Why can't I open a new window or return to the start page? It's so natural with Office 365

[Fanboy]

So I am eager to use Libre Office. I understand most of it. But one thing seems so simple I must be missing something…

1. I open Libre Office, and I have that nice start page with all the applications there along with the window of recent documents.
2. I open a file, and this file takes up the whole screen.
3. Then, when I am finished, there is no way to go back to the start page.
4. Also, from the start, there is no way to open a document in a new window. Sometimes, I really, really, really REALLY need to have two or more documents open simultaneously.

I must be missing something–can anyone help?

[Villeroy]

Close the last document with Ctrl+W (menu:File>Close) or click the grey X button in the upper right corner below the usual X button of the window.

[Fanboy]

Thank you so much! That’s a real help–never noticed the other little x, nor did I find file-close or the short cut. Thanks for taking the time to answer.

[ajlittoz]

1. This “nice” startup center is in fact a faux ami.
2. This is intended so: you have chosen to work on a document; usually you work on a single one. Should you desire to work on two simultaneously, the startup center equivalent in menus is File>Recent Documents
3. “When I am finished, …”: there are many ways to “finish”. If you File>Quit (Ctrl+Q), you effectively leave LO and you’re back to your desktop. But if you simply dismiss the current document window with File>Close, Ctrl+W or a click on the window close box (the one below the standard window top bar), you’re back to the startup center.
4. See what I wrote in point 2.: open a first window, then a second one with File>Open, File>New>… or File>Recent Documents`. Trying to open simultaneously two windows usually works only in the OS file browser.

[Fanboy]

Thank you! That clears up a lot. Whew! Now, I think I can really use Libre Office once and for all. I also learned faux ami. BTW I notice that if you go to File then Open, you also get a new window to open the doc. So thanks for taking the time to answer this rube question!