LibreOffice Writer won't use Kubuntu dialogues

[Tom_ZeCat]

As some of you may know, in LibreOffice Writer (or Calc and probably other progs) you have the choice of using the LibreOffice dialogue boxes or the Kubuntu ones when you go to open a file. In Writer, if you go to Tools ==> Options ==> General and check "use LibreOffice dialogues," it uses the dialogue box programmed by LibreOffice. If you have that unchecked, it uses the Kubuntu ones. For a power user, it really doesn't matter which one you choose. If you use the LibreOffice dialogues, you just have to remember that rule in Linux where all external media such as thumb drives and external hard drives are listed in a folder under root named "media." No biggie, not hard. However, for a novice user, the Kubuntu dialogues would be better, IMO because it lists all mounted drives in a panel named "places."

Here's the deal. I'm setting up Kubuntu on an old Dell desktop for some novices who are used to using Windows XP. Kubuntu and many apps are nicely installed. However, I couldn't help but notice that LO Writer was using LO dialogues. I figured no big deal, I would uncheck that box. However, it was already unchecked. Turns out, it doesn't matter whether it's checked or not; you get LibreOffice dialogues. For some reason, I can't get Kubuntu dialogues no matter what I do.

This is the first time I've seen this problem. I've put Kubuntu, and this is the first one where that's happened. I'm using Kubuntu/32 instead of 64, but I used 32 one a netbook and didn't see this problem.

Anyone know what's up?

[claydoh]

Which LO are you using? the latest and greatest PPA versions usually have broken KDE integration that often can take some time to fix.
The Ubuntu packages usually don't have this problem, though they are not immune. One thing you might try is to make sure that the package libreoffice-kde is installed.

But it is likely busted atm:
https://bugs.launchpad.net/ubuntu/+s...e/+bug/1369673

[Tom_ZeCat]

Which LO are you using? the latest and greatest PPA versions usually have broken KDE integration that often can take some time to fix.
The Ubuntu packages usually don't have this problem, though they are not immune. One thing you might try is to make sure that the package libreoffice-kde is installed.

But it is likely busted atm:
https://bugs.launchpad.net/ubuntu/+s...e/+bug/1369673

I haven't upgraded LibreOffice. It's simply the one that came with the Kubuntu install. It's Kubuntu 14.04/32 bit. It's LibreOffice 4.2.6.3, build ID 420m0(build 3). That's the exact same one as on my laptop, which does not demonstrate the problem.

[Frank616]

Tom_Zecat:

I have the same issue. Latest updates of LO broke the KDE integration on ALL FOUR of my machines.

Version: 4.2.6.3
Build ID: 420m0(Build:3)

Anyone know anything about this?

Something else I found was that my 'styles' have changed as well. I created several custom styles of progressively more indented 'hanging indents' that I use for talk outlines. My styles are now listed under 'custom styles' rather than 'automatic' like previously, and the styles no longer work. They indent progressively more, but none of them are hanging indents.

Frank.

[Frank616]

All:

OK, a reboot fixed the custom styles that didn't want to work. They are still filed in a separate category now, however, which I find a nuisance. But such is 'progress', I guess.

As to the lack of KDE integration, I wonder if this is the wave of things to come. KDE is no longer officially supported by Canonical, and from looking at the Libre Office forum, the ability to use KDE dialogs has been an on again - off again thing for over 5 years. I get the impression that it is not high on the list of priorities for the devs.

I can survive with the improved LO dialogs (improved since the last time I looked about 4 years ago, at least). I don't like them, but they are usable.

Frank.

[Tom_ZeCat]

All:

OK, a reboot fixed the custom styles that didn't want to work. They are still filed in a separate category now, however, which I find a nuisance. But such is 'progress', I guess.

As to the lack of KDE integration, I wonder if this is the wave of things to come. KDE is no longer officially supported by Canonical, and from looking at the Libre Office forum, the ability to use KDE dialogs has been an on again - off again thing for over 5 years. I get the impression that it is not high on the list of priorities for the devs.

I can survive with the improved LO dialogs (improved since the last time I looked about 4 years ago, at least). I don't like them, but they are usable.

Frank.

I never did get it working on that old Dell. I wanted to because the user is a novice to Linux and I think the KDE dialogues are easier than the LibreOffice ones. However¸ I simply taught them how to use the LibreOffice ones, and especially how Linux puts all the external media under a folder named "media."

It seems strange to me that it doesn't work on the old Dell, but it works on both my Lenovo laptop and on my Asus netbook. It also works on my Acer netbook, which has Linux Mint/KDE instead of Kubuntu. If Kubuntu ever got really terrible, I would likely switch to Mint/KDE.

[Frank616]

Tom:

but it works on both my Lenovo laptop and on my Asus netbook. It also works on my Acer netbook, which has Linux Mint/KDE instead of Kubuntu.

Yeah, I was thinking that maybe LO got pushed through on the update without getting the regular Kubuntu 'love' added in.

I too will watch and see how things develop. It is true that we have a wealth of options open to us in Linux, and Kubuntu is just one of them.

