User Feedback and help with Text-To-Speech in LibreOffice

General Help
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TDLR: Zorin does not work for me (yet), and I suspect this will be true for the majority of regular users.

I just installed Zorin on a spare PC. My aim is to install on all my devices (cuz - Microslop must die). However, it is anything but the painless process that people flag it to be.

Note: on a scale of 1 (your granny) to 10 (supernerd), I would put myself on a 6 (the target demographic for Zorin?). I have been using Windows since V1 (maybe V2). I can effectively fiddle around with OS's and software - but just do not have enough free time.

What I like:

  1. Ditching Microspy (for this reason alone, I am going to sweat it out).

  2. Clean, fresh and uncluttered (like moving from a polluted city to the Countryside).

  3. No AI (which I hate).

What I don't like:

  1. Nothing I try seems to work - nothing installs. (example: I downloaded the Linux version of Idrive. I have spent hours trying to figure it out - even tried AI - which I hate - it was a dumb as ever).

  2. As a graphic designer, I cannot install the core programs I use daily (example: Affinity and Clip studio paint - but there are many more). Therefore, I cannot actually work in Zorin. No, there are no native Linux apps that actually work (for me).

  3. Missing features I have come to rely on (just one example from many - Libre office is fine - but does not have native 'read-aloud' feature - which I find crucial for proofing).

  4. Unfamiliarity - where to find things, or just do things - I am beginning to think that switching over to Linux and actually getting work done is pretty impossible. Every hour spent trying to figure out Zoran is an hour taken from what actually puts bread on the table.

Conclusion:

I really want Linux (and Zorin) to succeed and for all the big-tech companies (not just Microbloat) to fade from existence.

However, at this stage I fear that there is just too much friction for the average user (not to mention the novice). Linux is just not ready for mass adoption.

However, I am committed to eventually moving over. My plan is to keep Zorin on my spare PC - just to see if I can make it viable. Alas, I will need to stick with dirty Windows on my main PC.

Request:

Can someone point me to the best resource for learning this alien OS,? These resources must already exist - but I need to be guided through the minefield. I hope to use this forum to get help with specific problems, as this will be the best way for me to learn (let me know if I get too irritating!).

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Welcome to the forum.
I moved the post from "Chat about Zorin", to the "Feedback" section.

This may be of interest to you. Unofficial Manual for ZorinOS 18 Core Mk.III - Bitstream Vera Sans editions in .pdf Final
But note that the author (@swarfendor437) maybe moving the download source in the near future.

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Sorry, I really should have posted it there in the first place.

Thanks for the link BTW - I am sure this will be very helpful.

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Hello & welcome, I have a few questions and offer a few answers to your questions/complaints.

  1. What is "Windows V1 (maybe V2)?
  2. On your user ability scale I will call myself Number 5
  3. Ditching Microspy (more like macrospy lol) :white_check_mark:
  4. I like the "Countryside" (That's where I live) :white_check_mark:
  5. No AI (installed and if I want to use it it's my choice) :white_check_mark:
  6. "Nothing I try seems to work" Ask question on this forum, most are friendly and helpful.
  7. "As a graphic designer, I cannot install the core programs I use daily" try using Wine OR Winboat (winboat bigger learning curve) OR Try and learn similar Linux apps.
  8. "Missing features I have come to rely on" Ask question here
  9. "Unfamiliarity - where to find things, or just do things" Practice makes perfect, when you first used MS Windows this was also the case.
  10. "and for all the big-tech companies (not just Microbloat) to fade from existence." MY DREAM I want to come true and to see them all bankrupt.
  11. Hang in and ask questions on Zorin Forum.
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Did the installation of IDrive work? I tested it in a Zorin 18.1 core live session, and the installation of the .deb package worked. But I don´t have an account to test if the app works.

I downloaded the Debian package and then doubleclicked on the downloaded .deb package to install it.

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I remember when I first learned to drive.
It was a white knuckle experience.

And I Had so many questions. How do you know when you have established yourself in the lane to flip the turn signal off?

