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Sunset17

Member

Registered: 2026-09-19

Posts: 2

Is there something unique about LibreWriter in Q4OS?

New to Q4OS, I have used LibreOffice in all the Linux distros I've used. This is the first time it is not opening a file (.odt) and displaying properly. The settings seem to be correct, yet the text does not fit the page as it should. Is there a setting in display configuration that could affect this? This is my first distro based only on debian. Last several were based on ubuntu. Does that affect the apps that are installed?

bin

Member

From: U.K.

Registered: 2016-01-28

Posts: 1,604

Re: Is there something unique about LibreWriter in Q4OS?

Hello and welcome to Q4OS
In short, no there is nothing in Debian that would cause this on its own.
Without seeing a screenshot of the issue it's a bit difficult and we'll need to wait for the devs to allow you to upload images.

However, the first thoughts would be fonts and page sizes. If the fonts used ate not present then you'll get substitution that may cause layout issues
It's worth checking in your Q4OS settings to make sure you have your locale / country set correctly to make sure the correct page sizes are there.
If you open the file and then save as a doc or docx is the resulting file also not correct when you open that?

Taige

Member

Registered: 2025-08-19

Posts: 80

Re: Is there something unique about LibreWriter in Q4OS?

New to Q4OS, I have used LibreOffice in all the Linux distros I've used. This is the first time it is not opening a file (.odt) and displaying properly. The settings seem to be correct, yet the text does not fit the page as it should. Is there a setting in display configuration that could affect this? This is my first distro based only on debian. Last several were based on ubuntu. Does that affect the apps that are installed?

This happens when you switch from Ubuntu-based distributions to one that is directly based on Debian -> Q4OS.

The problem that manifests itself with  that .odt file is most likely due to the lack of the correct font and perhaps also due to the way the program itself is displayed.

To solve it, it should be sufficient to install the essential fonts package. 

Sunset17

Member

Registered: 2026-09-19

Posts: 2

Re: Is there something unique about LibreWriter in Q4OS?

Hello and welcome to Q4OS
In short, no there is nothing in Debian that would cause this on its own.
Without seeing a screenshot of the issue it's a bit difficult and we'll need to wait for the devs to allow you to upload images.

However, the first thoughts would be fonts and page sizes. If the fonts used ate not present then you'll get substitution that may cause layout issues
It's worth checking in your Q4OS settings to make sure you have your locale / country set correctly to make sure the correct page sizes are there.
If you open the file and then save as a doc or docx is the resulting file also not correct when you open that?

Thank you bin. I checked locale/country everything is set correctly. I saved as docx but it didn't help. Even though it showed the correct font in the menu area, when I scrolled through the fonts it isn't there. I scrolled through the available fonts trying several, but nothing came close to the formatting I have used. I was surprised there aren't that many fonts, just many language variations of a few.  I appreciate your input.

Added later 11 min 04 s:

New to Q4OS, I have used LibreOffice in all the Linux distros I've used. This is the first time it is not opening a file (.odt) and displaying properly. The settings seem to be correct, yet the text does not fit the page as it should. Is there a setting in display configuration that could affect this? This is my first distro based only on debian. Last several were based on ubuntu. Does that affect the apps that are installed?

This happens when you switch from Ubuntu-based distributions to one that is directly based on Debian -> Q4OS.

The problem that manifests itself with  that .odt file is most likely due to the lack of the correct font and perhaps also due to the way the program itself is displayed.

To solve it, it should be sufficient to install the essential fonts package. 

Thank you Taige. I appreciate the help. That does appear to be the problem, not having the font I had used. I should have thought of that, it was a common occurance in my working days with windoz. I searched in several locations and I'm not finding an "essential fonts package". Could you direct me to where I could find it?

hchiper

Member

From: Belgium

Registered: 2020-07-28

Posts: 835

Re: Is there something unique about LibreWriter in Q4OS?

The best solution is to list the names of the missing fonts for your document, search the web for them (you need likely .ttf files) and install them on your system. A lot of fonts are free and available for free. The way to install them depends on your desktop environment (System settings > Fonts > ... on Plasma). If the original fonts on your previous system are free of right, you can even copy them (the .ttf files) on an USB key and install it on Q4OS.

Another possibility is to configure LibreOffice to let it know which font to use in the case a font in your document is missing. From LO menu use Tools > Options > LibreOffice > Fonts and fill the Replacement or Substitution table. Also check the box under the list to apply the substitutions.

Last edited by hchiper (2026-09-21 07:31)

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Q4OS machine: Samsung R519 - Pentium T4200 2.0 GHz - 4 GB RAM - 500 GB SSD

Taige

Member

Registered: 2025-08-19

Posts: 80

Re: Is there something unique about LibreWriter in Q4OS?

Hello and welcome to Q4OS
In short, no there is nothing in Debian that would cause this on its own.
Without seeing a screenshot of the issue it's a bit difficult and we'll need to wait for the devs to allow you to upload images.

However, the first thoughts would be fonts and page sizes. If the fonts used ate not present then you'll get substitution that may cause layout issues
It's worth checking in your Q4OS settings to make sure you have your locale / country set correctly to make sure the correct page sizes are there.
If you open the file and then save as a doc or docx is the resulting file also not correct when you open that?

Thank you bin. I checked locale/country everything is set correctly. I saved as docx but it didn't help. Even though it showed the correct font in the menu area, when I scrolled through the fonts it isn't there. I scrolled through the available fonts trying several, but nothing came close to the formatting I have used. I was surprised there aren't that many fonts, just many language variations of a few.  I appreciate your input.

Added later 11 min 04 s:

New to Q4OS, I have used LibreOffice in all the Linux distros I've used. This is the first time it is not opening a file (.odt) and displaying properly. The settings seem to be correct, yet the text does not fit the page as it should. Is there a setting in display configuration that could affect this? This is my first distro based only on debian. Last several were based on ubuntu. Does that affect the apps that are installed?

This happens when you switch from Ubuntu-based distributions to one that is directly based on Debian -> Q4OS.

The problem that manifests itself with  that .odt file is most likely due to the lack of the correct font and perhaps also due to the way the program itself is displayed.

To solve it, it should be sufficient to install the essential fonts package. 

Thank you Taige. I appreciate the help. That does appear to be the problem, not having the font I had used. I should have thought of that, it was a common occurance in my working days with windoz. I searched in several locations and I'm not finding an "essential fonts package". Could you direct me to where I could find it?

The best solution is to list the names of the missing fonts for your document, search the web for them (you need likely .ttf files) and install them on your system. A lot of fonts are free and available for free. The way to install them depends on your desktop environment (System settings > Fonts > ... on Plasma). If the original fonts on your previous system are free of right, you can even copy them (the .ttf files) on an USB key and install it on Q4OS.

Another possibility is to configure LibreOffice to let it know which font to use in the case a font in your document is missing. From LO menu use Tools > Options > LibreOffice > Fonts and fill the Replacement or Substitution table. Also check the box under the list to apply the substitutions.

I think hchiper's solution might help you fix the problem.

Or you could change the font in the original document and choose one that is present in the target operating system.

q4osteam

Q4OS Team

Registered: 2015-12-06

Posts: 6,384

Website

Re: Is there something unique about LibreWriter in Q4OS?

Is there something unique about LibreWriter in Q4OS?

No, Q4OS features the stock Debian Libreoffice.