LibreOffice 7.5 Community, the latest major version of the volunteer-supported free office suite for desktop, is now available for download on Windows (with Intel/AMD and Arm processors), macOS (with Apple Silicon and Intel processors), and Linux systems.
Interoperability with Microsoft Office
LibreOffice 7.5, utilizing the LibreOffice Technology platform for office work in desktop, mobile, and cloud environments, brings a host of improvements and new features aimed at users who share documents with or transition from MS Office. Users in this category should keep an eye on new versions regularly, as development progresses rapidly, and each new release offers significant enhancements over the previous one.
LibreOffice offers the highest level of compatibility in the office suite realm, from native support for the OpenDocument format (ODF) – which surpasses proprietary formats in security and robustness – to excellent support for MS Office files and filters for a wide range of previously used formats, ensuring users retain access to their old documents.
Microsoft files do not adhere to the ISO-approved standard but still utilize a proprietary format that was deemed not recommended by the ISO in April 2008. The internal structure of the format used is quite complex, causing issues in the LibreOffice suite. In contrast, the default LibreOffice format (OpenDocument) is truly open and standard.
Key New Features
General
– Significantly improved dark mode support
– New, more colorful and vibrant icons for applications and MIME types
– Document filtering on the start screen
– Enhanced Single Toolbar UI version
– Several fixes, new options, and features in PDF export
– Support for embedding fonts in macOS system
– Several new options in the Font Properties dialog
– Added zoom slider to the bottom right corner of the macro editor
Writer
– Tabs have been greatly improved and are displayed better
– Objects can be marked as „decorative,“ improving accessibility
– New types have been added to content controls, enhancing PDF form support
– Automatic accessibility check option added to the Tools menu
– Initial version of machine translation using the DeepL API
– Several spell check improvements
Calc
– Data tables are now supported in charts
– Function wizard allows searching in descriptions
– Number formats with word representation added
– Case sensitivity removed for conditional formatting conditions
– Behavior fixed when inserting numbers preceded by an apostrophe (‚)
Impress and Draw
– New set of default table styles and ability to create and export these styles
– Table styles can now be edited, saved as template elements, and exported
– Objects can now be dragged in the Navigator window
– Videos inserted on a slide can now be played or trimmed
– Presenter screen can now be launched as a regular window, not just full screen
Contributors to LibreOffice 7.5 Community
The new features in LibreOffice 7.4 Community were prepared by 144 developers: 63% of commits to the source code were made by 47 employees of three companies represented on The Document Foundation’s advisory board (TDF) – Collabora, Red Hat, and allotropia – or other organizations, with 6 TDF developers contributing 12%, and the remaining 25% coming from 91 individual volunteers.
In addition, another 112 volunteers – backed by hundreds of others preparing translations – are signed under changes related to localization in 158 languages. LibreOffice 7.5 Community is released in 120 different language versions, more than any other free or proprietary software. This allows over 5.4 billion people to use it in their native language (L1), with an additional 2.3 billion people in their second language (L2).
LibreOffice for Businesses
For companies looking to operate LibreOffice professionally, TDF recommends using applications from the LibreOffice Enterprise group offered by partners for desktop, mobile, or cloud environments, along with additional features and value-added services. These include long-term support options, professional assistance, custom development, and other benefits such as service level agreements (SLAs): [Link to more information].
Every line of code written by partner company programmers for their business customers is shared with the community in the main repository, improving the common LibreOffice Technology platform. Products developed on the LibreOffice Technology platform are available for major desktop operating systems (Windows, macOS, Linux, and Chrome OS), mobile platforms (Android and iOS), and the cloud.
Migration to LibreOffice
The Document Foundation has prepared a migration protocol describing the transition of a business from proprietary office suites to LibreOffice. The protocol assumes the deployment of a long-term support version from the LibreOffice Enterprise applications group along with consulting and training provided by certified professionals offering value-added services and comprehensive solutions. More information can be found here: [Link to professional support].
LibreOffice – with its advanced source code, rich feature set, strong support for open standards, excellent compatibility, and long-term support from certified partners – represents an ideal solution for companies looking to regain control over their data and eliminate dependence on proprietary vendors, products, and formats.
Availability of LibreOffice 7.5 Community
LibreOffice 7.5 Community can be downloaded from the website [Link to download]. The minimum requirements are Microsoft Windows 7 SP1 and Apple macOS 10.14 for proprietary operating systems. Products for Android and iOS using LibreOffice Technology are listed here: [Link to Android Viewer].
Users who prioritize application reliability should opt for a stable release where new features are well refined. The Document Foundation manages a range of LibreOffice 7.4 with the current version 7.4.5, which incorporates several 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: [Link to Ask LibreOffice]. Users of LibreOffice, advocates of free software, and community members can financially support The Document Foundation on the [donate page].
Source and photo: LibreOffice, Document Foundation
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