The truth is; It is not GnuLinux. There is no easy fix to having a learning curve. This is true of everything. And of everyone.

I remember when I first sat down at a computer and had to learn MS Windows.
I could not find anything. I had no idea how to do anything. I had to keep asking other people; even when I saw their face tense up and look frustrated at yet another interruption.

Let's look at this in perspective.

You say you have a list of many apps that their developers do not support or supply a GnuLinux version.
I think that the nature of the statement resolves itself. That is not GnuLinux readiness.
If you set Core Programs as those that will be like pulling teeth and you set them as something you utterly depend on; You are binding yourself to the problem.

Experience will solve many of your frustrations. But your experience cannot solve a software developer excluding GnuLinux.

You do have choices. And one of them is that native applications may work for you; but it would require adopting a learning curve for that application (and each of them) alongside of the O.S. And that is the thing that is probably daunting you the most.

And if you build a Windows OS machine or use dual boot or a Virtual Machine with Windows OS on it, what will push you, apply directed pressure, to really explore other alternatives? Only you can know this.

The best resource is you. You know your workflow and your needs and your style.
I cannot recommend a piece of software that will meet your needs; I can only give a list of different ones you can try.
When you stand looking at an alien landscape; you will feel daunted by the overwhelming unknowns.
Reduce it to sized chunks you can manage.
Apply your focus on each, forgetting about deadlines and expectations.
Incrementally let go of the things that bind you down.

And believe in yourself.
You have been systematically conditioned to believe that you need the help of the Experts.
That you cannot do it.
That you need corporate intervention that brings ease, convenience and knowledge. That you depend on and need them.
You do not.

You will learn a new system by rolling up your sleeves and doing it. You won't do it in a day. You will get angry and frustrated. You will want to quit.
When you do, remember that Microsoft awaits you with open arms (for a price).
As you use the system and begin finding the locations of things, achieve small successes and relay on real other people just like you - you will overcome all of the things you have been letting you hold you back.

This means your strongest guide, aside from those linked to; is this forum itself. Create a thread for each sticking point.

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I would add that there is always nice guys here to help you understand and/or find answers.

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Feel free to ask Questions. That is what the Forum exists for. It is a Help Forum. and when You need help for something, you can of Course ask here.

Can you be more specific here? What did You tried to install and in which Way? Downloaed a .deb File? Added A Repo? Used Gnome Software?

I took a quick Look and Affinity doesn't seem to have a Linux Version. I only saw Windows and Mac Versions. The Thing with this is that this simply have to come from the Developer. Linux can't do much there. You can look for Linux Alternatives but when they doesn't suit You ...

When you use or do something the first Time it is unfamiliar. Familiarity comes with the Time. Linux is not Windows. So, Things are going different. You can try to offer a low Level Entry, yes. But it will not be the same.

That is actually not a bad Idea to do it that Way. When the Machine can be used for it, You can look how the Things work, collect Experience, try Stuff. And of Course try other Distros if You want or Zorin doesn't fit Your Needs. It is nothing bad about switching Distros to check them out.

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Not moving adding! I need to add to Internet Archive as my murena cloud will die when I do, but hopefully not yet.

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Here's a tutorial for CSP using "bottles" that you can try.

TLDR, stick with it. Sometimes you can make the software run on Linux, sometimes you can't but there's a good enough substitute.

Long version

I guess the simplified way to explain wine or bottles is to say that they make substitutions to run windows apps, and you can install windows dependencies (fonts, direct x, dotnet, etc) to support function of the windows applications.

Because windows applications sometimes need completely different things to run (32 bit vs 64 bit, different dotnets, etc), the applications and dependencies are best separated into prefixes (or bottles, if you use Bottles instead of winetricks). Prefixes look like tiny windows environments (c drive, windows folder, user folder, etc).

Winetricks and Bottles do largely the same things (Bottles can use wine, and if something will not work in one, it probably won't work for the other either). However, you must be mindful of the wine version and the dependencies. Sometimes you need specifically older (or newer) versions of wine.

