To use libreoffice writer type what you wish to type into the main part of the window. If you wish to save your data press the icon that looks like a floppy disk or press :kbd:`control + s`. To open a previously saved document press the button that looks like a folder or press :kbd:`control + o`. To load or save a file from the menu :menuselection:`File --> Open` to open a file or :menuselection:`File --> Save`. To save your file as a new file name :menuselection:`File --> Save As`. To view your recent documents :menuselection:`File --> Recent Documents`. To have save your file as a pdf press the button that is a sheet of paper with curved red lines on it or go :menuselection:`File --> Export` and select the file type as pdf. To export as a PDF file :menuselection:`File --> Export AS --> Export as PDF`. This same export menu will let you save in formats for other programs for compatibility with microsoft word.
To change the font size There is a drop down box with a number in it you can type the font size you want in this box or select from the dropdown menu. You can change the font with the drop down box to the left of the font size which you can type and it autocompletes the fonts or select from the drop down menu. To make your text bold you can select the text with the mouse and press the button that looks like **B** or press :kbd:`control + B`. To make the font italic press the button that looks like *I* or press :kbd:`control + I` after selecting the text or keep typing with it to be italic. To have an underlined text select the text and press :kbd:`Control +U`. To make strikethrough press the button that is a s with a line through it. If you want a floating window on how to style your text :menuselection:`Format --> Character`.
To copy text select it with the mouse or :kbd:`Shift + arrow key` then press :kbd:`Control +C` or :menuselection:`Edit --> Copy`. To cut text select it first and then press :kbd:`Control +X` or :menuselection:`Edit --> Cut`. To paste text press :kbd:`Control +V` or :menuselection:`Edit --> Paste`. To paste with no formatting press :kbd:`Control + Alt + Shift+ V` or :menuselection:`Edit --> Paste Unformatted Text`.
To change your spacing around your character :menuselection:`Format --> Paragraph`. To manage your indentation and spacing between paragaphs and lines use the :guilabel:`Indents & Spacing` tab. The :guilabel:`Before text` field is how much indentation before each line of text. The :guilabel:`After text` is how much of an indent to put afer the text. The :guilabel:`First line` field shows how you want the first line indented. To add a space above each paragraph increase the :guilabel:`Above paragraph` field. To add a space below a paragraph change the :guilabel:`Below paragraph` field. To change line spacing in this window change the :guilabel:`Line Spacing` field. To change alignment from this window use the :guilabel:`Alignment` tab. To change the alignment choose the :guilabel:`Left`, :guilabel:`Right`, :guilabel:`Center`, or :guilabel:`Justified` radio button to align texst that way. The :guilabel:`Borders` tab has settings for your border. The :guilabel:`Style` menu lets you change what kind of line is used for the border. To change the width of your border change the :guilabel:`Width` field. To choose a different presets of border type press the buttons under :guilabel:`Presets` and will be previewed in the box below. The buttons under :guilabel:`Position` change where the shadow is relative to the text. The field :guilabel:`Distance` is how far the shadow is offset from the border. To change the color of your shadow change the :guilabel:`Color` menu.
To change font color press the button that has a T with a drop on it and a red underline this will bring down several differenent colors you can change your text to a color you want. You can also change your font color threought the :menuselection:`Format --> Character` window.
To make text superscript press the button with A and a smaller B located above it as if it in superscript. To make text subscript press the button that is an A with a smaller B located slightly below it.
If you want text in a text box that can be moved with the mouse press the button that looks like a T with a box around it or :menuselection:`Insert --> Text box`. To insert a hyperlink press :kbd:`Control + K` or :menuselection:`Insert --> Hyperlink`.
To add multiple columns to your document :menuselection:`Format --> Columns`. To have multiple columns in the field that says :guilabel:`Columns` and set to the number of columns you want. When you are done with your settings press the :guilabel:`OK` button or if you decide you do not want to make changes to columns press the :guilabel:`Cancel` button.
