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LibreOffice Writer – Practical Training Scenario & Full Guide

Training Scenario (Real-World Based)

Scenario Title:

Preparing an Official University Circular

Situation:

You are an academic administrative officer. The Dean has asked you to prepare an official circular to inform staff about:

A Faculty Staff Meeting scheduled for next month.

The document must:

  • Look professional
  • Follow official formatting
  • Include logo, headings, table, bullet points, and signature
  • Be saved as PDF and printed

Expected Final Output

A one-page official circular containing:

  • University header
  • Circular number & date
  • Subject line
  • Meeting details (table)
  • Agenda (bulleted list)
  • Signature block
  • Footer with page number

FULL STEP-BY-STEP GUIDE

Step 1: Open LibreOffice Writer

  1. Click Start Menu
  2. Open LibreOffice
  3. Select Writer
  4. Choose Blank Document

Step 2: Set Page Layout (Very Important)

  1. Go to Format → Page Style

  2. Set:

  3. Page: A4

  4. Orientation: Portrait

  5. Margins:

    • Top: 2.5 cm
    • Bottom: 2.5 cm
    • Left: 3 cm
    • Right: 2.5 cm
    • Click OK

Step 3: Insert University Header

3 add Header

  1. Insert > Header and Footer > Header > Default Page Style

  1. Go to Insert → Image
  2. Select university logo
  3. Resize and Format > align Text Center

3.2 Add University Name

Type:

UNIVERSITY OF XYZ
Faculty of Science
  • Select text
  • Font: Times New Roman
  • Size: 14 (University), 12 (Faculty)
  • Alignment: Center
  • Bold

Step 4: Insert Horizontal Line

  1. Place cursor below header
  2. Go to Format → Paragraph → Borders
  3. Enable Bottom Border
  4. Click OK

Step 5: Add Circular Details

Type:

Circular No: FS/2026/01
Date: 15 January 2026
  • Align Right
  • Font size 11

Step 6: Add Subject Line

Type:

Subject: Faculty Staff Meeting – February 2026
  • Bold
  • Underline
  • Align Left

Step 7: Write Body Text

Type:

This is to inform all academic and non-academic staff that a faculty staff meeting will be held as per the following details.
  • Font: Times New Roman
  • Size: 12
  • Alignment: Justified

Step 8: Insert Table (Meeting Details)

  1. Go to Insert → Table
  2. Columns: 2
  3. Rows: 4

Fill as follows:

Detail Information
Date 20 February 2026
Time 10.00 AM – 12.00 PM
Venue Faculty Board Room
Chair Dean, Faculty of Science

✔ Make first column Bold

Step 9: Insert Agenda (Bulleted List)

Type:

Agenda:

Press Enter, then click Bullets

  • Confirmation of previous minutes
  • Matters arising
  • Academic activities
  • Any other business

Step 10: Insert Signature Block

Leave space and type:

……………………………………
Dr. A. B. Perera  
Dean  
Faculty of Science

* Align Right

Step 11: Insert Footer with Page Number

  1. Go to Insert → Header and Footer → Footer → Default Page Style
  2. Click in footer
  3. Go to Insert → Field → Page Number
  4. Align Center

Step 12: Spell Check

  1. Go to Tools → Spelling
  2. Correct highlighted words
  3. Click Close

Step 13: Save Document

  1. File → Save As
  2. File name:

Faculty_Staff_Meeting_Circular_2026.odt 3. Click Save

Step 14: Export as PDF

  1. File → Export As → Export as PDF
  2. Click Export
  3. Save file

Step 15: Print Preview

  1. File → Print Preview
  2. Check formatting
  3. File → Print

Final Output

Practice Tasks (For Trainees)

✔ Change meeting date ✔ Add another agenda item ✔ Replace Dean’s name ✔ Change font style ✔ Save with a new name

Learning Outcomes

After this exercise, staff will be able to:

  • Create official documents
  • Format text professionally
  • Insert tables & bullet lists
  • Use headers & footers
  • Export documents as PDF