Steam (the game store) is sometimes the easiest way to install windows things, even non-steam non-games, because it has "super" wine (Proton). You can just use the "add non-steam game" with Linux compatibility options enabled to use Proton for some applications (even if the exe isn't a game).

For example, you could use steam's proton to easily run FL Studio (a windows/Mac only digital audio workstation for making music). Configuring proton is harder though (steam doesn't come with protontricks for adding dependencies). I've never had or used "protontricks."

If you don't have or want a steam account, you could try the Heroic Launcher instead, which uses ge-proton, but I have trouble getting it to work as well as steam's proton. Might be a me or my laptop problem, but heroic often doesn't see the laptop GPU with those ge-protons, but sees it fine if I select steam's in heroic (which I often do if I needed to configure a proton prefix with winetricks).

The point is, I'm doing my best to completely stay away from windows, and I encourage you to do the same. It's a headache sometimes, but if enough people can send that message (that windows has become insufferable and we don't want it) then maybe developers will give more support for Linux native versions.

I understand wanting to stay with CSP over GIMP or Krita: there are some features that just aren't represented (built-in pose references and the like). Try to make CSP work in Bottles (and steam), but if it just won't, I don't think the move is to go back to Microsoft and continue rewarding their "Microslop" behavior. I think the right move is to adapt to the new software, despite the missing features.

The logic is along the lines of "Be the change you want to see in the world." If you want CSP to eventually support Linux, go to Linux.

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Thanks for all these replies and friendly support (I feels good here!). Sorry I have not replied before (super busy). I will get back with a more comprehensive post in a day or two.
Thank you again, not only for the suggestions, but for making me feel at home here.

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First of all, thank you for all your positive and helpful responses.

I had written an overlong 'wall of text' responding to all of you, and relating the comments to my current concerns with Linux.

Then I watched this video with Artyom Zorin:

It is clear that the Zorin team are well aware of all the barriers to adoption, and are working to mitigate them. So, hashing over all my negatives again seems somewhat pointless. (Incidentally, I found this interview inspiring. It also confirmed that I had made the right move. If you are new to Zorin, I think this interview is a must).

Therefore - in sweeping out all previous ramblings, I can I assure you that I have read every single post and found them really helpful (installing clip studio later today!). I will respond to just one post:

"I would add that there is always nice guys here to help you understand and/or find answers."

This is indeed my take-away.

 

(strictly optional) Diary of a Dummy

However, I thought it may be interesting (to those in the same boat as I) to give an update to my experience and lay out the strategy for adoption I am using (as this may be helpful to those thinking of making the switch, everyone else should just skip this and get on with their lives!). In many ways, this strategy is pulled from the responses to my initial post.

My basic strategy is to migrate in stages - to incrementally use Zorin as much as possible, and to use Windows as little as possible.

Here is the digest (that I actually penned as a response to a Youtube video):

  1. Get an old reconditioned Thinkpad: Install Zorin (stick with one OS until you are familiar with it - don't waste time getting more confused).

  2. Keep your dirty Windows PC/Laptop running (you may still need it - for now).

  3. (optional but really useful) Get a good cross platform cloud service (this keeps your crucial Windows data safe, and allows you to easily transfer what you need from windows to Linux)

  4. Try to work as much as possible on the Linux laptop (gradual migration). Find out what works, and what doesn't. Find solutions to the problems you encounter at your leisure: Find what program you need for your workflow - see if these programs work natively on Linux - or if an alternative Linux compatible program could work for you - go back to the Windows machine for software that you cannot find an alternative*.

  5. When you can confidently work entirely on the Linux laptop (i.e., you have gradually migrated all of your software, settings, files and data) - install Linux on your primary PC/Laptop.

  6. Give the bird to Microslop.

(* I am encouraged by the news that Affinity is at least considering a Linux version. This is how I see the future: 1. developers/publishers see the advantages of a Linux compatible version of their software - 2. which drives migration. 3. [goto] 1.)

Other hints to new users (from my own experience and other's comments).

