This tutorial will help you in setting up F4 or Folio paper size in LibreOffice Writer in step by step with examples and pictures. This includes making templates so you can quickly make F4 documents without repeating paper size setup and further make PDF for easy printing. Now let's try it out.

Subscribe to UbuntuBuzz Telegram Channel to get article updates.Paper Size List

• A4 = 21.00 x 29.70 cm
• A5 = 14.80 x 21.00 cm
• F4 = 21.0 × 33.0 cm
• F4 (alternative) = 21.5 × 33.0 cm
• Letter = 27.94 x 21.59 cm
• Long Bond = 33.02 x 21.59 cm
  

Configuring Inch and Centimeter Units

If your default measurement unit in Writer is inch and you want to change it to cm, or vice versa, do the configuration as the following:

1. Open the menu Tools > Options.

2. Navigate to LibreOffice Writer section on left > General.

3. Change measurement unit from Inch to cm (or vice versa). 

4. OK. 

5. Unit changed into what you need.

Step 1. Change Paper Size

Go to Format > Page Style > under Paper format section, select "User" > change width x height into 21.00 cm x 33.00 cm > OK > document changed into F4. 

If you want to use alternative size (also called Folio in Indonesia and Long Bond in Phillipines), change the size into 21.5 cm x 33.0 cm.

Step 2. Save Document

Go to File > Save as > document saved in F4 paper size > document is ready to print.  

 (A Writer document with F4 paper size)

Step 3. Save as Template

File > Templates > Save as template ... > select "My Templates" > name it "F4" > save > OK.

Step 4. Close Writer

Close the program LibreOffice Writer (Ctrl+Q). 

Step 5. Create New F4 Document

Go to File > New > Templates > select "F4" > OK > a new F4 document is ready.

Alternatively, you can instead press Ctrl+Shift+N.

 

Step 6. Make F4 Default Size

This step is optional.

1. File > Templates > Save as template ... > give check mark 'Set as default template' > give it name "F4" > select 'My Templates' category > OK. This will replace the existing one if any.

2. Repeat step 5. 

3. Now every new Writer document will be in F4 paper size by default.

Step 7. Save as PDF and Print

Finally, you can save the F4 size document as PDF for easy printing:

1. Go to File > Export > Export as PDF > OK > PDF saved.

2. Open the PDF in your PDF reader. 

3. Print the document.

 

References

F4 Paper Size -- by Wikipedia

F4 Paper Size -- by Paper Size

Happy writing!

This article is licensed under CC BY-SA 3.0.

This tutorial will help you to create mail merge with LibreOffice explained step by step with pictures and examples. Mail merge is a method of making stuffs consisted of multiple personalized copies like official letters, invitations, envelops, identity cards, student score reports etc. using word processor, spreadsheet and database. Finally, in this exercise we will make school letters for students' parents as an example so you can practice and then adapt it to your own needs. Let's study now!

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What is mail merge?

The basics of mail merge is automatically changing data from a spreadsheet or database source to multiple final documents aimed for different recipients. This helps us so we do not need to create multiple mails manually. For example, a set of mail merge documents might contains variable items as the following:

• Name of the recipient:
• His/her address:
• His/her occupation :
  
• His/her position (in business):
• His/her email (if any):
• Prices or bill (for payment):
  
• etc.
  

 

What we will make?

We will make, in automatic ways, multiple mails intended for individual parents of the students of an imaginary school containting each student's study scores, respectively. Think of this as school's student score cards in form of mails. Every mail should contains as the following: 

• Name of the student, 
• His/her parent's name, 
• Address, and 
• His/her scores.

Requirements

LibreOffice Base is required to work with Mail Merge. Thus, you should install it first if you didn't have it yet:

$ sudo apt-get install libreoffice-base

Once installed, Base will be present on your start menu. However, we will not use Base by running itself but only from Writer window instead.   (LibreOffice Base running on Kubuntu) 
Step 1. Prepare the Data

Before processing, you need a data. Write this spreadsheet with Calc and save the document as mail-merge-data.ods. Remember that this is just the same as the previous exercise from Calc Basics with a little changes -- you may find some names of city or place from Indonesia here.

Step 2. Prepare the Document

Next you need the document as a template for all the mail copies. Write this document with Writer and save it as document-for-mail-merge.odt.

Step 3. Adding Data Source

Next you need to show data source on the document so you can later create your template from it. Follow the following procedures:

1. Open menubar File > Wizards > Address Data Source.
2. Address Book Data Source Wizard will open.
3. Select 'Other external data source' and click Next.
4. Click 'Settings' and new dialog will open. 
5. Select Database type = 'Spreadsheet' and click Next.
6. Select spreadsheet file mail-merge-data.ods created previously and click Next.
7. If the data source is spreadsheet, do not click Field Assignment, but click Next.
8. Tick check marks for 'Embed this ...' and 'Make this address book ...' and then fill Address book name = mail-merge-data. Finally,
   
9. Click Finish.
10. Open menubar View > Data Source > data source panel will open like pictures below. 
11. In the Data Source, navigate the mail-merge-data item and double click Sheet 1 to show the spreadsheet on Writer window. See picture below.
    

Before adding the data:

After adding the data:

Step 4. Finishing the Template

Next you need to put (drag and drop) every item into the right place from data source into your document template. Firstly, please notice that we have 7 variables STUDENT NAME, PARENT NAME, ADDRESS, MATH SCORE, ENGLISH SCORE, SCIENCE SCORE, and SOCIAL SCORE. Your job is to put each of those variables into the right places in the document. This is the heart of mail merge.

1. In the letter, first line, remove <PARENT NAME> text and drag and drop PARENT NAME header from the Data Source into its place. See picture.

2. Second line, remove <ADDRESS NAME> text and drag and drop ADDRESS header from the Data Source replacing its position. See picture.

3. Next line, remove <STUDENT NAME> text and drag and drop STUDENT NAME header from Data Source replacing its position. 

4. Do the same as steps 1 2 3 with <MATH SCORE>, <ENGLISH SCORE>, <SCIENCE SCORE>, and <SOCIAL SCORE>.

5. Check for the other variables if any. If haven't replaced with drag and drop, do drag and drop for them until all variables put correctly.

6. Save document.

Step 5. Run Mail Merge

Next go to menubar File > Print > when asked for printing a form letter, answer with Yes > Mail Merge dialog will open. 

 On the Mail Merge dialog, select 'File' instead of 'Print' option. See picture.

 

Under Save Merged Document section, select 'Save as individual documents' > select 'Generate file name from database' > select field STUDENT NAME > select path /home/username/Documents if you want to save there > select file format ODF Text Document > OK.

NOTES: you can change multiple options here for example, instead of 'student name' you can choose 'parent name' as the document file name if you need.

 

Step 6. Save as Single File

To sum all mails in one document, do the step 5 above but instead change the selection to 'Save as a single document' and OK. This will result in one document containing all of the multiple mails.

 

You can choose this Step 6 or instead Step 7 below according to your needs. 

Step 7. Save as Multiple Files

To produce multiple documents containing individual mails, for example if you need to send each one to individual recipients, simply do Step 5 without changes. This will result in multiple Writer documents (ODT files) with student name as the file name.

You can also select either this Step 7 or Step 6 above suiting your needs.

Step 8. Save as PDF

Instead doing step 7 or 8, you can also save single or multiple documents as PDF directly to help you printing. To do so, simply do Step 5 but change the format into PDF - Portable Document Format. See picture below showing the same mail documents but with parent name as the file name and in PDF format.

Final ResultsSee picture below. You can see the document shows multiple mails with different recipients and different student scores put accordingly. Your document result should look more or less similar with this.

Afterwords 

As per this exercise, now you should be able to do basic mail merge -- enough to make your own letters for businesses, ID cards, reports and unlimited number of any other kind of documents with multiple recipients. Keep exercising and maximizing your creativity. See you next time. 

