LibreOffice 24.2 Community: A Comprehensive Overview
LibreOffice 24.2 Community, the latest major release of the open-source, community-supported office suite, is now available for download. This version is the first to adopt a new numbering system based on the year and month (RR.M), making it easier for users to track the latest updates. You can download LibreOffice 24.2 Community for Windows (Intel, AMD, and ARM), macOS (Apple and Intel), and Linux from the official website.
LibreOffice stands out as the only open-source office suite that offers functionality comparable to the most widely used products in this category. It provides a range of customization options for the user interface to cater to the needs of both traditional and modern users. The interface efficiently utilizes screen space on various devices, ensuring that most functions are easily accessible with just a few clicks.
Unified Platform for All Environments
One of the key advantages of LibreOffice is its core technology, known as LibreOffice Technology, a unified software platform for desktop, cloud, and mobile environments. This allows LibreOffice to offer a more seamless user experience and enables the creation of identical and interoperable documents based on two ISO standards: the open ODF formats (ODT, ODS, and ODP) and the proprietary OOXML formats from Microsoft (DOCX, XLSX, and PPTX).
Key Features in LibreOffice 24.2 Community
General:
– Automatic backup and recovery information is enabled by default to reduce the risk of data loss for new users.
– Various enhancements to tabbed interfaces, print preview, layout customization, and advanced switch usage for a more user-friendly experience.
– Improved display of character descriptions in the Insert Special Character dropdown menu.
Writer:
– Legal numbering for sorted lists now uses Arabic numerals for all levels.
– Ability to set styles in comments, making it easier to manage formatting and differentiate between different types of comments.
– Enhanced support for multi-page floating tables, including overlays, borders, footnotes, spanning across pages, and related UI improvements.
Calc:
– Added a new search field to the Functions tab on the sidebar.
– Support for and saving of several new scientific number formats in ODF.
Impress and Draw:
– Added support for small caps in Impress.
– Moved Presenter Screen and Remote Control settings to the Presentation > Slide Show dialog, with improved labels and layout.
– Various template changes and fixes to enhance usability and compatibility with ODF format.
Accessibility:
– Significant improvements in the accessibility API, allowing screen readers to convey mouse position and dialog field attributes accurately.
– Enhanced role and text attribute management in the IAccessible2 API for better screen reader presentation.
– Status bars in dialog boxes are now labeled with appropriate roles for better screen reader recognition.
Security:
– Password strength indicator in the Save with Password dialog using the zxcvbn-c library.
– New encryption method for ODF encrypted files for improved security and metadata protection.
– Clearer explanations of security macro options in the dialog window.
Contributors to LibreOffice 24.2 Community
The latest features in LibreOffice 24.2 Community were developed by 166 contributors, with 57% of code commits from 50 employees of three TDF advisory board companies – Collabora, allotropia, and Red Hat – and other organizations. 20% of contributions came from 8 TDF developers, and the remaining 23% from 108 individual volunteers.
Additionally, 159 volunteers have contributed to localization changes in 160 languages, with hundreds more preparing translations. LibreOffice 24.2 Community is available in 120 different language versions, making it accessible to over 5.5 billion people in their native language and another 2.4 billion in their second language.
LibreOffice for Businesses
For companies looking to use LibreOffice professionally, TDF recommends utilizing the LibreOffice Enterprise group of partners, offering applications for desktop, mobile, and cloud environments with additional features and services. These include long-term support options, professional assistance, custom development, and SLA contracts.
Migration to LibreOffice
The Document Foundation has prepared a migration protocol to help businesses transition from proprietary office suites to LibreOffice. The protocol involves deploying the enterprise version with long-term support (LTS) along with advisory and training services provided by certified professionals offering value-added services and comprehensive solutions.
Interoperability with Microsoft Office
LibreOffice 24.2, utilizing the LibreOffice Technology platform for office work in desktop, mobile, and cloud environments, brings several improvements and new features for users sharing documents with or transitioning from MS Office. Regular updates are recommended for users sharing documents with MS Office, as each new version offers significant enhancements over the previous one.
LibreOffice offers the highest level of compatibility among office suites, from native ODF support to excellent MS Office file support and filters for various legacy formats. Microsoft files do not adhere to the ISO standard and still use a proprietary format with a complex internal structure, causing issues for users who believe they are using an open and standard format.
Availability of LibreOffice 24.2 Community
You can download LibreOffice 24.2 Community from the official website. Minimum requirements include Microsoft Windows 7 SP1 and Apple macOS 10.15 for proprietary operating systems. Products for Android and iOS using LibreOffice Technology are available as well. For users prioritizing application reliability, the stable version with refined new features is recommended. The Document Foundation manages a range of LibreOffice 7.6 versions, with the current 7.6.4 Community version reflecting months of bug fixes.
The Document Foundation does not provide technical support, but users can seek advice from the volunteer community through email conferences or the Ask LibreOffice website. Users, open-source advocates, and community members can financially support The Document Foundation through donations on the website.
In conclusion, LibreOffice 24.2 Community offers a robust and feature-rich office suite with strong support for open standards, excellent compatibility, and long-term support from certified partners. It is an ideal solution for organizations looking to regain control over their data and break free from dependence on proprietary vendors, products, and formats.