Running Zorin on one laptop and Windoze on another instantly reduces stress and urgency - whatever happens the safety net is still there. Chill. Take your time. Migration is only as fast as you need it to be.

T480 era Thinkpads are still the best laptops (especially for Linux) and you can pick one up for next to nothing. I find that the experience with a Thinkpad perfectly syncs with the experience of the Zorin OS. Running Windows on one machine and Zorin on another is (IMO) a far better solution than dual booting (or running Zorin Lite from a thumb-stick)

See it as a 'fun adventure', rather than a anxiety ridden series of unfamiliar hurdles - you have your safety net of going back to Windows if you need to. (I said that I 'do not have time' to deal with the learning curve. Re-define as an exciting new project - and there is always time - I have not played a PC game, or watched a film since installing - getting things up and running just seems more rewarding and fun - rather than vegetating to relax, you can relax by exercising your brain a little.)

Where am I (after just a few days!)?

I am at the stage where I still need to work on Windows for the graphic stuff. There is simply no viable alternative (other than bankruptcy). However, I am confident that this will change (either through learning how to get non-Linux app to work in Windows, or through those apps extending to include a Linux version).

I also cannot find a word-processor that works for me - for one simple reason - I cannot find one with a 'read aloud' feature (which I find utterly indispensable for proof-reading). If anyone knows a solution to this, I would really love to hear it. At the moment, I am experimenting with using either Joplin or Obsidian (which has a read-aloud plugin that works well).

Other than this - I am chill and find myself spending most of my time here in Linux. I see a not-to distant future where all these problems are solved and Zorin is installed on all my machines.

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I wanted to add something here.
As an experiment, I thought I would test how intuitive it was for a newbie to install a Windows only app. The app I tested was (of course) Affinity.
I had saved a few Youtube vids on this - but for this experiment, I wanted to see how a non-techie person (me) would fair, without studying anything.

Gotta say - knock me over with a feather - the Zorin installer took me through the process in a couple of very easy steps. Literally, a couple of minutes later and Affinity is up and running on my Thinkpad. (I have only just done a few tests of basic stuff in Affinity - but it seems to work just as it does in Windows).

It really was so easy.

Now we are cookin'!

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Curious, did you use Docker and Winboat to get affinity moving?

In respect of read aloud I did a search using Brave search engine via Mojeek and the Brave A.I. result comes back with:

"Which Linux Office Suite has a read aloud feature?

Quick Answer

LibreOffice has a built-in text-to-speech capability via the Read Text extension, which allows users to have selected text read aloud using external programs like Pico TTS , Festival , or eSpeak . While LibreOffice does not have an inbuilt voice typing (speech-to-text) feature, it supports reading documents aloud through this add-on. Other Linux office alternatives like OnlyOffice and WPS Office do not natively include this specific feature, though users can leverage web-based tools like Google Docs or system-level screen readers for similar functionality."

and further:

"Which TTS engine sounds best for LibreOffice?"

Gives:

"For the LibreOffice "Read Text" extension on Linux, the SVOX Pico engine is widely considered the best balance of clarity and ease of use for standard European languages (English, French, German, Spanish, Italian). While older engines like eSpeak and Festival offer broad language support, they often sound robotic.

For the highest quality, modern neural TTS engines like Piper , Mimic 3 , and Coqui TTS provide significantly more natural, human-like speech but require more complex setup via the command line or a local server.

Top Recommendations by Quality and Use Case

1. SVOX Pico (Best Overall for Simplicity) SVOX Pico uses Hidden Markov Model (HMM) algorithms to produce clear, intelligible speech that is far less robotic than standard formant synthesizers. It is the recommended default for most users because it is easy to install and integrates seamlessly with the Read Text extension.

  • Pros: Clear voice, low latency, simple installation (libttspico-utils ), works offline.

  • Cons: Limited to specific languages (mainly Western European); binary voice files cannot be edited.

  • Installation: sudo apt install libttspico0 libttspico-utils libttspico-data

2. Piper (Best Modern Neural Voice) Piper is a fast, local neural TTS engine that produces high-quality, natural-sounding speech. It is currently the top recommendation for users willing to perform a slightly more advanced setup. It runs entirely offline and supports many voices and languages.

