: File Format CompatibilityTable 3: Writer Core FeaturesTable 4: Calc Core FeaturesTable 5: Styles and FormattingTable 6: Templates and ExtensionsTable 7: PDF Export OptionsTable 8: Mail Merge and Data SourcesTable 9: Impress Presentation FeaturesTable 10: Draw Graphics FeaturesTable 11: Math Formula EditorTable 12: Base Database FeaturesTable 13: Macros and ScriptingTable 14: Collaboration FeaturesTable 15: Customization and PreferencesTable 16: Advanced Productivity FeaturesTable 17: Common Keyboard Shortcuts

Table 1: Core Applications

LibreOffice's six applications cover the full spectrum of office tasks — word processing, spreadsheets, presentations, vector graphics, mathematical formulas, and databases — all sharing a consistent interface, native ODF format, and the same macro and extension infrastructure.

Application	Example	Description
Writer	`File → New → Text Document`	Word processing application for creating documents, letters, reports, and books with advanced formatting, styles, and mail merge capabilities.
Calc	`File → New → Spreadsheet`	Spreadsheet application supporting formulas, pivot tables, charts, and data analysis with up to 1,048,576 rows and 16,384 columns (BIFF12 format support).
Impress	`File → New → Presentation`	Presentation software for creating slideshows with animations, transitions, and multimedia elements, compatible with PowerPoint formats.

Table 1: Core Applications

Application	Example	Description
Writer	`File → New → Text Document`	Word processing application for creating documents, letters, reports, and books with advanced formatting, styles, and mail merge capabilities.
Calc	`File → New → Spreadsheet`	Spreadsheet application supporting formulas, pivot tables, charts, and data analysis with up to 1,048,576 rows and 16,384 columns (BIFF12 format support).
Impress	`File → New → Presentation`	Presentation software for creating slideshows with animations, transitions, and multimedia elements, compatible with PowerPoint formats.