References

Chapter 14 Mail Merge -- by LibreOffice

LibreOffice: Mail Merge -- by Ellak Course

This article is licensed under CC BY-SA 3.0.

This tutorial will explain how to enable two keyboard layouts on Ubuntu GNOME or KDE namely English (US) and Arabic (Buckwalter). The goal is to help you type Arabic on computer by using standard physical QWERTY keyboard without having an Arabic one. Now let's try it.

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About Arabic Typing

Firstly, here's a standard computer keyboard also called QWERTY thanks to its first alphabet keys placement. An Ubuntu computer is by default using this layout. On Ubuntu system, it is also called "English (US)".

Now, here's table of Arabic alphabet from alif to ja'.

Source: Arabic Script at Wikipedia

Then here's standard Arabic keyboard layout on computers. With this, you can type Arabic with QWERTY keyboard. Notice QWERTY keys replaced by Arabic ض ص ث ق ف غ . It doesn't sound close. This standard layout is suitable if you have standard physical Arabic keyboard as well. On Ubuntu system, it is called "Arabic".

And here's Arabic Buckwalter, an alternative to the above keyboard layout. Notice QWERTY keys are replaced by Arabic  ق و ع ر ت ي . It sounds very close. So, this layout is suitable is you only have a pyshical QWERTY keyboard instead of Arabic one. On Ubuntu, it is called "Arabic (Buckwalter)".

 Finally, on computers with QWERTY keyboard, the keyboard layouts can be added or removed digitally and switch between as the users wish. That means one can type alphabet as well as arabic by switching between English (US) and Arabic (Buckwalter) layouts. To do so, we need to configure the computer first. That is the purpose of this article. Before configuring, next sections will talk about the fonts and the key table first.

Arabic Fonts

We recommend several free/libre software licensed fonts for Arabic typing in general and typing Al Qur'an in particular.

• Kacst Fonts (pre-installed)
• Noto Fonts (pre-installed)
  
• Liberation Fonts (pre-installed)
• Free Fonts (preinstalled)
  
• Amiri Quran
• Scheherezade

 

Arabic Buckwalter Table

This table maps between Arabic letter, its pronounciation, and its QWERTY keyboard key for use with Arabic (Buckwalter) layout. To use it, for example, to type alif ( ا ) you press Shift+A key, to type ja' ( ي ) you press Y key and so forth. You can print out this and put it close to your computer in order to help yourself getting used to it.

Settings on Ubuntu GNOME

1. Run Settings.

2. Go to Keyboard Layout section.

3. Click Add button > select Arabic (Buckwalter) > OK > layout added.

4. A new item of "us" and "ara" will show on panel.

5. Click "us" to switch to "ara". 

6. Click "ara" to switch back to "us".

 

Settings on Ubuntu KDE (Kubuntu)

1. Run System Settings.

2. Go to Keyboard > Layouts section.

3. Click Add button > select Arabic (Buckwalter) > OK > Arabic (Buckwalter) added > Apply > close System Settings.

4. A new entry of "us" and "ara" will show on panel.

5. Click "us" to switch to Arabic layout.

6. Click "ara" to switch to English layout.

Typing Arabic

To type Arabic:

1. Click "us" so it switches to "ara" on the panel.

2. Put cursor at Writer document.

3. Type ا ب ت ث ج ح خ . You should get arabic letters.

4. See Arabic table above to type more.

5. See typing alphabet below to type alphabet letters again.

Typing Alphabet

To type alphabet:"

1. Click "ara" so it switches to "us" on the panel.

2. Put cursor at Writer document.

3. Type A B C D E F. You should get alphabet letters. 

4. See typing arabic section above to write arabic letters again.

Faster Typing with Shortcut Key

Finally, you can switch between Arabic and English modes quickly by pressing Ctrl+Alt+Z for example instead of mouse clicking over and over again. To do so, you should configure the system. 

1. Run System Settings. 

2. Go to Keyboard Layouts section > see Shortcut Keys section > change alternative shortcut with Ctrl+Alt+Z > Apply > close System Settings.

3. Press Ctrl+Alt+Z to switch keyboard layout. 

4. An indicator will appear every time keyboard layout switched.

Afterword
Now you should be able to type Arabic aside from English alphabets on Ubuntu computers. This article applies to both GNOME and KDE variants, however, you can adapt it to other variants as well, for example, Xfce and MATE, as the workarounds are very close. Happy writing!

This tutorial will show you how to get latest version of Debian GNU/Linux operating system from the internet for desktop, laptop, and server purposes. Debian is a universal, free, libre, and open source software (FLOSS) for everyone. With this, we want to help many Debian new comers especially those whose English is not they language who do not know where and which file to download in order to install and run Debian on their computers. Finally, this tutorial accompanies the other one, Debian Downloading Guide for Older Versions, you can also read if you wish. Now let's start downloading.

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Glossary

When talking about Debian, it is necessary for us to first understand several terms used by Debian as the following:

Install CD / DVD: the Debian full installer. This is the version equal to Microsoft Windows CD installer (can install only, no LiveCD).

Live installer: the Debian Live version with installer capability. This is the version equal to Ubuntu CD installer (can install and also LiveCD).

Flavors: the Debian Live Desktop Variants. These are equal to Kubuntu, Lubuntu, Xubuntu variants to Ubuntu Desktop.

Netinstall: the Debian small installer version which requires internet to work. This is the version equal to Arch GNU/Linux installer (command line-driven, no graphics).

Images: not photos, but the Debian Installer files you download in .iso file extension.

BitTorrent: an alternative way so user can download Install CD, Live Installer, or Netinstall faster, more reliable, and error-resistant. Requires additional software.

i386 and amd64: PC 32-bit and PC 64-bit architectures respectively, regardless the brands of both Intel and AMD. Choose the suitable one for your PC architecture.

1. Visit Debian Website

https://www.debian.org and then debian.org/download

Type the above link on your web browser and press Enter. You will visit Debian The Universal Operating System website. Click the DOWNLOAD link / button appear on the front.  Continue next section.

(Debian website in 2022)

 

2. Visit Main Download Page

https://www.debian.org/distrib and then https://www.debian.org/CD/

On the 'Thank you for Downloading Debian' page, under 'Other Installers' section, click / go to Getting Debian link.

Debian main download page will connect to multiple pages
 

(Getting Debian is the central of all downloads)  Continue next section. 

3. Choose Either Debian Installer or Debian Live

On the 'Debian on CDs/DVDs' page, if you want to install a full Debian DVD or CD, go to / click the link Download CD/DVD Images using HTTP. See picture below.  

(This page is the central info on getting Debian, including buying and downloading it)

Alternatively, still on the same page, if you want to have Debian Live Flavours instead (GNOME, KDE, Xfce etc.), go to Download Live images using HTTP... See picture below.

(Debian Live exists under the same download page)

4. Download Debian Installer

https://www.debian.org/CD/http-ftp/

Step 1. Once you went to Download CD/DVD Images using HTTP page, click Download Official CD/DVD images of the "stable" release. You will jump down to the download section.

h(This page is the actual download page of all Debian)

Step 2. Under 'Official ... "stable" release' section, you will have to choose between 32-bit or 64-bit for your computer. In Debian terminology, choose either i386 or amd64.

(This page section leads to Debian architecture selection) 
We will give you example of choosing the DVD, the PC 64-bit (amd64) architecture version of Debian.

Step 3. Debian Download Page will open.  Scroll down to see all download links as Debian download pages are typically long.

(This page is the actual download page of a Debian version)

Step 4. Click debian-11.4.0-amd64-DVD-1.iso * to download Debian.

(This page is the place where user download the actual ISO image of Debian) 
Step 5. You are downloading Debian. 

(Web browser is downloading Debian 11 DVD amd64)

Step 6. Once finished, Debian downloaded.