  • Pros: Extremely natural sounding, fast, offline, open-source.

  • Cons: Requires manual configuration to work with LibreOffice (often via a script or speech-dispatcher wrapper); not a direct "one-click" option in the extension menu without setup.

  • Setup: Typically involves installing the binary and configuring the Read Text extension to call the piper command with the specific model file (e.g., --model en_US-lessac-medium.onnx ).

3. Mimic 3 & Coqui TTS (Advanced Neural Options) The Read Text extension explicitly supports Mimic 3 and Coqui TTS via a local network server or speech-dispatcher. These engines use deep learning to generate very realistic voices, including emotional nuance and better prosody.

  • Pros: State-of-the-art voice quality, voice cloning capabilities (Coqui), highly customizable.

  • Cons: Resource-intensive (may require GPU for speed), complex installation (Python dependencies, server setup), potential latency.

  • Usage: You must run the mimic3-server or tts-server locally and configure the extension to send text to the local HTTP port.

4. eSpeak-NG + MBROLA (Best for Language Variety) While standard eSpeak-NG sounds robotic, pairing it with MBROLA voices significantly improves quality, offering a "diphon" sound that is smoother than raw eSpeak. This is the best option if you need a specific language not supported by Pico or Piper.

  • Pros: Supports 100+ languages, highly customizable pitch/speed.

  • Cons: Still sounds somewhat synthetic compared to neural engines; MBROLA voices must be installed separately.

  • Command: In the extension settings, use the flag -v mb-en1 (for UK English) or similar MBROLA voice codes.

How to Switch Engines in LibreOffice

  1. Install the desired engine (e.g., sudo apt install libttspico-utils for Pico).

  2. Open LibreOffice and go to Tools > Add-ons > Read Selection .

  3. In the "Read the selection with another program" section:

  • For Pico : Select the command line option containing (PICO_READ_TEXT_PY) .

  • For eSpeak/MBROLA : Select the path to /usr/bin/espeak and enter arguments like -v mb-en1 -f "(TMP)" .

  • For Piper/Mimic : You may need to enter a custom command path pointing to the engine's binary or server script."

I was hoping SoftMaker Office Professional would have it, but as usual, only available for the Windows version, not GNU/Linux or MacOS.

Something else to consider.

Okular can only read pdfs, so you could use LibreOffice Writer to export as a .pdf and then open it with Okular and use the read aloud tools it has, either selected text or entire document.

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My experiment with installing Affinity was to go in dumb and see what Zorin came up with itself. I know of Wine and Bottles (but mainly from my evening consumption :winking_face_with_tongue: ) - but other than that - I went in totally blind. It was super easy:

  1. Downloaded the Affinity Windows .exe (from Canva)
  2. Double clicked it - Zorin told me that it was not a native app and took me to a github page.
  3. Downloaded the file from github - double clicked - and it just installed.

It really was as simple as that.

Hey, thanks for all that research on Text-to-speech - I have spent a little time exploring this myself today. Unfortunately, none of these solutions work as fluidly as I would want.

(I may have mentioned this but) My old workflow was to work out a rough draft in Onenote - then work on a final draft - also in Onenote (which would still be my preference - all other note-taking apps seem stiff and constrained by comparison - not really meant for writing long-form).
The second stage is to import this (a chunk at a time) into word - then get word to read it back. As text to speech is fully integrated (with 'sort of' natural sounding voices), I can work through the final piece and just pause the speech at any point, make my corrections, then pick up from where I left off (this is where I have not really found a suitable substitute for my workflow).
The final stage is to import this into Affinity, to make the PDF. Fingers crossed that the wine version of Affinity is stable enough, when I get to this stage - to be safe, I will probably go into Windows for the final edit and PDF creation (until I come up with a 100% secure solution).

