Create a unique page style for the first page of a chapter.The short version for creating even a simple header with varying text is something like this: Libre Office offers some documentation on how to create and manage styles. That means doing something as simple as inserting a header with the chapter title on the correct pages can be a tedious process.

With Libre Office, you control styles more broadly. Maybe a couple of additional styles you can define for specific uses.īut for page layout, you need control over the style on each page. You’ve got some heading styles, normal body text, and some list styles. Styles are great if you’re just creating a simple text document. Much like any other word processor, Libre Office uses text and page styles to define things like font, spacing, and unique elements. The most challenging aspect is working with Styles.

That said, many of the problems Word presents for page layout carry over into Libre Office. Foremost, Writer includes a ‘book view,’ functionality long missing from Word.Īs you work through the layout of your book, seeing the file in a true Book View can prevent many headaches. The point of separation between Word and Writer (excluding the cost) lies in the editing and design options. In fact, with the right sidebar dedicated to style, format, and a document directory, I find the Libre design easier to use than Words. Libre Office organizes menus differently from Word’s ribbon, but the content is all still there. In fact, I found fewer ‘pauses’ while using Libre Writer versus Word those moments when the text would stop appearing, and seconds later a dozen characters will burst onto the screen. Libre Writer’s focus mode is good for distraction-free writing. For drafting your work, Libre Writer is just as good as Word.

You can write and do some basic page formatting using Styles, just like MS Word uses. Like Word, Libre Office’s Writer is a very standard word processor with all the expected functions and tools. Aside from providing the same functions as a complete Office suite, Libre Office beats out Microsoft in a few important ways for authors.Īnd it’s entirely free and open source! Writing with Libre Office They call it ‘Writer’ but the tool is closer to a true page layout program. As an open-source replacement for the entire Microsoft Office suite, Libre Office offers a terrific word processor.

Libre writer