Can I install Microsoft Office? If so, how?

Question

I want to know how to install Microsoft Office (specifically, Microsoft Office 2010) in Ubuntu?

I am a die hard fan of MS Office and I want to know if there is a way I can use it in Ubuntu.

Solution 1

Try PlayOnLinux.

Note that the first few images are from myself, and the rest are from here since I don't have a MS Office 2010 CD.

The following tutorial also works in Ubuntu 12.10.

Download PlayOnLinux using the commands:

wget -q "http://deb.playonlinux.com/public.gpg" -O- | sudo apt-key add -
sudo wget http://deb.playonlinux.com/playonlinux_precise.list -O     
/etc/apt/sources.list.d/playonlinux.list
sudo apt-get update
sudo apt-get install playonlinux

Click Install.

Search for the Microsoft Office version you want to install (in our case, it's MS Office 2010).

Click Install.

Click Next.

Choose Other. I'll assume that you have your MS Office 2010 CD.

Insert your CD and type /media/cdrom in the blank space. Replace cdrom with the name of the CD. Then click next and MS Office 2010 will be installed!

Although you can install MS Office, I recommend using LibreOffice (which is installed by default). It's a free Office Suite that is compatible with all your office files.

Solution 2

Wine is a Windows application compatibility layer that allows you to run some Windows applications in Linux.

According to Wine AppDB for MS Office 2010, MS Office 2010 (32-bit) is given a Platinum rating, ie; it installs and runs flawlessly on an out-of-the-box Wine installation. Wine Version 1.5.13 or better is required for greater compatibility.

I have had much success getting office 2007 working, but nothing past that. I'd recommend taking a look into learning more about LibreOffice.

Solution 3

You may try using Wine (see Software Center) for Windows applications. Not sure if Office 2010 will work. Although Office 2003 works fine for me.

Solution 4

I tried to install Office 2010 on my Ubuntu system. It crashed half way through. However, Office 2007 works without issues on the same settings. I suggest you try out Office 2007 . There is virtually no difference between the two. Mind you, MS Outlook and MS Access dont run on wine at all (atleast for me they fail to launch every time) . Only Word, Powerpoint , Excel and Publisher and Visio will work.

UPDATE:

I have managed to install office 2010 using playonlinux 4.0.16 on Ubuntu 12.04 Beta 1 64bit. Find the tutorial here

Its as easy as installing it on Windows. See the screenshot below

Solution 5

A fallback option is to run an actual version of Windows under a virtualization system like virtualbox or KVM. Of these, VirtualBox is the easiest to get running and to learn: just install the package virtualbox-ose with aptitude, Synaptic, etc. It's a fairly standard GUI application. Consult the online manual and/or other documentation for further info.

View more solutions

Comments

[jsterr]

Microsoft Office 2007 works well too. - bit.ly/igN2BC (English Tutorial) - bit.ly/eaC4iM (German Tutorial)

[James Mertz]

LibreOffice is just so limiting compared to the power that Excel especialy, but even Word and PowerPoint provide at this point.

[Sos]

Though one year has passed (and the menus of PlayOnLinux are slightly different now), the installation went smooth and is now kicking! I just had two bugs on POL related with Office OneNote and Outlook, though I specified that I didn't want them installed - so, no problem here. Good job

[yoavram]

Same here. Word works with Hebrew after changing Wine to latest version (playonlinux.com/en/topic-11298-Hebrew_Font_is_messed_up.htm‌​l)

[Braiam]

Could you include the instructions to do so?

[tumultous_rooster]

great solution and horrible nightmare at the same time.

[Ricardo Magalhães Cruz]

It seems only the 32-bits version of Office 2010 is supported, even if the machine is 64-bits. Can anyone confirm this please?