ODP is the open-source presentation format used by LibreOffice Impress and Apache OpenOffice. Most people working with presentations use PowerPoint (PPTX) or Google Slides rather than ODP, but the comparison between ODP and PDF follows the same logic as PPTX vs PDF: one is an editable working format, the other is a fixed delivery format. The choice depends on what you need to do with the presentation.
What ODP Is
ODP (OpenDocument Presentation) is an ISO-standardized open format for presentations, part of the OpenDocument Format (ODF) family alongside ODT (text documents) and ODS (spreadsheets). It's the default save format for LibreOffice Impress and can be opened by Google Slides, Apple Keynote, and Microsoft PowerPoint with varying degrees of fidelity. Like PPTX, it supports animations, transitions, speaker notes, and slide masters.
ODP is used primarily by organizations that prefer open-source software โ governments committed to open standards, educational institutions using LibreOffice, and users who prefer not to pay for Microsoft Office. It's less common in corporate environments where PowerPoint is the default.
PDF vs ODP: The Core Tradeoff
ODP is the working format โ editable, supports animations, requires compatible software to open correctly. PDF is the delivery format โ fixed layout, universally viewable, no editing without specialized tools. The same tradeoffs that apply to PPTX vs PDF apply equally to ODP vs PDF.
One area where ODP has an additional consideration: compatibility. ODP files shared outside LibreOffice users can render differently in PowerPoint or other applications โ fonts substitute, animations may not play, layouts can shift. PDF sidesteps all compatibility issues by rendering identically everywhere, which makes it a particularly practical choice when sharing ODP-originated presentations with audiences who don't use LibreOffice.
When to Share ODP vs When to Share PDF
Share ODP when: the recipient needs to edit the presentation, when all recipients use LibreOffice and ODP compatibility is confirmed, or when you're collaborating on a presentation that needs further work. Share PDF when: the presentation is final and ready for an audience, when recipients use different software, or when you're sending the deck as a leave-behind document after a meeting.
For live presentations, using LibreOffice Impress with your own laptop avoids the compatibility question entirely โ you control the software, so ODP renders correctly. For sharing the deck with people who weren't in the room, PDF is the safer choice.
Exporting ODP to PDF
LibreOffice Impress exports to PDF through File โ Export as PDF. The export dialog offers options for slide range, image compression, and whether to include speaker notes. For a standard presentation PDF (one slide per page, no notes), the defaults work well. For a handout with notes included, select the appropriate layout option.
LibreOffice's PDF export quality is generally good for text and vector content. Complex animations become static slide states, and transitions disappear โ the PDF shows each slide as it appears at the start of the transition. If specific slide states during an animation build need to be captured, export multiple versions or use the "Export entire animation" option if available.
Compressing Presentation PDFs
Presentation PDFs exported from LibreOffice can be large if the slides contain many high-resolution images or background graphics. For sharing by email or link, running the exported PDF through a PDF Compression tool reduces size without visibly affecting slide appearance at screen viewing sizes. A 40MB presentation PDF compressed to 8MB is much more practical for distribution without any noticeable quality change for the recipient.