To check the spelling of your document press the ABC button with a checkmark, from the :menuselection:`tools --> spelling` or press :kbd:`f7`. To view how your document looks before printing it :menuselection:`File --> Print preview` or :kbd:`Control +Shift +O`. To get back to editing your document press the same thing again or click the close preview button. After you are done writing your document you can press the button that looks like a printer to print, press :kbd:`control+ p` or :menuselection:`file --> print`. To change view or change your printer settings :menuselection:`File --> Printer settings`. To view your word count of how many words are currently in the document is with nothing slected at the bottom of the libreoffice writer window. If you select text with the mouse you can also see the word count of selection from the same spot.
To insert special symbols or characters press the button with the Ω symbol or from the menu :menuselection:`Insert --> Special character`. To insert a page break press :kbd:`control + enter` or from the menu :menuselection:`Insert --> Page Break`.
To undo a mistake you make press :kbd:`control + z` or press the yellow arrow pointing to the left. If you accidently undid code redo or press the green arrow pointing to the right or press :kbd:`control + y`. Under the arrow buttons there is a drop down button that brings up a menu for which steps to undo and redo.
To center your text is press the button with the horizontal lines centered or :menuselection:`format --> align --> centered`. To have your text justified to the right press the button with the lines on the right or :menuselection:`format --> align --> right`. To have your text aligned to left press the lines on the left with or :menuselection:`format --> align --> left`. To center justify your text which will add spaces in between words to make it appears at both orders press the button that has solid horizontal lines all of eqaul length to center justify the text or :guilabel:`Format --> Align --> Justified`.
If you want to change your line spacing of your document :menuselection:`Format --> Spacing --> Line spacing: 2` for double spacing or :menuselection:`Format --> Spacing --> Line spacing 1.5` for one and a half line spacing. To change back to single line spacing of your document :menuselection:`Format --> Spacing --> Line Spacing: 1`.
To add a list of bullet points press :kbd:`Shift +F12` or :menuselection:`Format --> Lists --> Bulleted Lists`. To start a numbered lists press :kbd:`F12` or :menuselection:`Format --> Lists --> Numbered List`. To move an item up in your list :menuselection:`Format --> Lists --> Move Up`. To move an item down in your list :menuselection:`Format --> Lists --> Move Down`. To demote a point to a subpoint :menuselection:`Format --> Lists --> Demote One Level`. To promote this point back up to its previous level :menuselection:`Format --> Lists --> Promote One Level`.
To insert an image into your go to :menuselection:`Insert --> Image` to insert an image directly to your word processing document. To move your image around left click on it and drag the image around. To resize the image while keeping the same aspect ratio click on one of the blue boxes around the corner to resize the image.
To Insert a page number :menuselection:`Insert --> Page number`. To insert the current time into the document :menuselection:`Insert --> field --> Time`. To insert the current date into the document :menuselection:`Insert --> field --> Date`. To insert the number of pages in the document :menuselection:`Insert --> field --> Page count`.
To have a header shown at the top of each page :menuselection:`Insert --> Header and footer --> Header --> Default style`. To have a footer at the bottom of each page :menuselection:`Insert--> Header and footer --> Footer --> Deafault style`. To get back to writing the main part of the document left click on the body of the document.
To zoom for the entire page to be visible :menuselection:`View --> Zoom --> Entire Page`. To zoom so you can see the width of the page and everything is bigger :menuselection:`View --> Zoom ---> Page width`.
To have a view of the document with no margins shown like on a webpage :menuselection:`View --> Web` or To get back to the original view :menuselection:`View --> Menu`. To toggle a vertical scrollbar :menuselection:`View --> Scrollbars --> Vertical Scroll bar`. To have a horizontal scrollbar :menuselection:`View --> Scrollbars --> Horizontal Scroll bar`.
To bring up a window with properties of your document :menuselection:`File --> Properties`. The :guilabel:`General` tab shows metadata about the file including creation or modification time. The :guilabel:`Descrption` tab has fields to input title subject and keywords and lets you also put in comments. The :guilabel:`Title` is where you can optionally put the title on. The :guilabel:`Subject` is a field to input the subject of the document. The :guilabel:`Keywords` is to input keywords on the document. The :guilabel:`Comments` is where you can have comments about the document. To embed any fonts you have in the documnet click the :guilabel:`Font` tab and check the :guilabel:`Embed fonts in the document` checkbox.