I suspect that the version number of LO will be different on your Lenovo, if that has Kubuntu where the dialogs still work. Every update I have done this past week or so has installed the same version of LO on each machine, and each one of them is now missing the KDE integration.

Frank.

[claydoh]

It is a LO problem, sometimes the KDE integration is quickly fixed, sometimes not. It has been this way going back to the Openoffice days, much further back than 4 years, and not limited to Kubuntu. My 14.04 at least has a decent Kde-ish looking theming to it that it isn't glaringly ugly. On 14.10 it is Bud Tugley.

Check out the Gtk theme settings in System Settings, that might help things out, as might (re)moving the ~/.config/libreoffice folder to clear out any bad or corrupted settings.

[Tom_ZeCat]

LibreOffice is a mixed bag. I use it a ton and think it's the best thing available. I definitely prefer it to Microsoft Office with its Ribbon atrocity. However, LO has its bugs from time too time. For a while the letter and fax wizards weren't working under Kubuntu. Fortunately, those problems have been fixed. Now AutoText is messed up. Here's my thread on that:

http://en.libreofficeforum.org/node/9003

I've submitted a bug report on that and was contacted by one of the developers. I hope it's fixed soon because I used AutoText all the time before the problems.

There are other options. There's AbiWord, but, honestly, it really lacks the features. I also have SoftMaker Office, which I use from time to time. It's a proprietary suite of programs made by a company in Germany. It has some features for writing in German that other word processors lack. However, it lacks macros, a feature that I use all the time. There's also WPS Office (formerly Kingsoft Office). I installed it for kicks. It seems okay, but it doesn't have AutoText, at least I couldn't find it. For someone who actually likes the Ribbon, it might be a good choice. To its credit, it doesn't force the Ribbon on you. Unlike Microsoft, they actually gave you the choice if you want the Ribbon or pull-down menus. WPS Office seems okay, but I think I'll stick with LibreOffice.

[Frank616]

Tom:

I too find Libre Office the best all-around suite. I have Softmaker Office as well. Sometimes its DOC and DOCX support is better. I don't switch to it, however, as while TextMaker works with ODT, Planmaker won't do ODS. It is no where near as feature rich as LO either.

Claydoh:

LO and KDE take turns pointing fingers at each other, it would seem.

I don't care about the appearance as much as I do the open/save dialogs. I like KDE much better. More configurable. At least LO dialogs now allow 'shortcuts' in the far left pane. Neither allows me to 'sort' or move entries in that list, however. They stay there in the order you create them, and that's that.

Hope they give us another update as soon as it gets fixed. Or maybe I'll just put up with LO 'as is' and use the 'vanilla' versions as they come out. LO is under heavy development, and I don't like waiting 2 full years to get the next version (I stick with LTE).

Frank.

[Tom_ZeCat]

Tom:

I too find Libre Office the best all-around suite. I have Softmaker Office as well. Sometimes its DOC and DOCX support is better. I don't switch to it, however, as while TextMaker works with ODT, Planmaker won't do ODS. It is no where near as feature rich as LO either.

Claydoh:

LO and KDE take turns pointing fingers at each other, it would seem.

I don't care about the appearance as much as I do the open/save dialogs. I like KDE much better. More configurable. At least LO dialogs now allow 'shortcuts' in the far left pane. Neither allows me to 'sort' or move entries in that list, however. They stay there in the order you create them, and that's that.

Hope they give us another update as soon as it gets fixed. Or maybe I'll just put up with LO 'as is' and use the 'vanilla' versions as they come out. LO is under heavy development, and I don't like waiting 2 full years to get the next version (I stick with LTE).

Frank.

Sometimes I edit documents written by others in MS Word, which these days usually means a docx file. I use SoftMaker on those because of the better MS Word support. Whenever I do, I really miss macros. They will be adding macros to it soon.

[woodsmoke]

Hi all.

This, to me, being a software guy, has been an extremely interesting and USEFUL thread.

Leave it to Claydoh to put the perspective in place.

I learned something from the thread: about "dialogue boxes" of which I was not aware.........most folks say that I am not aware of MOST things........

But..........after the thread has "played out" might I gently suggest that it be moved to the permananent section for the INEVETIBLE person who encounters this at some time in the future?

woodsmoke

[Tom_ZeCat]

Hi all.

This, to me, being a software guy, has been an extremely interesting and USEFUL thread.

Leave it to Claydoh to put the perspective in place.

I learned something from the thread: about "dialogue boxes" of which I was not aware.........most folks say that I am not aware of MOST things........

But..........after the thread has "played out" might I gently suggest that it be moved to the permananent section for the INEVETIBLE person who encounters this at some time in the future?

woodsmoke

That may not be a bad idea. I thought my computers were unaffected and it was only that Dell that I worked on. Turns out, this problem has shown up on my Asus netbook, but for whatever reason not on my full-sized Lenovo laptop. It's not a disaster since I'm computer literate and can use either dialogue box, but the KDE ones are better IMO.