I’ve recently switched to Linux (Debian Bookworm) because I was tired of all the bullshits I had to deal with when using Windows, especially when developing software.

Now I really have to use MS Office applications for my school. Libreoffice is good but not completely compatible with MSOffice, like I can’t use the log graph in the template provided. And their web apps are nearly unusable (especially with Firefox and its variants) , so I need desktop versions.

I can use VM maybe but I don’t want to pay for the Windows license.

How do you guys manage to open MS files appropriately?

Edit: 2024/12/26 I ended up using Windows inside KVM. It worked without license, and office seems to work fine

  • fin@sh.itjust.worksOP
    1·
    1 day ago

    Oh btw I ended up using Windows inside KVM. It worked without license, and office seems to work fine

  • N0x0n@lemmy.ml
    14·
    28 days ago

    I can use VM maybe but I don’t want to pay for the Windows license.

    If this is your only concern, there’s a script floating arround on github (MAS 104k *) that activate any Windows version.

    Not sure I’m allowed to send any links because this could be considerate as piracy and probably isn’t allowed in this community.

    But you have enough keywords to find your way with any search engine if that’s a route you would consider.

    • BearOfaTime@lemm.ee
      2·
      28 days ago

      Microsoft published that script to Github.

      Calling it piracy to use their openly published script is… I don’t know, incorrect?

      • vort3@lemmy.ml
        7·
        28 days ago

        Wait, what? I’m out of the loop here. Microsoft published a free activator? What’s the catch?

      • N0x0n@lemmy.ml
        4·
        28 days ago

        Didn’t knew that ! :/ I’m sure that wasn’t the case in the past (It was only called KMS at the time).

        This is also why it still up and running on GitHub?

        Edit: After a quick research I couldn’t find any info, do you have any reputable link to back your claims?

        Edit2:

        Where can I donate? MAS project doesn’t accept donations and it’s free. It’s because it’s a community project and involves many contributors, splitting donations is not practical, and also because profiting from piracy is not good.

  • astronaut_sloth@mander.xyzEnglish
    7·
    28 days ago

    And their web apps are nearly unusable (especially with Firefox and its variants)

    Admittedly, I use LibreOffice, and it works for almost all of my needs. However, I’ve never encountered the above issue, and the web versions have worked for me on Firefox. What’s your particular issue? The solution could be pretty simple; I have my user-agent string reporting Windows, and I’ve never had an issue. Maybe worth a try?

    Changing the user agent shouldn’t work, but there’s a stupid amount of times that it does, and so I’ve just kept it permanent.

  • Libb@jlai.lu
    6·
    28 days ago

    Now I really have to use MS Office applications for my school. Libreoffice is good but not completely compatible

    Indeed it is not. It all depends the tools you have to use and your level of expectations. But you still may want to some research to see if there is no simple fix available?

    How do you guys manage to open MS files appropriately?

    I don’t try to ‘manage’.

    I mean, if it’s work-related (aka with a deadline and clients waiting for me to deliver) and if I need full compatibility or a very specific set of Office tools and have no alternatives, I simply use a Windows PC with Office installed on it. I would only use it for that purpose, though, as I don’t want Windows to get their dirty hands on my files, but I would use it.

    BTW, there is no need to spend a fortune on that machine/Windows key. Office will run fine on older hardware that can be purchased for dirt cheap used and that Often comes with a Windows license. Maybe you PC has its won Windows license you can still use.

    Also, since you’re a student, your school should provide you with an Office sub or something like that, or they should not be allowed to require you to use it.

    One other thing you may want to do is explain your teacher the issues you and maybe other students are facing by requiring you to use tools that are not relying on open standards. Maybe also suggest alternatives if you know some?

    • fin@sh.itjust.worksOP
      4·
      28 days ago

      explain your teacher the issues you and maybe other students are facing by requiring you to use tools that are not relying on open standards

      I already did that and they said that I should use Windows. I can’t complain because the school specifies Windows as the requirement

      • Libb@jlai.lu
        3·
        28 days ago

        Then, I would do as I suggested: either install Windows +Office in a VM on your PC, or find a dirt cheap used one with its windows license, do a clean reinstallation of Windows (to be safe) and then only use it when you need to run Office.

        Sometimes, it’s not worth the time to try to find workarounds.

  • Vittelius@feddit.org
    51·
    28 days ago

    I never had a problem with LibreOffice. But I also never encountered a situation at school where “advanced” MS office features where required. So, pure luck, I guess.

    That being said, LO is not the only the only office suite for Linux. All of these have better MS Office support than LO:

    • OnlyOffice: for the most part web based, but there is also a desktop app that wraps the web app into a local container. Free & open source, integrates with nextcloud.
    • SoftMaker Office: Proprietary, paid solution, that advertises with having the best MS compatibility on the market. Based in Germany. Usually €99, currently €70 (or a €30 annual subscription)
    • FreeOffice: Free but proprietary. Feature reduced version of SoftMaker Office (Comparison)
    • WPS Office: Free but proprietary. Chinese, I had some problems with it when I last tried it to install years ago. Maybe they fixed them since, IDK
  • wobfan@lemmy.zipEnglish
    41·
    27 days ago

    Actually Office on Wine is in a pretty usable state so maybe you could give it a try. What does not work (or didn’t work the last time I tried, like 2 years ago), was the connection to OneDrive and stuff. So you couldn’t work collaboratively.

    But otherwise everything worked just fine, just as it did on Windows. One more caveat though, VBA is not available in Excel, in case you need that.

    • fin@sh.itjust.worksOP
      1·
      27 days ago

      Okay, maybe I’ll try that too

      All other Linux native solutions didn’t seem to work for me

      By the way, is there any tutorials or something that you’ve followed during your installation?

  • traches@sh.itjust.worksEnglish
    3·
    27 days ago

    If you need honest-to-god office, then yeah you’ll need a windows installation. Either a VM or a second drive is best.

    You can use windows indefinitely without activating, you’ll just have the watermark and default desktop background.

  • Kidplayer_666@lemm.ee
    3·
    28 days ago

    WPS office is proprietary but works, so is FreeOffice. OnlyOffice, I think the desktop editors at least is FOSS

  • verdigris@lemmy.ml
    3·
    28 days ago

    It sounds like the only problem is that you can’t edit a graph in a template, is that true? Any chance you can post the file, or perhaps just the graph section of the file? If it’s rendering properly in LibreOffice then I suspect someone can figure out how to edit it.

  • TourCookie@lemmy.world
    2·
    27 days ago

    Hope you find a solution! I will start school next year and mabey i will search for the same solution as you. Good luck. I use Libreoffice as my main program for documents, writing ect.

  • Shihali@sh.itjust.worksEnglish
    2·
    28 days ago

    Do you have a school computer lab you can use? If the school truly requires MS Office and gives you a copy, they will have no sympathy for not using it.

    • fin@sh.itjust.worksOP
      1·
      28 days ago

      I have access to school desktops that I can login with my credentials, but this way I need to go to the campus everytime I want to do something with MS Office. That’s fine though because it’s just 10 minutes away from home with my bicycle