*) Debian version constantly changed so this file name will change in the future but you should understand the gist.

5. Download Debian Live (Alternative)

If you want Debian Live-Installer instead of Debian Installer-Only, do as the following:

Step 1. Visit the Live Install Images page https://www.debian.org/CD/live.

Step 2. Scroll down the page to see the download links.

Step 3. Under DVD/USB section, select either PC 64-bit and PC 32-bit. 

We will give you example of downloading Debian Live amd64 KDE edition among other choices.

Step 4. Debian Live download page will open. Scroll down to see the download links. 

Step 5. Click debian-live-11.4.0-amd64-kde.iso.*

Step 6. You are downloading Debian Live. 

Step 7. Once finished, Debian Live downloaded. 

Step 8. Repeat steps above to download any other Debian Live Editions if you wish.

*) Debian Live versions are available as multiple editions, from Cinnamon to Xfce choices, and the version numbers also change constantly so tomorrow's file names will change in the future but you should already got the gist.

 

Afterword

Once downloaded, now you have a copy of Debian ISO image ready to use. What you should do now? You need to burn the image file into a DVD or write it to make a bootable instead. You can use GNOME Disk Utility for that purpose. Finally, you can follow our latest Debian Install Guide for making your computer works with Debian GNU/Linux even in dualbooting mode with Microsoft Windows. Happy downloading!

 

This article is licensed under CC BY-SA 3.0.

Did you miss the old Firefox's feed reader feature? You can take it back by using Smart RSS. If you wonder, it is an ability to subscribe and read offline any blogs and websites you often visit in one place. Smart RSS is easy to use and has beautiful user interface, it could be your daily news reader. Now let's try it out.

Subscribe to UbuntuBuzz Telegram Channel to get article updates. 1. Install Smart RSS

Visit Smart-rss-reader and click Add to Firefox / Install Now. Once installed to Firefox, you will notice a new RSS feed logo on your toolbar.

2. Visit A Website

Try to visit www.ubuntubuzz.com. 

3. Subscribe to RSS Feed

While visiting, notice the RSS logo turns orange color > right-click it > Subscribe > select either Atom or RSS > subscribed > a new page displayed with the news you have subscribed to.

 4. Subscribe More

Please repeat step 2 and 3 for any other websites you want to subscribe.

5. Read the News

To enjoy the news you subscribed, click RSS Feed logo, it will open the Smart RSS page. Now feel free to read your favorite news. You can use search and pin feature also if you wish.

(Left: websites you are subscribed to | Middle: news of a selected website | Right: reading the selected news ) 
Happy reading!

This article is licensed under CC BY-SA 3.0.

We have finished publishing a collection of very basic Calc Spreadsheet tutorials for beginner grade since January 2022. Calc is a spreadsheet for everyone from LibreOffice -- the most excellent free alternative to Microsoft Excel. This collection explains the use of 14 basic Calc Formulas from SUM to VLOOKUP divided into eight parts. Now you can easily learn and practice by reading them one by one via links below. Happy learning!

Subscribe to UbuntuBuzz Telegram Channel to get article updates.Part 1: SUM, AVERAGE, and COUNT

To return total of a range of numeric values, the average, and the items.

Part 2: IF, SUMIF, COUNTIF

To make decision making to data, sum them with requirements, and count items also based on requirements you decide.

Part 3: PROPER, UPPER, LOWER

To manipulate alphabetical text (e.g. names) into proper cased (like a person name), all uppercase, and all lowercase.

Part 4: LEFT, MID, RIGHT

To manipulate text (e.g. names) by taking several characters out of it calculated from the left, the middle, and the right.

Part 5: LEN and CONCATENATE

To calculate number of characters a text is and to join several different texts into one. 

Part 6: ROUND

To round decimal numbers.

Part 7: VLOOKUP

To search for a data from a vertically stacked source. 

Part 8: HLOOKUP

Counterpart version of VLOOKUP, to search for a data from a horizontally stacked source.

 

Acknowledgement

This tutorial is based upon the ideas of 14 Microsoft Excel Formulas/Functions Mostly Used in Works (in Indonesian) by Jendela Tutorial. By this, we want also to show that Calc's functions are the same as and compatible with Excel's counterparts so it is possible for one to work with Calc only without relying to Excel. 

This article is licensed under CC BY-SA 3.0.

This tutorial will explain how one can make video out of Impress ODP presentation. Impress is the presentation program of LibreOffice. In the video, you can include your narrations voice and (optionally) your face if you want. To do this, you will need a screen recording software, and here we will use the popular OBS Studio for example.

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Requirements

• LibreOffice Impress
• Screen recording program

 

Screen Recorders

We recommend free software as the following. Notice (*) means fully available for GNU/Linux, Windows, and MacOS.

- OBS Studio * (we use this)

- FFMPEG *

- Simple Screen Recorder

- Kazam

- Vokoscreen

1. Install the Requirements

To do so on Ubuntu, do the following command line on Terminal.

$ sudo apt-get install obs-studio

2. Make Shortcut Keys

• Start recording = Ctrl+Shift+S
• Stop recording = Ctrl+Shift+O

Please create shortcut keys above into OBS Studio or any other screen recorder you use. These will help you record only the presentation without anything else unnecessary. 

To do so, run OBS Studio and go to File > Settings > Hotkeys > place cursor at Start Recording > press Ctrl+Shift+S > place cursor at Stop Recording > press Ctrl+Shift+O > OK. Once configured, go to next step.

 

3. Open Impress Presentation

• Run LibreOffice Impress then open the ODP document.
• Start Slideshow (F5).
• First slide of the presentation will show.
  
• Switch window (Alt+Tab) to OBS Studio.

(This is an amusing presentation by one of our students,
please don't mind the fun parts)

4. Start Presentation and Recording

• On OBS Studio, Add Source > Window Capture (Xcomposite) > OK > select Presenting: Your Presentation Title > OK. 
• Switch window (Alt+Tab) back to Impress.
  
• Start recording (Ctrl+Shift+S).
• Do your presentation.
• OBS Studio will record while you are presenting.
  

 (OBS Studio: this is the display when Impress is presenting; notice the Add Source button at the bottom and Presenting: option selected on the Properties dialog)

 

5. End Presentation

• Stop recording (Ctrl+Shift+O). 
• End Impress presentation (Esc).
  
• Presentation video will be saved in the selected folder.
• Close Impress and OBS Studio. 
• Play the video.
  

 (Video in MKV format and is playing on VLC Media Player)

Afterword

That's all. We certainly hope LibreOffice Team will soon add save as video feature into Impress. Thank you and see you next time.

This article is licensed under CC BY-SA 3.0.

This tutorial explains the horizontal variant of vlookup formula, called HLOOKUP, on LibreOffice Calc. We will learn first about data transposing, then manipulating it with the formula. As a reminder, if you haven't followed this LibreOffice Calc series, read the first and second parts here. Now let's try.

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Dataset

To create the dataset, you will learn about Transpose, a technique to turn rows into columns and vice versa in a data table. With this, a vertically stacked data will be horizontal -- thus we will need HLOOKUP for it.

Before:

 (The dataset is still the same as the previous Calc Basics VII,
the data is stacked vertically, spanning across A1:G22,
while the scores span across D2:G22)

 

After:

 (The same dataset, transposed,
and now it is put horizontally, spanning across A1:V7
while the scores span across B2:V7,
will be used in HLOOKUP formula)

To make this dataset:

1. Prepare the previous dataset from Calc Basics VII.

2. Copy the dataset. 

3. Create a new spreadsheet document. 

4. Right-click at A1.

5. Paste Special > Transpose. 

6. Save as calc-08-hlookup.ods. 

Dataset created. 

