How to Remove a Link in LibreOffice Calc

Removing a hyperlink in LibreOffice Calc is a straightforward process, whether you need to delete a single link or clear multiple links from a selection of cells or an entire spreadsheet. The most direct and recommended method involves using the right-click context menu.

Methods to Remove Hyperlinks in LibreOffice Calc

Here are the primary ways to remove links from your Calc spreadsheets:

1. Using the Right-Click Context Menu (Recommended)

This method allows you to precisely remove hyperlinks while keeping the original text or numbers intact. It works efficiently for single cells, selected ranges, or even an entire sheet.

Steps:

1. Select the cell(s) containing the hyperlink(s) you wish to remove.
   • To remove a single link: Click on the cell with the hyperlink.
   • To remove multiple links: Click and drag your mouse to select a range of cells, or hold Ctrl (or Cmd on macOS) and click on individual cells to select non-contiguous ones.
   • To remove all links from the entire sheet: Press Ctrl+A (or Cmd+A on macOS) to select all cells.
2. Right-click anywhere within the selected cell(s). A context menu will appear.
3. From the context menu, choose "Remove Hyperlink".

This action will instantly convert the hyperlinked text back to regular text, removing only the link functionality. If the hyperlink had distinct formatting like blue text and underlining, these will typically revert to the default cell style.

2. Clearing Direct Formatting (Use with Caution)

While not specifically designed for hyperlinks, clearing all direct formatting from a cell will also remove any hyperlinks present. However, this method will also remove any other direct formatting (like bold, italic, font size, or color) that you might want to keep.

Steps:

1. Select the cell(s) from which you want to remove formatting, including hyperlinks.
2. Go to the "Format" menu in the top toolbar.
3. Choose "Clear Direct Formatting" (or press Ctrl+M).

Note: Use this method only if you intend to remove all manual formatting applied to the cell(s), not just the hyperlink.

Removing All Hyperlinks from an Entire Sheet

If your goal is to strip all hyperlinks from an entire worksheet, combine the selection method with the right-click option:

1. Press Ctrl+A (Windows/Linux) or Cmd+A (macOS) to select all cells on the current sheet.
2. Right-click anywhere on the selected area.
3. From the context menu, select "Remove Hyperlink".

This will effectively remove all active links from your entire spreadsheet in one swift action.

Practical Tips and Considerations

• Preventing Automatic Hyperlink Creation: LibreOffice Calc often automatically converts recognized URLs or email addresses into hyperlinks as you type. To disable this feature:
  1. Go to "Tools" in the menu bar.
  2. Select "AutoCorrect Options...".
  3. In the AutoCorrect dialog, go to the "Options" tab.
  4. Uncheck the option "URL Recognition".
  5. Click "OK".
     This will prevent new hyperlinks from being automatically created as you type.
• Editing a Hyperlink: If you want to change the destination of a link rather than remove it entirely, right-click on the hyperlinked cell and choose "Edit Hyperlink...".
• Understanding "Remove Hyperlink": This action only removes the clickable link. The text or number itself remains in the cell. If the hyperlink had specific formatting (e.g., blue color, underline) applied directly by Calc, removing the link usually reverts these formatting aspects to the cell's default style.

For more detailed information on working with hyperlinks in LibreOffice Calc, you can refer to the official LibreOffice Calc Guide (Chapter 11: Links to other documents and the Internet).