LibreOffice PDF Creator & Producer
Understanding PDF metadata that shows LibreOffice as the Creator or Producer — learn how LibreOffice Writer, Calc, Impress, and Draw create PDF files with comprehensive export options.
📄 About This PDF Metadata
When you examine a PDF file's properties and see Writer, Calc, Impress, or Draw listed as the Creator, it indicates that the document was generated using a LibreOffice application. The Producer field shows LibreOffice with a version number.
Sample PDF Metadata from LibreOffice Applications:
Title: Project Report
Author: Jane Doe
Creator: Writer
Producer: LibreOffice 24.8
Creation Date: 2025-01-27 15:45:00
PDF Version: 1.6
The Creator field identifies the specific LibreOffice application that generated the PDF, while the Producer field shows LibreOffice [version] — the LibreOffice version number used to create the PDF.
PDF Creator
Shows the LibreOffice application: Writer, Calc, Impress, Draw, Math, or Base used to create the PDF.
PDF Producer
Shows LibreOffice [version] — the version number helps identify which release of LibreOffice was used (e.g., 24.8, 24.2, 7.6).
📚 What is LibreOffice?
LibreOffice is a free and open-source office productivity suite developed by The Document Foundation. It was announced on September 28, 2010, as a fork of OpenOffice.org after Oracle acquired Sun Microsystems. LibreOffice uses the OpenDocument Format (ODF) as its native format and offers excellent compatibility with Microsoft Office formats.
Project Information
| Announced: | September 28, 2010 |
| First Release: | January 25, 2011 (v3.3) |
| Developer: | The Document Foundation |
| License: | MPL 2.0 / LGPL 3.0+ |
| Website: | libreoffice.org |
Heritage & History
| Based on: | OpenOffice.org |
| Original: | StarOffice (1985) |
| Platforms: | Windows, macOS, Linux |
| Native Format: | ODF (Open Document Format) |
| Users: | 200+ million estimated |
LibreOffice Applications:
Writer
Word processor for documents
Calc
Spreadsheet application
Impress
Presentation software
Draw
Vector graphics editor
Base
Database management
Math
Formula editor
⚙️ How LibreOffice Creates PDFs
LibreOffice has built-in PDF export functionality that creates high-quality PDF files directly from any LibreOffice application. Unlike many other office suites, LibreOffice offers extensive PDF export options including PDF/A for archiving and tagged PDFs for accessibility.
PDF Export Methods:
Quick Export (One-Click)
- Open document in LibreOffice
- Click the Export Directly as PDF toolbar button
- Choose filename and location
- PDF is created with default settings
Export with Options
- Go to File → Export as PDF...
- Configure options in the dialog
- Set General, Initial View, User Interface options
- Configure Links and Security settings
- Click Export and choose location
💡 PDF Hybrid Feature
LibreOffice can create PDF Hybrid files — PDFs that are readable by any standard PDF viewer but also contain the original source document (ODF) embedded within. This allows anyone to open and edit the document in LibreOffice while others can view it as a regular PDF.
📤 How to Export as PDF
LibreOffice provides multiple ways to create PDF files:
Method 1: Export as PDF (Recommended)
Open Export Dialog
Go to File → Export as PDF... (or press Ctrl+Shift+E on some systems)
Configure General Options
Set page range, image compression, PDF version, and PDF/A compliance if needed
Set Additional Options
Configure Initial View, User Interface, Links, and Security tabs as needed
Export
Click Export, choose filename and location, then click Save
Method 2: Quick Export (Toolbar Button)
Click PDF Button
Click the Export Directly as PDF button on the toolbar (PDF icon with arrow)
Save the PDF
Choose filename and location — PDF is created with previously used or default settings
Keyboard Shortcuts:
| Action | Windows/Linux | macOS |
|---|---|---|
| Export as PDF (with options) | File → Export as PDF... | File → Export as PDF... |
| Quick Export | Toolbar button or custom shortcut | Toolbar button or custom shortcut |
| Print to File | Ctrl+P → Print to File | ⌘+P → Print to File |
🔧 PDF Export Options
LibreOffice provides one of the most comprehensive PDF export dialogs among office suites:
General Options
- Range: All pages, range, or selection
- Images: Lossless or JPEG compression with quality
- Reduce Image Resolution: 75-1200 DPI options
- PDF Version: PDF 1.4, 1.5, 1.6, 1.7, 2.0
- PDF/A: PDF/A-1b, PDF/A-2b, PDF/A-3b compliance
- Tagged PDF: Structure tags for accessibility
Initial View Options
- Page Pane: Bookmarks, thumbnails, or page only
- Magnification: Default, fit width, fit page, etc.
