How to batch convert .doc or .docx to .pdf

Question

I need to batch convert a set of .doc or .docx files to .pdf in terminal, not using a GUI.

It would be helpful if I could batch-process multiple files.

I would also like to maintain as much meta-data as possible.

duplicate - http://superuser.com/questions/156189/how-to-convert-word-doc-to-pdf-in-linux — Panther, Mar 17 '12 at 15:49
The best answer there is to install another application and use a "pdf printer". What is wrong using a CLI method or will I loose the meta-data — Ringtail, Mar 17 '12 at 15:55
I didn't say there was anything wrong with oowriter, gscan2pdf or any other GUI method. I was looking for the CLI then I intend to incorporate it into the .bashrc so I could pdf ~/some_.docx, thats all. Thanks for the suggestion. — Ringtail, Mar 17 '12 at 16:12
It is not really a dupe. Here we ask for batch and .doc, there for odt (not batch). The answer however would better fit here ;) — Takkat, Mar 17 '12 at 20:07
On Mac Install
brew install --cask libreoffice ``` ###### Convert ```bash soffice --headless --convert-to pdf *.odt — Ax_, Apr 16 '22 at 22:43

Panther · Accepted Answer · 2012-03-18T17:30:55.847

41

lowriter can be used as a command line tool (lowriter is a part of LibreOffice)

lowriter --convert-to pdf *.doc
convert /home/bodhi/Documents/testdoc2.doc -> /home/bodhi/Documents/testdoc2.pdf using writer_pdf_Export
convert /home/bodhi/Documents/testdoc.doc -> /home/bodhi/Documents/testdoc.pdf using writer_pdf_Export

evince testdoc.pdf

I do not have windows, so testdoc download from here

www.mltweb.com/prof/testdoc.doc

edited Mar 18 '12 at 17:30

answered Mar 17 '12 at 19:49

Panther

102,067

libreofice throws errors using this method, complains of not finding /home/user/documents/test.docx blah – Ringtail Mar 20 '12 at 01:00
what command did you use ? Do you have a test.docx ? – Panther Mar 20 '12 at 04:06
lowriter --convert-to pdf /home/user/Documents/Document compatibility check.docx – Ringtail Mar 20 '12 at 04:35
1

Works perfect for me!
Beware of using "space" character from command line... When you get to the space character simply press "tab" ;)
– Pitto Nov 16 '12 at 13:11
2

lowriter does not convert docx files correctly. At least not always. – Sceptical Jule Dec 26 '13 at 19:56
@ScepticalJule- You should then file a bug report against lowriter. – Panther Dec 26 '13 at 20:24
1

When I first tried your suggested lowriter command on Ubuntu 12.04, it opened a splash window and froze. I killed it with C-c and tried again without a DISPLAY variable. This time it first printed an error about missing display, but convert the document without any problems. Is it expected behavior, that the command can only work without a DISPLAY environment variable? – kasperd May 30 '14 at 10:35
[Java framework] Error in function createSettingsDocument (elements.cxx). javaldx failed! Warning: failed to read path from javaldx using https://nces.ed.gov/ccd/Data/zip/sc122a_documentation_052716.zip – isomorphismes Oct 11 '17 at 16:16
In general, not only just lowriter that mostly comes from the distro repos (used to be outdated) but also any version of LibreOffice works well now, i.e.: libreoffice7.2 --convert-to pdf *.doc – Piotr Czekalski Apr 05 '22 at 14:34

score 9 · Answer 2 · edited Sep 22 '16 at 07:27

9

I use unoconv, which converts all formats supported by LibreOffice.

edited Sep 22 '16 at 07:27

Community

1

answered Aug 28 '12 at 20:58

Francisco Dreyfuss

91
1
1

2

Just for the record: $ unoconv myfile.docx (it creates myfile.pdf) – tokland May 09 '17 at 10:09

Bruni · Answer 3 · 2015-10-29T16:23:06.967

5

I use the following script:

for f in *.doc
do
lowriter --headless --convert-to pdf "$f"
done

--headless will prevent Libreoffice from opening 100s of files and eventually crashing if you try this with directories containing a lot of .doc files

edited Oct 29 '15 at 16:23

answered Oct 29 '15 at 11:45

Bruni

10,542

this is the best, works for multiple files – Bas Lamerichs Oct 29 '20 at 17:55

score 1 · Answer 4 · answered Jul 15 '23 at 05:48

1

You can also open that folder where you have all the .doc or .docx files and right click.Then select open terminal here. then type lowriter --convert-to pdf *.doc

answered Jul 15 '23 at 05:48

Matin

465

score 0 · Answer 5 · edited Oct 17 '18 at 08:07

0

In my opinion, the best way is with unoconv.

First install the package:

sudo apt install unoconv

and then convert to pdf using this command:

unoconv -f pdf XXYY.docx

(Replace XXYY.docx with the name of your file.)

edited Oct 17 '18 at 08:07

Zanna

70,465

answered Oct 17 '18 at 07:30

user882893

1

Reasons why you would choose unoconv over other options? – gatorback Apr 15 '19 at 10:50
"Unoconv is deprecated" from https://github.com/unoconv/unoconv – Avatar Feb 22 '22 at 12:04

How to batch convert .doc or .docx to .pdf

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