What I am playing with atm is using Obsidian as an alternative to Onenote (far more stiff, but has a really decent and integrated text-to-speech plugin).
...then take this into LibreOffice. Not ideal, as I am working in reverse (I would much prefer to proof the final draft in a word processor - with integrated text-to-speech). So, I am still investigating. So, if there any typos in this response, you will be able to tell that I have not yet found a solution!

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I have found a solution to text-to-speech in LibreOffice.
(Or rather AI did! :nauseated_face:)

Here is a step-by-step guide (I probably should post this somewhere else (?).

Guide: Adding High-Quality "Natural" Text-to-Speech to LibreOffice on Zorin OS

If you are migrating from Microsoft Office 365 and miss the "Read Aloud" feature for proofreading, you can replicate it in LibreOffice using the Piper neural engine. Unlike standard Linux voices, Piper uses AI to sound human, and it runs 100% locally on your computer.

Step 1: Install the "Read Text" Extension

  1. Download the Read Text extension .oxt file from the LibreOffice Extensions Repository.
  2. Open LibreOffice Writer, go to Tools > Extension Manager, click Add, and select the downloaded file.
  3. Restart LibreOffice.

Step 2: Install the Piper Engine

Open your Terminal (Ctrl+Alt+T) and run these commands one by one:

# 1. Update your system and install necessary tools
sudo apt update && sudo apt install pipx espeak-ng-data -y

# 2. Add pipx to your system path
pipx ensurepath

# 3. IMPORTANT: Close your terminal and open a NEW one to refresh the path settings

Bash

In the new terminal, install the Piper engine:

pipx install piper-tts

Bash

Step 3: Download Natural Voice Models

Piper requires a "Voice" file and a "Config" file to work.

  1. Create a folder in your Documents named PiperVoices.
  2. Download these two files for the "Amy" voice (a high-quality, warm voice):
  3. Ensure both files are saved in your ~/Documents/PiperVoices folder.

Step 4: Configure LibreOffice

  1. In LibreOffice Writer, highlight any text and go to Tools > Add-Ons > Read Selection.

  2. A configuration dialog will appear. Fill it out as follows:

    • External Program: /usr/bin/python3
    • Command line options: (Copy and paste the line below exactly)
    "(PIPER_READ_TEXT_PY)" --voice ~/Documents/PiperVoices/en_US-amy-medium.onnx --rate 100% "(TMP)"

    Bash

  3. Click OK.

Step 5: (Optional) Hide the Dialog and Set a Shortcut

To make the experience seamless like Office 365:

  • To stop the popup: In the "Read Text" dialog box, uncheck "Always show this dialog" before clicking OK.
  • To set a keyboard shortcut:
    1. Go to Tools > Customize > Keyboard.
    2. Search for the Category LibreOffice Macros > My Macros > TextToSpeech.
    3. Assign the function ReadTextAloud to a key (like Ctrl+Alt+S).

Now, simply highlight your text and hit your shortcut to hear your work read back in a natural, human voice!

A final tip for the forum:

If anyone has a "Command not found" error after Step 2, remind them that they must close and reopen their terminal window to "wake up" the new pipx path.

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Well done. You managed the third option that I posted as a possible solution. Can you mark your post with the A.I. Solution as the solution? :wink:

On that other OS, when I was a Vision Support Technician (converting text into Braille and Large Print for students with no/low vision, I did manage to get NVDA to use human sounding voices using mbrola; the only issue I had with it was it kept starting with a copyright notice or a trademark window. mbrola is closed source but available for free for personal use.

@community_moderators I think @AlbertMoon 's solution post should be included in the Tutorial and Guide's Section.

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Unfortunately, I cannot take the credit - the credit has to go to AI (which I hate!).
I am as dumb as a block of salt :face_with_spiral_eyes: - example I do not know how to mark this post as a solution (unless you tell me).

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I have never done it myself but if you go to the A.I. Post click on the three dots at bottom right of the post, when you click on them they expand options. Does 'mark as solution' appear? All I can do is edit the first post title as I am not a moderator.

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Thanks - no 'mark as solution' does not appear there - perhaps I do not have enough rights yet, as I only joined very recently?