LibreOffice MCP Server

# Live Viewing in LibreOffice with MCP Server ## Overview The LibreOffice MCP Server supports **live viewing** - seeing your document changes in real-time as you modify them through AI assistants like Claude Desktop. This creates a seamless workflow where you can watch your documents update live while giving natural language commands. ## 🎯 Live Viewing Options ### 1. Basic Live Viewing **Open a document in LibreOffice GUI while editing via MCP:** ```bash # Via Claude Desktop "Open my document.odt in LibreOffice for live viewing" # Via Super Assistant "Start a live editing session with my report.docx" ``` ### 2. Advanced Live Session **Create a full live editing session with automatic refresh:** ```bash # Create comprehensive live session "Create a live editing session for my presentation.odp" ``` ### 3. Change Monitoring **Watch documents for changes in real-time:** ```bash # Monitor document changes "Watch my document for changes for 60 seconds" # Detect file modifications "Monitor my spreadsheet for updates" ``` ## 🛠 Available Tools ### `open_document_in_libreoffice(path, readonly=False)` Opens a document in LibreOffice GUI for live viewing. **Example:** ```python # Open for editing open_document_in_libreoffice("/path/to/document.odt") # Open read-only open_document_in_libreoffice("/path/to/document.odt", readonly=True) ``` ### `create_live_editing_session(path, auto_refresh=True)` Creates a complete live editing environment. **Features:** - Opens document in LibreOffice GUI - Sets up automatic change detection - Provides session management - Includes usage instructions ### `refresh_document_in_libreoffice(path)` Forces LibreOffice to refresh and reload the document. **Use when:** - Changes don't appear automatically - Need to sync after MCP modifications - Want to ensure latest version is displayed ### `watch_document_changes(path, duration_seconds=30)` Monitors a document for changes and reports them. **Returns:** - Change timestamps - File size differences - Modification details - Real-time updates ## 🚀 Workflow Examples ### Example 1: Writing a Report with Live Preview 1. **Start the session:** ``` Claude: "Create a live editing session for my report.odt" ``` 2. **Watch it open in LibreOffice GUI** 3. **Make changes via Claude:** ``` You: "Add an introduction paragraph about AI integration" Claude: *modifies document* ``` 4. **See changes live in LibreOffice** - LibreOffice detects file changes - Prompts to reload (or auto-reloads) - You see the new content immediately ### Example 2: Collaborative Document Review 1. **Open document for viewing:** ``` "Open my contract.odt in read-only mode" ``` 2. **Make suggestions via MCP:** ``` "Add a comment about section 3" "Insert a clause about liability" ``` 3. **Watch changes live:** ``` "Watch the document for 5 minutes while I make changes" ``` ### Example 3: Presentation Development 1. **Live session for slides:** ``` "Create a live editing session for my presentation.odp" ``` 2. **Real-time slide creation:** ``` "Add a slide about market analysis" "Insert a chart showing growth trends" "Add speaker notes to slide 3" ``` 3. **Preview immediately in Impress** ## 🔄 How Live Updates Work ### Automatic Detection - **File modification time**: LibreOffice monitors file timestamps - **Change notifications**: OS file system events trigger updates - **Auto-refresh**: LibreOffice prompts or automatically reloads ### Manual Refresh - **Keyboard shortcut**: `Ctrl+Shift+R` in LibreOffice - **Menu option**: File → Reload - **MCP command**: Use `refresh_document_in_libreoffice()` ### Bidirectional Changes - **MCP → LibreOffice**: Changes via AI commands appear in GUI - **LibreOffice → MCP**: Manual edits can be detected and reported ## 💡 Best Practices ### 1. Document Management ```bash # Always start with a live session for extended editing "Create a live editing session for my document" # Use refresh when changes don't appear "Refresh my document in LibreOffice" # Monitor during collaborative work "Watch my document for changes while others edit" ``` ### 2. Performance Optimization - **Close unused documents** to reduce memory usage - **Use read-only mode** when just reviewing - **Monitor selectively** (don't watch continuously for hours) ### 3. Error Recovery ```bash # If document appears corrupted "Refresh my document in LibreOffice" # If LibreOffice becomes unresponsive "Open my document again in LibreOffice" # If changes are lost "Read the current content of my document" ``` ## 🎮 Demo and Testing ### Run the Live Viewing Demo ```bash # Comprehensive demonstration uv run python demo_live_viewing.py # Quick test of live features ./mcp-helper.sh demo ``` ### Test Individual Features ```bash # Test document opening uv run python -c " from libremcp import open_document_in_libreoffice result = open_document_in_libreoffice('/path/to/test.odt') print(result) " # Test change monitoring uv run python -c " from libremcp import watch_document_changes result = watch_document_changes('/path/to/test.odt', 10) print(result) " ``` ## ⚙️ Configuration Options ### LibreOffice Settings For optimal live viewing experience: 1. **Enable auto-reload**: - Tools → Options → Load/Save → General - Check "Always create backup copy" - Set "AutoRecover" to 1 minute 2. **Configure file monitoring**: - Tools → Options → LibreOffice → Advanced - Enable "Experimental features" - May improve change detection ### System Settings ```bash # Increase file watch limits (Linux) echo fs.inotify.max_user_watches=524288 | sudo tee -a /etc/sysctl.conf # Optimize for frequent file changes echo vm.dirty_expire_centisecs=500 | sudo tee -a /etc/sysctl.conf ``` ## 🔧 Troubleshooting Live Viewing ### Document Doesn't Open - **Check file path**: Ensure absolute path is correct - **Verify permissions**: Make sure file is readable - **LibreOffice running**: Close existing instances if needed ### Changes Don't Appear - **Manual refresh**: Press `Ctrl+Shift+R` in LibreOffice - **Use refresh tool**: `refresh_document_in_libreoffice()` - **Check file locks**: Ensure document isn't locked by another process ### Performance Issues - **Close unused documents**: Reduce memory usage - **Limit watch duration**: Don't monitor for extended periods - **Use read-only mode**: When not editing directly ### File Corruption - **Refresh document**: May resolve temporary issues - **Recreate from backup**: Use LibreOffice auto-backup - **Use MCP to recreate**: Extract content and recreate document ## 🌟 Advanced Use Cases ### 1. Real-time Documentation ```bash "Create a live session for my documentation.odt" "Add a section about the new feature" "Insert code examples with syntax highlighting" "Update the table of contents" ``` ### 2. Interactive Presentations ```bash "Open my presentation.odp for live editing" "Add a slide about quarterly results" "Insert animations for the new slide" "Preview the presentation flow" ``` ### 3. Collaborative Review ```bash "Open the contract.odt in read-only mode" "Watch for changes while the legal team reviews" "Add comments based on their feedback" "Track all modifications for the record" ``` ### 4. Document Automation ```bash "Create a live session for my report template" "Fill in the quarterly data automatically" "Generate charts from the spreadsheet data" "Format the document for professional presentation" ``` ## 📚 Integration with AI Assistants ### Claude Desktop Commands - *"Open my document for live viewing"* - *"Start a live editing session"* - *"Make changes while I watch in LibreOffice"* - *"Refresh the document display"* ### Super Assistant Commands - *"Begin live document editing"* - *"Monitor document changes"* - *"Update document with real-time preview"* - *"Sync changes with LibreOffice"* --- **Live viewing transforms document editing from a blind process into an interactive, visual experience where you can see your AI assistant's work in real-time!** 🚀