Creating Drop Down Menu

Similar to doing VLOOKUP, we need a drop down once again in this exercise:

1. Put cursor at B9

2. Go to menu Data > Validity > Allow: Cell Range > type Source: $Sheet1.$B$2:$V$2 > OK. 

Alternatively, click select and drag cells horizontally from ABI to CLAUDIA as input to Source. See animation below.

3. Drop down menu created at B9.

4. Try to click the drop down button and you should be able to select from ABI to CLAUDIA.

 (Animation: showing how to create a drop down menu)

HLOOKUP

0. Select ABI from the student selector.

1. Put cursor after math score cell or B10.

2. Type the formula =HLOOKUP(B9; B2:V7; 3; 0)

3. You get his math score by 61. 

4. Repeat step 1-3 for English score with =HLOOKUP(B9; B2:V7; 4; 0)

5. You get his English score by 80.

6. Repeat step 1-3 for Science score with =HLOOKUP(B9; B2:V7; 5; 0)

7. You get his Science score by 78.

8. Repeat step 1-3 after Social score with =HLOOKUP(B9; B2:V7; 6; 0)

9. You get his Social score by 78.

10. Switch ABI to CLAUDIA and other students one by one. You should get individual student's scores correctly.

 (HLOOKUP formula for individual scores,
notice the similarity and the only difference is
the row numbers from 3 to 6)

 

Split View

Because doing HLOOKUP might lead to a very long horizontal data, you can enable menu View > Split View > adjust the lines and area to simplify how the data look. See next picture for example.

 

Final Result

Below is an example of three results of HLOOKUP against SILVIE, SHINTA, and DONI to show his/her score individually. You can evaluate the scores match the table. See picture below.

Also note the new skill you acquired, Split View, a helpful one that allows you to simply cut the long data to show only the important ones by adjusting the partitions and horizontal scrollbar. In the picture below, it is depicted as a thick, vertical grey line. Notice the number 10006 goes straight to 10013.

 (Horizontal data with four HLOOKUP tests in split view,
notice SILVIE's, SHINTA's, and DONI's scores)

 

To this point, you have finished all 14 basic Calc formulas which are most frequently used in jobs from SUM to VLOOKUP. Also remember that these all are compatible with Microsoft Excel's. Finally, see you in our future LibreOffice series.

This tutorial will explain how you can setup a basic remote desktop between Xubuntu (Xfce desktop) computer and Android phone using TigerVNC technology in a local area network. We will show that you can do this excellently without relying to software that is not free nor third-party service.

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OverviewXubuntu computer Wifi Router   Android phone
192.168.1.80      <-->  192.168.1.1  <--> 192.168.1.81
(VNC server)             (router)          (VNC client)

Requirements
1. AVNC on Android phone (download on F-Droid).
2. Tiger VNC Server on Ubuntu computer.
3. A local network, both wifi and cable will work.

First Setup

1. On Ubuntu computer, install tigervnc server program.

$ sudo apt-get install tigervnc-standalone-server

 

(TigerVNC logo)

2. Setup VNC server password:

$ vncpasswd
Password:
Verify:
Would you like to enter a view-only password (y/n)? n
A view-only password is not used

3. Edit Xfce desktop-specific text configuration for VNC server. Run this command and copy-paste the text lines into it.

$ nano ~/.vnc/xstartup#!/bin/sh
# Start up the standard system desktop specific to Xfce or Xubuntu
# Source: https://bytexd.com
unset SESSION_MANAGER
unset DBUS_SESSION_BUS_ADDRESS
/usr/bin/startxfce4
[ -x /etc/vnc/xstartup ] && exec /etc/vnc/xstartup
[ -r $HOME/.Xresources ] && xrdb $HOME/.Xresources
x-window-manager &

4. Give executable permission to the configuration file:

$ chmod +x ~/.vnc/xstartup

5. Start VNC server:

$ vncserver -localhost no :1

5. Check if VNC server is running:

$ vncserver -list

TigerVNC server sessions:

X DISPLAY #    RFB PORT #    RFB UNIX PATH    PROCESS ID #    SERVER
1             5901                           3668            Xtigervnc

6. Check Xubuntu computer's IPv4 address by clicking network manager (at the top) > Connection Information > note the IPv4 address.

 

Second Setup

1. On Android phone, run AVNC. 

2. Create a new connection with details as the following then save:

• Name: Remote PC
• Host: 192.168.1.80
• Port: 5901
• Password: master

3. Tap the connection name "Remote PC"

4. Xubuntu desktop displayed on Android phone.

Note: long press a saved connection in order to Edit it.

The Result

Once established, you will see Xubuntu desktop on your Android phone's display. Top, double tap, long press and do any other finger gesture to control your Xubuntu computer remotely. Learn the gestures next section.

 (Screenshot of a phone display showing a full screen of Xubuntu desktop)

Controls

Tap = click.

Double tap = double click.

Long press = right-click.

Two-Fingers Tap = activate on-screen keyboard.

Pinch = zoom.

Back, Home = close remote desktop.

 

Stop Remote Desktop

On computer, run the command line:

$ vncserver -kill :1

On phone, tap Home button.

That's all. 

Afterword 

To this point, you should be able to setup a very basic remote desktop with what you have at home, namely, Android phone and Xubuntu computer. As we said "basic", this tutorial does not covers further setups like resolution choices and encryption. We planned to publish more about that later. See you next time!

References

1. https://www.cyberciti.biz/faq/install-and-configure-tigervnc-server-on-ubuntu-18-04

2. https://www.digitalocean.com/community/tutorials/how-to-install-and-configure-vnc-on-ubuntu-22-04

3. https://bytexd.com/how-to-install-configure-vnc-server-on-ubuntu

This article is licensed under CC BY-SA 3.0.

In this tutorial, we will learn the basics about how to edit video. This will involve joining and rendering with further explanations below. If you missed OpenShot Part 1, please read that first before practicing this tutorial. Here we go.

 

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Objectives

Like has been mentioned in Part 1, we will join three videos into one in mp4 format, and they are Mandalika, Bintan and Bunaken all from Wonderful Indonesia. If you didn't have them, download from YouTube using Invidious (follow this tutorial).

1. An Unforgettable Journey across Mandalika

2. Get Ready to Have a Joyful Time in Bintan!

3. Wonderful Indonesia | Manado - Bunaken National Park

 1. Create a new project 

Run OpenShot Video Editor.

Useful tip: you can close the Emojis section to the right by clicking its Close button ( X ). This will make your work space larger.

2. Import a video

First, click menu File > Import Files.

Then, navigate and select a video file and in this case Mandalika (mp4). 

Third, video imported.

Alternatively, you can simply drag and drop video(s) from file manager to OpenShot window. 

3. Put video to the track

First, drag video to Track 1 on the timeline.

Then, Ctrl+Scroll to zoom in / zoom out the timeline.

4. Add another and arrange them

First, repeat step 2 and 3.

Then, for the second video Bintan, put it on the track 1 after first video clip.

Then, for the third video Bunaken, put it on the track 1 after second video clip.

5. Evaluate video frames

Drag the head (blue slider with red line) on the timeline to right and left. What do you see? You will evaluate (watch) all video clips frame by frame from the first video to the last one displayed on the Video Preview. If you put each video at the correct place, total length (duration) of our project is 07:13 (seven minutes thirteen seconds) and you will find video frames as examples below:

Position: 05:39 Position: 03:10 
Position: 00:17

6. Render

First, click the menu File > Export > Export Video.

Then, adjust the options to the following:

• File name: final-video
• Folder path: /home/master
• Target: MP4
• Video profile: HD 720p 30 fps
• Quality: Low
  

Finally, click Export Video button at bottom.

Final result

A video with the name final-video.mp4 saved in the selected folder.

Next Exercise

To this point, you should be able to do very basic video editing with OpenShot. In the next tutorial, we will learn the opposite of this one, namely, to trim (cut) the video clips into shorter duration and render them again. See you next time!

