LibreOffice will not install as default for pdfs

I reinstalled LibreOffice, using this time 7.0.4, but the problems persist from previous LibreOffice versions:

[1] LibreOffice Writer cannot be associated as the default file for opening pdfs. It simply does not appear on the Windows 10 list of possible defaults.

[2] LibreOffice Writer always warns me that I need to install a 64-bit Java Runtime environment. I have installed this environment many times yet I still get this warning.

(reformatted by ajlittoz)

LO is not a PDF editor. All it can do eventually is to open a PDF as a set a graphic pages for limited “decoration”. Anyway, you won’t have the ability to modify the text and have it reflown.

From what I see on my Linux box, LO does not advertise it can manage .pdf. By default, the association function will not offer LO. I must add manually a rule in the OS table. How to do this is OS-dependent and I have no skill in Windows.

In Windows, you can associate any program with a file type, even if it cannot open it. If you do make an association there is a high likelihood that a Windows Update will remove the file association, presumably for the joy of doing so.

[1] PDF

I have Adobe Reader as default, this suits me very well because if I right-click on a pdf the context menu allows me to select Open with > LibreOffice Draw or any one of a number of different programs. I recommend having your set up the same way. I believe the Draw was added to the Open With menu by Windows after I opened a pdf from within Draw, File > Open.

If you insist on having Draw the default (I strongly advise against this) you can do this relatively easily but not quickly. Open File Manager (Win+E), navigate to a pdf file, right-click it and select Open With > Choose another app.

A new dialog will open titled How do you want to open this file? , if you can see LibreOffice Draw in the list, then select it and tick the box labelled Always use this app to open .pdf files.

Otherwise, scroll down to the bottom and click on the link More apps ↓, if you can see LibreOffice Draw in the list, then select it and tick the box labelled Always use this app to open .pdf files.

Otherwise, scroll down to the bottom and click on the link Look for another app on this pc, navigate to C:\Program Files\LibreOffice\program\sdraw.exe (if you can’t find it here then you have answered your second question; you have installed a 32 bit version of LO) and click OK, tick the box labelled Always use this app to open .pdf files.

[2] Java

Open Writer or any other LO program, click Tools > Options > LibreOffice > Advanced, can you see a Java version installed? If not then click on Add, a new dialog will open, navigate to C:\Program Files\Java and click Select Folder. Wait a little time, eventually you should see a radio button with the java version next to it, mine is jre1.8.0_271

Cheers, Al

Thanks Al. I have thought better of my stupid idea of using LibreOffice for pdfs. I decided to use Microsoft Edge, which somehow I like in this specific context.

As to Java, I am still getting problems. When I select jre1.8.0_271 I get: “The folder you selected does not contain a Java runtime environment. Please select a different folder.”

As to Java, I am still getting problems. When I select jre1.8.0_271 I ge

Please assure you have

  • 64-bit JRE if you run a 64-bit LibreOffice –or
  • 32-bit JRE if you run a 32-bit LibreOffice

“Mixed-bit” installations are not allowed (i.e. don not work). See FAQ - Java


PS: It should be not required to add a path to Java manually. Generally speaking: If LibreOffice doesn't find your JRE automatically, there is a good chance that it won't work at all

Very helpful. I have uninstalled and then reinstalled 64-bit JRE. That fixed it.