Ubuntu – How to downgrade to a specific PPA version of LibreOffice

• In case you want to install the older version and replace the current installation:

sudo apt-get remove --purge libreoffice-core libreoffice-common

sudo apt-get autoremove --purge

Then find the version you want - here, download the archive containing the multiple deb files and install them following the instructions contained in the help/readme.

(Source: here and here.)

• In case you want to test or use different versions at the same time, even without removing the main/current installation, you may follow this answer.

A bit late to the party but I found this question when looking for an answer and now I have my own answer to share.

I believe you can do this via the mysterious world of apt_preferences.

Try making a file called /tmp/a_p (or whatever) like so...

Package: *
Pin: release a=*-backports
Pin-Priority: 100

Package: *
Pin: release n=*
Pin-Priority: 1001

Then run:

sudo apt-get -o Dir::Etc::Preferences=/tmp/a_p dist-upgrade

The second section of the file basically does what the OP requested, in that it bumps the priority of all packages in any live repository to make them install even if it means a downgrade.

The first section prevents the second section from triggering the installation of all backports. You may or may not care about or want this. I'd suggest tinkering to see what works. You can use apt-cache -o Dir::Etc::Preferences=/tmp/a_p policy somepkg to see what effect the a_p file is having on specific packages.

TIM