This article is licensed under CC BY-SA 3.0.

This is our recommended ten useful GNOME shell extensions for Ubuntu 22.04. It lists out just work ones of them, like, Dash to Panel, and also how to install them via the brand new application, namely, Extension Manager. Here we go.

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How To Install GNOME Extensions

Today onwards, we've got a new way to add Extensions to Ubuntu Desktop that is via Extension Manager application. Here's step by step to add one.

1. Run Extension Manager application. 

As Ubuntu doesn't come with this application, please install it beforehand:

$ sudo apt-get install gnome-shell-extension-manager

2. Go to Browse tab.

3. Search for extension you want. See recommendation below.

4. Click Install. 

5. Extension installed. 

6. Repeat step 2-5 for other extensions.

Once Extensions Manager installed, you can start picking extensions recommended below. Happy tweaking! 

 

Clipboard Indicator

Useful to boost speed for authors and everyone who works with text. Like Klipper on Kubuntu, this will save everything you copy. Equipped with search ability, it even includes bookmarks to help you paste things you need to frequently type e.g. phone number.

GSConnect

Useful for Ubuntu users with Android phones. This feature originally invented at KDE, being preinstalled on Kubuntu also, but now Ubuntu GNOME users can also enjoy it. This will help you pair your phone with your laptop via wifi so then they can send files to each others. It also helps you to use your phone as a remote control to your laptop.

Time++

Useful for time-intensive people. This tool offers alarm, timer, stopwatch, the popular todo.txt (explanation here) and lastly pomodoro (explanation here).

Applications Menu

Useful for people who prefer Windows-like start menu on GNOME. This will help you find applications not in Android-like way (full screen menu) but in a traditional drop-down way like what we find at the old GNOME, Windows, and Kubuntu.

Sensory Perception

Useful for people in hot places for their computer health. This will show you temperature information of your machine. For example, when clicked it will show a drop down information of temperatures of CPU, HDD, and GPU plus fan speed.

Tiling Assistant

Useful to boost productivity for desktop uses. This extension allows us to arrange windows in 2x2 on the same screen including those which normally cannot be tiled, namely, Settings and Files.

Transparent Panel

Useful for tweaking and customization purposes for you who do them. This will make sense if you want to style your Ubuntu desktop to imitate elementary OS for example.

3D Desktop CubeUseful for promoting Ubuntu to other computer users e.g. college friends. This will remind you to Compiz Fusion of the old time as it will make your workspaces 3D cube again from its plain form.

Notes

Needless of introduction, this is what you want for simply sticky notes. Click the pen logo on top to show/hide notes, click plus button to add more, click settings to change color and preferences. That's all. And for a stable use, we recommend to choose 'Automatic focus' and 'Above all' on the preferences.

Dash to Panel

Finally the last on this list, we call it "Zorin Panel" as this extension simplifies all panels into one at the bottom similar to what we saw at Zorin OS. It also adds a 'Show Desktop' button at the right-end. We believe many dear readers will like it too!

Worth Mentioning

There are several useful extensions that work in previous versions of GNOME but not in 42 or later yet. You could wait in the future when one got fixed to work or simply get involved in the software development if you are a programmer.

Draw on Your Screen - This helps you doodle on your desktop, useful mostly for teaching and screen sharing activities. Confirmed to work on 41 but not yet on 42 or later.

Salah Time - for muslims, this will alarm you of five times of salah (Islamic prayer) especially if you live at places when athans are hardly heard. Unfortunately it does not support desktop 42 yet.

This tutorial will explain the steps to upgrade preinstalled LibreOffice 6.4 to latest version 7 or later at Ubuntu Focal Fossa LTS 20.04. This will give you many benefits come from newest version, including, new Candy and Yellow Idea templates in Impress and better Tabbed / Ribbon user interface in all. Check this out!

 (Growing Liberty, a new template only available on Impress 7 or later)

Subscribe to UbuntuBuzz Telegram Channel to get article updates.Option 1

This will add a third party repository to Ubuntu, commonly called PPA, then pull newer LibreOffice version from it instead of the official repository. Once finished, you can run LibreOffice from start menu.

$ sudo add-apt-repository ppa:libreoffice/ppa # adding the repository
$ sudo apt-get update                          # making system up to date
$ apt-cache policy libreoffice                 # checking available versions
$ sudo apt-get install libreoffice             # installing the newest version

(Writer 7.3 or later at Ubuntu Focal Fossa)

Option 2

Choose this method if you prefer official backports packages (click here for explanation) instead of third-party PPA. This is suitable for advanced and experienced Ubuntu users, not beginners. Once finished, you can run LibreOffice version 7 or newer. Once this finished, you don't need Option 1 anymore.

Step 1. Enable focal-backports if have not yet.

Step 2. Do an APT reload:

$ example

Step 3. Show all package versions available including from focal-backports:

$ apt-cache policy libreoffice 

$ example

Step 3. Upgrade package libreoffice specifically from focal-backports:

$ example

$ sudo apt-get install -t focal-backports libreoffice

Step 5. LibreOffice upgrade finished.

Results

At the time we write this tutorial, on Ubuntu 20.04 Focal Fossa we got results as the following:

• LibreOffice 7.3 or later if we upgrade from PPA.
• LibreOffice 7.2 or later if we upgrade from Backports.

That's all and happy upgrading!

This article is licensed under CC BY-SA 3.0.

Linux Mint, the desktop user oriented variant of Ubuntu from Ireland, released its new computer operating system version 21 codenamed "Vanessa" late July. This is a list of download links to help you download all editions of it including the alternative mirrors, torrents and checksums so you can run your computer with Linux Mint.

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What is Linux Mint?

Mint is a computer operating system and GNU/Linux distribution from Ireland that is suitable as an alternative and replacement to Microsoft Windows and Apple MacOS. Since its first release in 2006, it promises user friendly desktop experience, active development and very good community for all users. Mint is derived from another GNU/Linux distribution, Ubuntu, with its own slogan saying From freedom came elegance. Its official website is https://linuxmint.com.

Download Cinnamon Edition

Choose this if you're looking for the most popular edition of Mint. It's sleek, modern and innovative.

linuxmint-21-cinnamon-64bit.iso

 

Download MATE Edition

Choose this if you're looking for stable, robust and traditional experience of Mint operating system. For long time GNU/Linux users, it's the closest to the old times GNOME 2 experience.

linuxmint-21-mate-64bit.iso

 

Download Xfce Edition

Choose this if you're looking for the most lightweight, fastest and low-end hardware friendly edition of Mint.

linuxmint-21-xfce-64bit.iso

Alternative Mirror Downloads

If download links above do not work or are very slow, you can download using one of alternative mirrors below. 

Australia

Brazil

Canada

China

Ecuador

India

Singapore

South Africa

South Korea

Ukraine

United Kingdom

United States

Alternative BitTorrent downloads

If you find the above mirror downloads not satisfying, you are encouraged to download alternatively via BitTorrent links below. It is the fastest way to download Linux Mint and the most reliable in most conditions. Follow Torrent Download Guide if you don't know how to start.

Linux Mint Cinnamon Edition Torrent

Linux Mint MATE Edition Torrent

Linux Mint Xfce Edition Torrent

SHA256SUMS

Once downloaded, an ISO image file should be verified (digitally checked) against its official checksum number (digital fingerprint). Below is a list of SHA256SUM checksums of Linux Mint 21. Follow Checksum Verification Guide if you don't have an idea how to.

f524114e4a10fb04ec428af5e8faf7998b18271ea72fbb4b63efe0338957c0f3 *linuxmint-21-cinnamon-64bit.iso
02a80ca98f82838e14bb02753bd73ee0da996c9cda3f027ae1c0ffb4612c8133 *linuxmint-21-mate-64bit.iso
3ad001dc15cb661c6652ce1d20ecdc85a939fa0b4b9325af5d0c65379cc3b17e *linuxmint-21-xfce-64bit.iso

Happy downloading!

