How to get code block with syntax highlighting into LibreOffice Writer

Question

I am using Linux. I want to write small pieces of code and paste them into LibreOffice Writer. I do not care too much about which code editor to use, although preferably it would be ViM or Sublime Text 3.

I have tried several avenues, but all of them are unsuccessful:

• Write the code in ViM and save them as HTML with TOhtml. Then, open the HTML file with Firefox, copy the code and paste it in LibreOffice with Paste Special/HTML. The colors are gone, though.
• Write the code in Sublime Text 3 and export it using the SublimeHighlight module. I can copy the text as RTF/HTML, but when pasting it in LibreOffice it pastes the literal HTML code. Paste Special didn't solve it either.

How can one paste HTML/RTF code into LibreOffice Writer?

Running Xubuntu 16.04 and LibreOffice 5.1.6.2 10m0(Build:2)

Solution

Libreoffice extensions

There are several extensions that allow to highlight a code snippet.
You can search for them in extensions.libreoffice.org.

Among the others

• code highlighter
• code colorizer formatter

The steps to follow are usually as easy as

1. Insert a new Text Box (Insert -> Text Box)
2. Copy and paste/write your code snippet into the text box (You can choose any fonts based on your preference)
3. Select the text box
4. Go to Tools -> Highlight Code -> Language of the code

^{(From Code Highlighter)}

You may need to install

sudo apt install libreoffice-script-provider-python python3-pip
sudo pip3 install pygments

Comments

[Hastur]

Note that if instead you decide to use LaTex for a better result, there are macro that will work fine for you in that case too.

[einpoklum]

code highlighter gives me an error message when trying to highlight

[Bodo]

@einpoklum If you want to get help regarding this error it would be better to write a separate question with a reference to this answer and describe your environment and show the input and the exact error message.

[Hastur]

@einpoklum And maybe add the libreoffice, python, pygments versions too :-)

[einpoklum]

@Hastur: github.com/slgobinath/libreoffice-code-highlighter/issues/43

[Hastur]

@einpoklum Good an open bug. Let's hope someone will take it in charge and solve it... I did not write this app I just used (to be honest few, because I prefer to use LaTex ;-) ). BTW It seems there is a fix: And renaming before installing, the downloaded extension's file name to codehighlighter.oxt, is the solution.. Give it a look if it works for you.