I’ve recently switched to Linux (Debian Bookworm) because I was tired of all the bullshits I had to deal with when using Windows, especially when developing software.

Now I really have to use MS Office applications for my school. Libreoffice is good but not completely compatible with MSOffice, like I can’t use the log graph in the template provided. And their web apps are nearly unusable (especially with Firefox and its variants) , so I need desktop versions.

I can use VM maybe but I don’t want to pay for the Windows license.

How do you guys manage to open MS files appropriately?

Edit: 2024/12/26 I ended up using Windows inside KVM. It worked without license, and office seems to work fine

  • @N0x0n@lemmy.ml
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    5 months ago

    I can use VM maybe but I don’t want to pay for the Windows license.

    If this is your only concern, there’s a script floating arround on github (MAS 104k *) that activate any Windows version.

    Not sure I’m allowed to send any links because this could be considerate as piracy and probably isn’t allowed in this community.

    But you have enough keywords to find your way with any search engine if that’s a route you would consider.

    • @BearOfaTime@lemm.ee
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      25 months ago

      Microsoft published that script to Github.

      Calling it piracy to use their openly published script is… I don’t know, incorrect?

      • @vort3@lemmy.ml
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        65 months ago

        Wait, what? I’m out of the loop here. Microsoft published a free activator? What’s the catch?

      • @N0x0n@lemmy.ml
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        5 months ago

        Didn’t knew that ! :/ I’m sure that wasn’t the case in the past (It was only called KMS at the time).

        This is also why it still up and running on GitHub?

        Edit: After a quick research I couldn’t find any info, do you have any reputable link to back your claims?

        Edit2:

        Where can I donate? MAS project doesn’t accept donations and it’s free. It’s because it’s a community project and involves many contributors, splitting donations is not practical, and also because profiting from piracy is not good.

  • @astronaut_sloth@mander.xyz
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    65 months ago

    And their web apps are nearly unusable (especially with Firefox and its variants)

    Admittedly, I use LibreOffice, and it works for almost all of my needs. However, I’ve never encountered the above issue, and the web versions have worked for me on Firefox. What’s your particular issue? The solution could be pretty simple; I have my user-agent string reporting Windows, and I’ve never had an issue. Maybe worth a try?

    Changing the user agent shouldn’t work, but there’s a stupid amount of times that it does, and so I’ve just kept it permanent.

  • @Kidplayer_666@lemm.ee
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    35 months ago

    WPS office is proprietary but works, so is FreeOffice. OnlyOffice, I think the desktop editors at least is FOSS

  • @traches@sh.itjust.works
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    35 months ago

    If you need honest-to-god office, then yeah you’ll need a windows installation. Either a VM or a second drive is best.

    You can use windows indefinitely without activating, you’ll just have the watermark and default desktop background.

  • @verdigris@lemmy.ml
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    35 months ago

    It sounds like the only problem is that you can’t edit a graph in a template, is that true? Any chance you can post the file, or perhaps just the graph section of the file? If it’s rendering properly in LibreOffice then I suspect someone can figure out how to edit it.

  • @Shihali@sh.itjust.works
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    25 months ago

    Do you have a school computer lab you can use? If the school truly requires MS Office and gives you a copy, they will have no sympathy for not using it.

    • @fin@sh.itjust.worksOP
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      5 months ago

      I have access to school desktops that I can login with my credentials, but this way I need to go to the campus everytime I want to do something with MS Office. That’s fine though because it’s just 10 minutes away from home with my bicycle

  • @fin@sh.itjust.worksOP
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    15 months ago

    Oh btw I ended up using Windows inside KVM. It worked without license, and office seems to work fine