This article is licensed under CC BY-SA 3.0.

Canonical announced that now Ubuntu 21.10 Impish Indri has reached End of Life (EOL). This means your Impish computer will not be able to install applications anymore, nor receive any security updates, although it can still be used without any time limits. This tutorial will explain how to check that out and add support provided by Canonical and also third-parties. 

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Check your Ubuntu for end-of-life

On your computer, please try to install some software package using apt.

$ sudo apt-get install gimp

If  your Ubuntu computer says, "No longer supported", or any of similar messages, that means your Ubuntu reached end-of-life (EOL). To keep installing applications, and to stay secure, you should upgrade to a newer OS version, or if you cannot, you can consider to add several supports below.

Add standard support

This means enabling old-releases repository for your OS 21.10. It is a special repository provided generously by Canonical, archived (moved away) from the original 21.10 repository that is no longer updated anymore.

1. Open /etc/apt/sources.list with administrator privilege.

2. Change the URL of official Ubuntu repositories into old-releases.

3. Save.

4. Do an APT reload:

$ sudo apt-get update

5. Try to install applications like below:

$ sudo apt-get install gimp

6. Done.

For a step by step help with pictures of this configuration, please read our Old Releases How To.

If you think you need more support, try also next section.

Use Snap support

This means using Snapcraft repository which is already enabled on your OS. If you have not using Snap a lot before, now it might be the right time. All the applications are available on the internet at Snapcraft.io server and you will install and update them using Snap command lines.

$ snap search gimp    # to search for application you want
$ snap install gimp   # to install application 
$ snap run gimp     # to run an application
$ snap list         # to list installed applications
$ snap info gimp     # to show full information of an application
$ snap refresh gimp # to upgrade an application
$ snap remove gimp    # to uninstall application

Change the package name 'gimp' above with any other application name you wish.

Add Flathub support

This means adding a third-party software repository with Flatpak, one of the new ways of software distribution for GNU/Linux. With this, you can install and get updates of many applications and games e.g. OBS Studio and Red Eclipse even though you use an unsupported release of Ubuntu 21.10. Flatpak is a competitor to Snap.

1. Install Flatpak package manager via APT:

$ sudo apt-get install flatpak

2. Add Flathub repository into Flatpak:

$ flatpak remote-add --if-not-exists flathub https://flathub.org/repo/flathub.flatpakrepo

3. To install applications with Flatpak:

$ flatpak search vlc             # to search application you want
$ flatpak install vlc            # to install application
$ flatpak list                   # to list installed applications
$ flatpak run org.videolan.VLC  # to run VLC as an example
$ flatpak update vlc          # to upgrade an application
$ flatpak remove vlc          # to uninstall an application

Change the package name 'vlc' with any other software name you wish.

Upgrade to 22.04

Finally, you can instead choose to update your OS version to the latest stable, Long Term Release, the 22.04 Jammy Jellyfish which would be supported officially for five years until 2027. We have here Upgrade Guide to 22.04.

Add enterprise support

Is the last in this list. If you are working for a corporation, this means making use of Ubuntu Advantage, a paid professional support to prolong Ubuntu LTS. This can be done once after you updated it to OS 22.04.

References

Official announcement of Ubuntu 21.10 end of life

Ubuntu Release Cycle 

List of Ubuntu releases

Ubuntu Advantage

Extended Security Maintenance

This article is licensed under CC BY-SA 3.0. 

This is a simple tutorial to download YouTube videos for everyone, in every computer and phone device at no cost. This is good for your software freedom as well as privacy. Now let's download some!

Subscribe to UbuntuBuzz Telegram Channel to get article updates.

 

Benefits

• Everyone can download videos they want for free without limits.
• Teachers & students can quickly get video materials they need. 
• Downloaded videos can be edited and shared with friends.
  
• Fast & no redundant works. 
• Save internet quota.
• Save battery life (for laptop and phone).
  
• Instances (youtube.com doesn't have it).
  
• Ability to search (savefrom.net doesn't have it).
• Ability to read comments (idem).
• Suggested videos (idem).
• Ability to create custom playlists (idem).
  
• No ads.
• No DRM.
  
• No Google account.
  
• No online tracking against users.

 

Easiest Method

Invidious is the easiest method you can do on computer, laptop as well as phone:

1. Run web browser.

2. Visit https://invidio.us.

3. Feel free to select one choice on the list.

4. Invidious page will open. 

5. Search for video you want at the top.

6. Click video to play it. 

7. Click Download at the button at the bottom. 

8. Video downloaded. 

9. Repeat step 5-8 for another videos.

If you're used to this, it's pretty easy and straightforward, so you will find no need anymore to go to youtube.com to download videos.

  (Invidious web, viewing a YouTube video of DistroTube)

Desktop App Method

If you do not want to use Invidious, FreeTube is a free/libre application for PC and laptop that allows you to search, watch, download YouTube videos. It's available for Windows and MacOS aside from Ubuntu.

1. Run FreeTube. 

2. Search for a video you want. 

3. Click Download. 

4. Video downloaded. 

5. Repeat step 2-4 for other videos. 

If you don't have FreeTube yet, you can install it first. We hope FreeTube soon to get distributed officially by Debian and Ubuntu.

 (FreeTube playing a Canonical video by Mark Shuttleworth)

Phone Method 

NewPipe is the best free/libre software alternative to (in our opinion, it's better than) YouTube App for Android phone. Try it yourself:

1. Run NewPipe. 

2. Search for video you want. 

3. Tap Download then OK.

4. Video downloaded. 

5. Repeat step 2-4 to download other videos. 

If you do not have NewPipe, download it from the official website.

 (NewPipe, a glimpse of how it works for you | Source: F-Droid)

Command Line Method

youtube-dl is the world most popular YouTube downloader software with additional support for hundreds of other video sharing websites too. It also supports Windows and MacOS aside from Ubuntu operating system.

1. Run Terminal. 

2. Type command line below:

$ youtube-dl https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3PZ65s2qLTE

Replace the URL address with the video you want.

If you do not have the command yet, install it by $ sudo apt-get install youtube-dl.

3. Video downloaded.

More Alternatives

PeerTube, is the future competitor to YouTube.

Privacy Redirects, if you want all youtube.com automatically goes to the alternatives instead.

Awesome Alternatives, a list of a lot of free software alternatives for our good life.

That's all. 

This article is licensed under CC BY-SA 3.0.

When you receive PDF files in Telegram Desktop, you might be disappointed when it opens in the wrong application not in your PDF reader. For example, in Kubuntu, it wrongly opens PDF with LibreOffice Draw, while it should be Okular. In other cases, it may instead opens PDF with web browser. We will show you how to fix this issue quickly. 

Subscribe to UbuntuBuzz Telegram Channel to get article updates.

 

Notes

Okular is PDF viewer on Kubuntu.

Evince (Document Viewer) is PDF viewer on Ubuntu.

 

On Kubuntu KDE

1. Find a PDF file in your folders. 

2. Right-click the file > Properties > Open with: Change.

3. Delete, except Okular, all other applications under Application Preference Order.

4. OK. 

5. Test opening PDF in Telegram.

On Ubuntu GNOME

1. Find a PDF file in your folders. 

2. Right-click the file > Properties > Open With.

3. Select Evince (Document Viewer) as default.

4. OK . 

5. Test opening PDF in Telegram.

That's it!

This article is licensed under CC BY-SA 3.0.

This is the first part of beginner's video editing tutorial with OpenShot. OpenShot is a small, user friendly, fast, multiplatform yet full-featured video editor alternative to Movie Maker. In this part, we will begin everything including installing the program, running it, and getting started to the user interface. Finally, this tutorial is intended mainly for school teachers. Now let's practice!

