Upgrade to LibreOffice 6.4.6?

English
#1

I’m currently using LibreOffice Version: 5.2.7.2 in Linux Mint Debian Edition 64-bit, LMDE 3 Cindy.

After reading the information on LibreOffice web page, I’m more confused than I was before reading.

I’d like to upgrage to LibreOffice 6.4.6. However, do I select Linux (64-bit) (deb) or Linux (64-bit) (rpm)? What do the deb and rpm abbreviations represent?

Then, after getting the program by downloading, in which directory do I install it?

Any other information in English, not Geek, about upgrading would be helpful. If abbreviations are used, please define.

#2

Upgrade via the distro’s package manger. however you may wish to upgrade to the latest mint.

#3

https://www.libreoffice.org/get-help/install-howto/linux/

#4

do I select Linux (64-bit) (deb) or
Linux (64-bit) (rpm)? What do the deb
and rpm abbreviations represent?

(deb) stands for Debian - so Debian based OS. (rpm) is for Redhat Package Manager.
LibreOffice 7 is released and this reference shows how to install it although best wait until your flavour of Linux adds it to their repository to be certain that it is stable in that environment.

Mint is Debian based… I use Ubuntu (also debian based) and the repo has recently upgraded to 6.4.6.2 (so no sign of 7 yet).

#5

You could install the latest version of LibreOffice via Flatpak.

Mint 18.3 has Flatpak natively installed.

After installing LibreOffice Flatpak it will update to latest version in the background automatically when it becomes available.

Another way of doing it is via AppImage. These packages run from a single all-in-one file. AppImages will not update. A new AppImage file of the updated version has to be downloaded periodically.

Download LibreOffice AppImage files here: LibreOffice as AppImage | LibreOffice - Free Office Suite - Based on OpenOffice - Compatible with Microsoft

LO Flatpak, LO AppImage, and LO from repo can all be run simultaneously if you desire.

After I began using LO Flatpak and LO AppImage on my system (Ubuntu 18.04 LTS) I uninstalled the repo version. LO Flatpak updated recently to v7.0.0.3. I found a bug in its Writer component with Find Bar (for Ctrl+F searches). Fortunately earlier version of LO AppImage I have does not have bug. It is useful to have two containerised LO options available.

Edit: Having just looked up Linux Mint version history (Linux Mint version history - Wikipedia) it looks like it’s time to upgrade your operating system to the current LTS version of Mint. I stick with my recommendation of LO Flatpak and LO AppImage though, can be used in your current system as well as upgraded one.

#6

Au 16 2020 932a MDT

Thank you xiphoid, GrahamLees and AdmFubar for your replies and information.

to xiphoid

Upon your recommendation, I used Flatpak to install the latest version of LibreOffice. While the indications were that version 6.4.6 would be installed, it was revealed upon running the program that 7.0.0.3 was installed instead. It wasn’t my intention to go to the bleeding edge but, if it runs without problems, that’ll be OK. I use LibreOffice on my Linux Mint Debian Edition computer for mostly mundane things. When I want an easy to use word processor, my preference is Nisus Writer on the Mac.

Note that I’m not running Linux Mint but Linux Mint DEBIAN EDITION. Flatpak was installed along with my Linux Mint Debian Edition installation. AppImage is not installed and I didn’t desire to install at this time. Sooner or later I will upgrade LMDE 3 to LMDE 4. At that time, I’ll probably add AppImage as I do not prefer automatic updates or upgrades…

to GrahamLees

Thank you too for explaining deb and rpm. There just are too many abbreviations used in too many disciplines and I can not remember them and I don’t understand the new ones to which I’m exposed.

to AdmFubar
The Software Manager in Linux Mint Debian Edition 3 only installs LibreOffice Version: 5.2.7.2. I could not find instructions for upgrading to Libre Office 6.4.6.

I consider that I’m 80% done. Now the problem is to remove the parts of LibreOffice 5.2.7.2 that I could not remove using Linux Mint Debian Edition’s Software Manager?

#7

Here’s the download page for LO AppImage files:
https://www.libreoffice.org/download/appimage/
There is choice between ‘still’ and ‘fresh’.
Fresh equals newest stable. The latest stable version with the latest features.
Still equals older stable. Doesn’t have the latest features but has been well tested.
I think Flatpak installs the latest fresh version.
There has just been a big new LO release. It’s now version 7.x.
I haven’t had bothering bug issues with LO v6.x fresh but with 7.x I think all fresh users might be doing a teeny weeny bit of beta testing. That’s part of the gig with FOSS. If you find bugs report them. The software is improved for everyone.

If you want to step back from the bleeding edge use latest LO still AppImage.

#8

Regarding the LO version available from repositories for your Mint version, it will never be upgraded.

The endlessly fragmented line-up of Linux distros creates a lot of work for software developers. Each software version has to be tested against every new OS release for every flavour of Linux. If it is not tested it won’t be approved to be available in the repo. Going back and testing new versions of, say, LO on old OS releases doesn’t happen. It’s too much unnecessary work.

We are fortunate to have alternative channels. I prefer to run LO via AppImage and Flatpak. At a push I would try Snap but its containerisation is a little bit more restrictive.

Note that containerised versions can be added to and removed from your system cleanly. There are no hassles inadvertently creating a dependency hell that usually needs OS to be reinstalled. It is safer to use them than to install packages from repos or wherever.

#9

Here is the sequence of commands I used to uninstall repo LO version from Ubuntu 18.04 LTS:

sudo apt-get remove --purge libreoffice*

sudo apt clean

sudo apt-get autoremove

An interwebs search for Mint-relevant results would be wise. Here is a Mint forum post I found:
https://forums.linuxmint.com/viewtopic.php?t=268154

#10

Regarding AppImage, these are all-in-one files. It is not a distribution system for containerised packages like Flatpak or Snap. I suggest you download LO AppImage still file to give it a try. The file will be big, about 250-300MB. It is a package of all the bits and pieces needed to run that version of LO on any Linux system, any distro. Save the file to a folder. Double click it to run. May need to change file permissions for it to be able to run. Can do this via GUI. The ‘installation’ of an AppImage file can be finessed with the creation of a launcher file. Launcher can be made such that hitting Super ==> type [launcher-name] will pull it up, hit enter to launch program. Easier than digging down to file for click launch each time you want to run it. Ask how to do this at Mint support forums.

#11

Re automatic behind the scenes updates. Get used to the idea. Developers appreciate it happening with Flatpak and Snap because they know all users have the latest version of their software. It also aids system security. Control freaks and the paranoid object because they are no longer in charge of their system, and the behaviour is reminiscent of what MS foists on Windows users. The arguments pro and con are easy to find with searches.

#12

Downloaded latest LO AppImage files, both fresh and still, and tried them out on my system.

Current LO fresh AppImage is v7.0.0.3.

Current LO still AppImage is v6.4.6.2

Since LO Flatpak is pushing v7.0.0.3 it appears Flatpak is tuned to pick up LO’s fresh channel.

The nuisance bug for Ctrl+F and Find and Replace exists in LO AppImage 7.0.0.3.

LO AppImage 6.4.6.2 still doesn’t have the bug.

As good a demonstration as any that AppImage ‘still’ is a safer distance from the bleeding edge.

#13

Comments from Alan Pope of Canonical on automatic background updates:

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