- Page Layout: Single page, continuous, facing
- Open on Page: Specify starting page number
User Interface Options
- Window Options: Resize, center, open fullscreen
- Hide: Menubar, toolbar, window controls
- Bookmarks: Export bookmarks and bookmark levels
- Transitions: Export slide transitions (Impress)
Security Options
- Open Password: Require password to open PDF
- Permission Password: Restrict printing/copying
- Printing: Not permitted, low/high resolution
- Changes: Disable or restrict modifications
- Contents: Prevent copying, accessibility
⚠️ PDF/A Archival Format
LibreOffice supports PDF/A-1b, PDF/A-2b, and PDF/A-3b standards for long-term archiving. PDF/A ensures documents remain viewable in the future by embedding all fonts and prohibiting certain features. When PDF/A is selected, Tagged PDF is automatically enabled. PDF/A-2b is recommended for most users as it supports transparency and better compression.
📱 LibreOffice Applications
Different LibreOffice applications produce PDFs with their name in the Creator field:
Common Creator and Producer Values:
| Application | PDF Creator Value | PDF Producer Value |
|---|---|---|
| Writer | Writer | LibreOffice 24.8 |
| Calc | Calc | LibreOffice 24.8 |
| Impress | Impress | LibreOffice 24.8 |
| Draw | Draw | LibreOffice 24.8 |
| Math | Math | LibreOffice 24.8 |
| Base | Base | LibreOffice 24.8 |
Note: The version number in the Producer field reflects the LibreOffice version used. LibreOffice uses a date-based versioning scheme (e.g., 24.8 = August 2024 release).
Writer
Documents, letters, reports, books, mail merge
Calc
Spreadsheets, charts, data analysis, budgets
Impress
Presentations, slideshows with animations
Draw
Diagrams, flowcharts, vector graphics, posters
Base
Database front-end, reports, forms
Math
Mathematical formulas and equations
🔍 Understanding PDF Metadata
LibreOffice PDFs contain metadata from document properties:
| Metadata Field | Source | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Title | File → Properties → Description | Document title set in properties |
| Author | File → Properties or User Data | From document or user settings |
| Subject | File → Properties → Description | Document subject field |
| Keywords | File → Properties → Description | Searchable keywords |
| Creator | Automatic | Application name (Writer, Calc, etc.) |
| Producer | Automatic | LibreOffice [version] |
| Creation Date | Automatic | When PDF was exported |
| Modification Date | Automatic | Usually same as creation date |
Setting Document Properties Before Export:
# Set document metadata:
File → Properties → Description tab
- Title: Enter document title
- Subject: Enter subject description
- Keywords: Enter comma-separated keywords
- Comments: Additional notes
# Remove user data from document:
File → Properties → General tab → Reset Properties / Uncheck "Apply user data"
🛠️ Troubleshooting
Common issues when creating PDFs with LibreOffice:
PDF Contains Unwanted Author/User Information
Cause: Document properties contain user data from when the file was created.
Solution: Go to File → Properties → General tab. Uncheck "Apply user data" and click "Reset Properties" button. Then go to the Description tab and clear or modify the Author field before exporting to PDF.