Subscribe to UbuntuBuzz Telegram Channel to get article updates.
Features

OpenShot is able to run on most computers, including the low-specs and older ones, aside from the following benefits below:

• free/libre open source software
• simple user interface and easy to use
• dark and light themes
  
• ability to cut, add, remove, join, mix videos with/without audios
  
• full featured for educational/school purposes 
• built-in video effects, transitions, and emojis
  
• save videos to avi, mp4, ogv, webm etc. 
• import and export Final Cut Pro (xml) and edit decision list (edl)
• available for GNU/Linux, Windows, macOS and Chromebook
  
• no trial limitations, no expiration, no serial numbers required, and
  
• more features at openshot.org.
  

Installing OpenShot

OpenShot is a third-party software. So in normal setup, your computer will not have it for you to use. To use OpenShot, you should install it to your computer. 

For Ubuntu users: see our OpenShot Install Guide.

For Windows users: download at openshot.org/download.

For Mac users: grab OpenShot at link above.  

Getting Started

Run OpenShot from your applications menu. Once started, OpenShot window will look like picture below. This is OpenShot version 2.6.1-dev running on Kubuntu 22.04.

Understanding the User InterfaceOpenShot is simple and straightforward in its user interface (almost similar to Movie Maker 2). It consists of several parts described below:

Titlebar, top part that contains file name and program name.

Menubar, top part that contains menus from File to Help.

Toolbar, a lineup of buttons under menubar.

Left panel, project section.

Right panel, video player section.

Timeline, where you put sequences of videos and audios.

Tip: you can turn the Dark (default) into Light theme by going to Edit > Preferences > Default Theme = Humanity > OK. 

MenubarOpenShot is simple in menubar. There's only five items, namely:

File, to create and open as well as render video project.

Edit, to undo and redo as well as configure software preferences.

Title, to write text in video.

View, to adjust software appearances.

Help, to read software's about and documentation.
 

Tools

OpenShot is simple in tools. It divides all tools into two sections, toolbar's tools and timeline's tools.

Toolbar

On the toolbar, there are generic tools that control your video editing process as a whole:

New Project, save current project as OpenShot project file .osp.

Open Project, pick an existing OpenShot project.

Save, Undo, Redo, self-explained.

Import Files, add videos, audios, pictures, text in picture files, GIF animations into project.

Choose Profile, configure the rendering e.g. final video format choice.

Fullscreen, make OpenShot window looks larger.

Export Video, render.

 Timeline tools

On the timeline, there are specific tools that manipulate your tracks in particular:

Add Track, create an empty track (can be used for video and/or audio).

Snapping Enabled, to automatically "magnet" video clips you put into tidy positions.

Razor Tool, to cut video/audio clips.

Add Marker, a kind of bookmark but for timeline.

Previous Key Point, to jump between markers backward.

Next Key Point, to jump between markers forward.

Center the Timeline on the Playhead, when it goes too far to the right, make it visible again.

Left Panel

OpenShot has a left panel (dockable). Its main function is to populate your files, for example, video files, audio files, pictures, logos, etc. It has other functions as well, explained briefly below:

Project files: to populate your files before added to the timeline. 

 Transitions: to add transitioning effects like 'fade' and 'circle in' between video clips.

 Effects: to insert special effects like blur and wave to your video.

 Emojis: to insert various cartoon pictures / illustrations.

Introduction to the Timeline

Video editing relies on timeline, where video clips are placed linearly in certain points of time. OpenShot timeline consists of parts described below:

Track 1, the place for video(s) and or audio(s).

Track 2, the place for video(s) and or audio(s).

Track n, the same as track 1 and 2, can be added by clicks.

Time points, the time marks that increases from 0:00 to 1:00 to 2:00 and more.

Playhead, the marker that the time point corresponds with the video frame.

Preparing Video Materials

Finally, we will make use of three videos published by our country, Indonesia, still in the spirit of recent MotoGP 2022 Grand Prix at Mandalika, Lombok Island. Download these videos in mp4 file format. (Note: you can watch and download them without YouTube's nonfree software via Invidious or NewPipe instead).

An unforgettable journey across Mandalika

Get ready to have a joyful time in Bintan!

Indonesia's best destinations Labuan Bajo

(A screenshot of the video playing on Invidious)

To Be Continued...

That's all for now. You've learned to getting started to OpenShot. In the next part, you will learn about video editing basics and making a short example video. See you next time!

This article is licensed under CC BY-SA 3.0.

This article explains how you can install OpenShot Video Editor on Ubuntu. OpenShot is a simple, very easy to use free software to edit videos that is suitable for general purpose users including teachers at school. This works with the OS version 22.04 and later as well as 20.04 and before.

Subscribe to UbuntuBuzz Telegram Channel to get article updates.

For Ubuntu 22.04 and Later

We confirmed ourselves that OpenShot version at OS 22.04 "Jammy Jellyfish" does not work (others did too). On the other hand, version 2.6.1 from Daily PPA works.

1. Run Terminal.

2. Add OpenShot Daily PPA into your system:

$ sudo apt-add-repository ppa:openshot.developers/libopenshot-daily

3. Update repository index:

$ sudo apt-get update

4. Install OpenShot from the PPA:

$ sudo apt-get install openshot-qt 

5. Run OpenShot:

$ openshot-qt

The software will look like picture below. 

For 20.04 and Earlier

We confirmed that at least OpenShot works with the version on the OS 20.04 "Focal Fossa". You do not need to add any PPA.

1. Run Terminal. 

2. Do install OpenShot:

$ sudo apt-get install openshot

$ sudo apt-get install openshot

3. Run OpenShot. 

 

Alternative Installation Methods

If any of above methods does not work for you, then you can pick one alternative method below. You may use either AppImage or Flatpak method to have OpenShot running on your Ubuntu box. 

 

AppImages method:

This is suitable for you who have prior experience with MS Windows or MacOS software installations. 

1. Visit https://www.openshot.org/download.

2. Download the AppImage version available.

3. You get an OpenShot program file with .AppImage extension.

4. Give the file Executable permission.

5. Double-click the file. 

6. OpenShot runs.

We confirmed this works with software version 2.6.1 on OS 22.04. If you find the timeline does not show, please run the program file via terminal with additional option --no-sandbox. 

Flatpak method:

This is suitable for you who have large free disk space like 1TB or more.

1. Install Flatpak manager:

$ sudo apt-get install flatpak

2. Add Flathub repository to Flatpak:

$ flatpak remote-add --if-not-exists flathub https://flathub.org/repo/flathub.flatpakrepo

3. Install OpenShot:

$ flatpak install openshot

4. Run Flatpak:

$ flatpak run

5. Flatpak runs. 

We also confirmed the software version 2.6.1 from Flathub works on OS 22.04.  We would love to let you know that installing a Flatpak, OpenShot in this example, requires more disk space than AppImage.

That's all.

This article is licensed under CC BY-SA 3.0.

This is the seventh part of Calc Basics and in this chance we will learn about VLOOKUP formula. For that purpose, we will make a simple student score viewer, so we can select a student's name for the computer to display his/her scores. As a reminder, if you haven't followed this Calc series, read the first and second parts here. Now let's try it. 

Subscribe to UbuntuBuzz Telegram Channel to get article updates.

 

Dataset

Type this and save the document as calc-07-vlookup.ods. Give the sheet name VLOOKUP. Notice that the table spans across B2:H23. Notice also that the score data spans across E2:H23 from MATH to SOCIAL columns.

(The dataset is the same as the previous Calc Basics VI)

 

Creating Drop Down Menu

Before going to the formula, we should first make a drop down menu for the student name:

1. Put cursor at K2

2. Go to menu Data > Validity > Allow: Cell Range > type Source: $Sheet1.$C$3:$C$23 > OK. 

Alternatively, click select and drag cells from ABI to CLAUDIA as input to Source. See animation below.