Cannot Change Creator or Producer Field
Cause: The Creator (application name) and Producer (LibreOffice version) fields are automatically set and cannot be changed in the export options.
Solution: These fields are hardcoded. To change them, you would need to edit the PDF after export using tools like ExifTool, QPDF, or Adobe Acrobat. The Creator always shows the application name (Writer, Calc, etc.) and Producer always shows LibreOffice with version.
PDF File Size Too Large
Cause: High-resolution images or lossless compression selected.
Solution: In File → Export as PDF → General: Select "JPEG compression" instead of lossless, reduce quality percentage (75% often sufficient), and enable "Reduce image resolution" to 150 or 300 DPI depending on purpose.
Fonts Look Different in PDF
Cause: Fonts are not embedded or are being substituted.
Solution: LibreOffice embeds fonts by default. If issues persist, try using standard fonts that are widely available. For PDF/A export, all fonts are automatically embedded. You can also check Tools → Options → LibreOffice Writer → Print for font-related settings.
Hyperlinks Not Working in Exported PDF
Cause: Links export option may be misconfigured, or links are not properly formatted.
Solution: In the Export as PDF → Links tab, ensure links are enabled. Make sure hyperlinks in the document use proper URL format (starting with http:// or https://). Internal document links (bookmarks) should also work if Tagged PDF is enabled.
❓ Frequently Asked Questions
When a PDF shows "LibreOffice" followed by a version number (like "LibreOffice 24.8") as the Producer, it means the PDF was created using LibreOffice's built-in PDF export feature. The Creator field shows the specific application used (Writer, Calc, Impress, or Draw).
Yes! LibreOffice is completely free and open-source software licensed under MPL 2.0 and LGPL. You can create unlimited PDFs with no cost, watermarks, restrictions, or paid features. It includes advanced options like PDF/A archival format and tagged accessible PDFs — all for free.
LibreOffice was announced on September 28, 2010, by The Document Foundation as a fork of OpenOffice.org. The first stable release (LibreOffice 3.3) was released on January 25, 2011. The project was created after Oracle acquired Sun Microsystems and the community wanted to ensure the future of the free office suite under independent governance.
LibreOffice is a fork of OpenOffice.org created in 2010. While both share the same heritage, LibreOffice is more actively developed with regular releases and new features. Apache OpenOffice has had slower development since 2015. LibreOffice has better Microsoft Office compatibility, more features, and more contributors. Most Linux distributions now default to LibreOffice.
Yes! LibreOffice fully supports PDF/A archival formats including PDF/A-1b, PDF/A-2b, and PDF/A-3b. Select the PDF/A option in File → Export as PDF → General tab. PDF/A-2b is recommended for most users as it supports transparency and better compression while ensuring long-term document preservation.
You can control most metadata before export: Go to File → Properties, clear the Description fields, and uncheck "Apply user data" on the General tab. However, the Creator (Writer, Calc, etc.) and Producer (LibreOffice version) fields cannot be removed through LibreOffice — you would need third-party tools like ExifTool or QPDF to modify those after export.
A PDF Hybrid is a special PDF that embeds the original LibreOffice document (ODF format) within the PDF file. Anyone can view it as a normal PDF, but it can also be opened and fully edited in LibreOffice. Enable this option in File → Export as PDF → General tab by checking "Embed OpenDocument file".
🛠️ Related Tools
PDF Metadata Viewer
Free tool to view PDF metadata including Creator, Producer, and version information.
View PDF Metadata →
📝 Summary: LibreOffice PDF Metadata
- LibreOffice announced September 28, 2010
- Creator shows Writer/Calc/Impress/Draw
- Producer shows LibreOffice [version]
- Use File → Export as PDF... for options
- 100% free and open source (MPL/LGPL)
- Developed by The Document Foundation
- Fork of OpenOffice.org (based on StarOffice)
- Supports PDF/A archival formats
- Tagged PDF for accessibility
- PDF Hybrid embeds ODF source