3. Drop down menu created at K2.

4. Try to click the drop down button and select the name ABI.

 (Animation: showing how to create a drop down menu of data validity)

VLOOKUP

1. Put cursor at K3

2. Type the formula =VLOOKUP(K2, C3:H23, 3,0)

3. You should get ABI's math score correctly by 61.

4. Put cursor down at K4

5. Type the formula =VLOOKUP(K2, C3:H23, 4,0)

6. You should get ABI's english score correctly by 80.

7. Put cursor down at K5

8. Type the formula  =VLOOKUP(K2, C3:H23, 5, 0)

9. You should get ABI's science score correctly by 78.

10. Put cursor down at K6.

11. Type the formula =VLOOKUP(K2, C3:H23, 6, 0)

12. You should get ABI's social score correctly by 78. 

13. Now try to change ABI to any other student and you should see this table displays each student's scores correctly.

(Displaying VLOOKUP formulas)

 

Final Result

Below is an example of three VLOOKUP instances displaying three student's sets of scores of ABI, CINTA, and CLAUDIA. You can observe the individual scores match the score table on the left.

To this point, you've learned about basic use of VLOOKUP with example. Next time, we will learn about its counterpart, HLOOKUP. See you next time!

 

This article is licensed under CC BY-SA 3.0.

This article suggests several traditional things to do after we finished the installation of Kubuntu 22.04 with KDE Plasma 5.24. We have collected for you recommended printers, software applications, games, browser addons, adjustments, widgets and shortcuts to add, and several more. We hope this helps. Happy friendly computing!

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Looking for Good Printers

Planning to purchase a printer for work with Kubuntu 22.04? Looking for one with scanning and photocopying features too? Is it Canon, Epson, HP or the other brands? We strongly suggest you to get one that is known to be compatible (working well) with GNU/Linux, otherwise you might be disappointed. We suggest you to look at three sources before purchasing one:

1) Printers recommended by H-Node

2) Printers recommended by OpenPrinting

3) Printers recommended by Hewlett-Packard

(Author's note: for example, thanks to Dudy Herdiana one of my course participants from Indonesia, I confirmed that Epson L350, L355, L360 work with Kubuntu). 

Adjust Your Desktop

Add Shortcut Icons

Open the start menu > right-click Firefox > Add to Desktop > a shortcut icon added to desktop > repeat it for any other application.

(Kubuntu 22.04)

Add Widgets

Right-click on the desktop > Add Widgets > a floating panel of widgets will open from the left > drag and drop Analog Clock to desktop > a widget added to desktop > repeat it for any other widgets. 

Switch Wallpaper

Right-click on the desktop > Desktop Configuration > a dialog with wallpaper choices will open > select a wallpaper > Apply > OK. 

Resize Fonts

This helps older people and those with impaired vision. Open the start menu > type "fonts" without quotes > run Fonts (Configure User Interface Fonts) > a System Settings window will open > adjust the size of fonts of your liking or needs > OK.

Change Display Resolution

This helps teaching activities and people with impaired vision. Open the start menu > type "display" without quotes > run Display Configuration > choose from the resolution selector, for instance, 1024x768.

Disable Taskbar Grouping

This reduce hurdles for users who drag-and-drop into taskbar a lot. Right-click taskbar > Configure Icons-only Task Manager >  Behavior > change Group: option into Do not group > OK. 

Customize Your Clock

Perhaps you prefer a full clock setting like screenshots above? If so, you can adjust your Digital Clock like this: right-click clock on the panel > Configure Digital Clock > Digital Clock Settings window will open > give check mark to 'Show Seconds' > set Show Time Zone = 'Always' > set Date Format = 'Long' > OK.

 

Adjust Basic Experience

Automount

Did you notice that MS Windows automount all disk partitions every startup? This makes your life easier. If you did, now you can make Kubuntu does the same: hit start menu > run Removable Devices > System Settings window will open > your disk partitions (if any) will show under 'Attached Devices' section > give check mark(s) on partition(s) you wish to automount every startup > OK. 

 (Fonts size adjustment)

Add desktop shortcuts

Already explained above. However, for files and folders, you can make desktop shortcuts by drag-and-drop to desktop from Dolphin instead.

Deal with KDE Wallet

At first start, when you try to connect to wifi, you will find KDE Wallet asking you to make a pair of username and password. You can leave them blank and simply answer with yes.

Adjust Basic Privacy

Block Advertisements

With uBlock Origin installed on Firefox Browser, you will never see ads anymore at YouTube and everywhere on the web. 

(An example of how we use Firefox addons including uBlock Origin)

Secure Internet Access

To help secure your internet access from anything unwanted, we recommend three things, that is, 1st get HTTPS Everywhere and 2nd enable DNS Over HTTPS (DoH) both on Firefox Browser, and 3rd enable DNS over TLS (DoT) on the system. These three stuffs are incredibly easy to do in even under 30 minutes.

Disable Camera

This helps you improve privacy when doing online meeting. To disable webcam globally in Firefox Browser, go to Settings > Privacy and Security > Permissions > Camera > Settings > give check mark on Block new requests asking to access your camera > Save Changes. To disable webcam for individual websites, repeat it but choose to disable instead per website listed.

Adjust Battery Management (For Laptop)

Step 1. Run System Settings.

Step 2. Open 'On Battery' tab.

 (An example of power setup by 2 min, 5 min, and 10 min)

 

Step 3. On the 'Screen brightness' section, enable it and decrease the number. Smaller means better. 

Step 4. On the 'Dim Screen', enable it and decrease the number. Smaller means dim often.

Step 5. On the Suspend session, enable it > select Automatically = 'Sleep' > decrease the number. Smaller is better.

Step 6. OK. 

Step 7. Repeat step 1-6 if you found your settings were not good enough until they are.

 

Software Installation

To add applications on Kubuntu:

Step 1. Run Discover.

Step 2. Look around for applications you want. If there isn't, type to search for each of them. 

(Discover, you friendly software center offering 0 A.D. and other games) 

Step 3. Click Install button on an application. 

Step 4. Wait for the process to finish. 

Step 5. Application installed. 

Step 6. Run application from the start menu. 

Step 7. Repeat step 1-6 for any other applications and games. 

 

See Recommended Applications if you don't have an idea what to add.

Recommended Applications

Chemistry: for teachers, we recommend KAlzium, a periodic table explorer. 

(Kalzium, showing Fe (Iron) in Icons View mode with its atom model) 

Geography: for teachers, we recommend Marble, a 3D world map and a libre alternative to Google Earth.

Development: for example, we recommend Qt for desktop applications. 

Multimedia: for video editing, we recommend Kdenlive.

Web: for beginners, we recommend installing XAMPP on Kubuntu.

Statistical analysis: you have GNU PSPP --a free/libre alternative to SPSS--.

University student purposes: as a libre alternative to Mendeley, we wholeheartedly recommend Zotero (external source).

Recommended Games

0 A.D., the war strategy game with ancient settings similar to Age of Empires.

Super Tux Kart, the multiplayer racing game you can play with kids similar to Crash Team Racing.

Tux Math, the educational game that can make your little kids smarter in mathematics.

 (Tuxmath playing the most basic level for elementary students)

If you want to play PlayStation games, yes, Kubuntu offers PlayStation emulators too. Discover them by the name PCSXR and PCSX2.

Join Kubuntu Community

Finally, via https://kubuntu.org/community you can find places where your fellow Kubuntu friends belong and helping each others (even in your language if yours is not English). You will also find many, many more information regarding Kubuntu you might never imagined before, like KFocus Laptop, among others. You can join the group chats, web forum as well as the mailing lists.  

 Happy friendly computing!

Further Readings

switching.software

prism-break.org/en

getgnulinux.org

This article is licensed under CC BY-SA 3.0.