A brand new model of free workplace software program suite LibreOffice has been launched, bringing with it prolonged compatibility with Microsoft Workplace file sorts.

In a weblog put up (opens in new tab) asserting the replace, the maker of the open supply software program bundle defined why it has been so troublesome traditionally to construct in Workplace compatibility.

“Microsoft recordsdata are nonetheless primarily based on the proprietary format deprecated by ISO in 2008, and never on the ISO authorized normal, so that they cover a considerable amount of synthetic complexity,” the weblog put up states. “This causes dealing with points with LibreOffice, which defaults to a real open normal format (the OpenDocument Format).”

Given the recognition of Workplace, and the sheer variety of paperwork in circulation, LibreOffice must ship complete compatibility with a purpose to appeal to customers away from Microsoft. The staff says customers can anticipate a number of updates in fast succession, with this purpose in thoughts.

A number of modifications

For individuals who aren’t within the know, LibreOffice is a set of workplace software program designed to cowl all the identical bases as Microsoft 365 and Google Workspace. Within the phrases of our reviewer, LibreOffice supplies “a competing suite of workplace software program that’s simply as distinctive, versatile, and feature-rich for gratis to its customers”.

With the price of residing on the rise, the open supply suite could possibly be a superb choice for anybody trying to save on the price of a subscription, notably with the arrival of enhanced Workplace compatibility.

In response to the weblog put up, customers ought to verify for brand new releases of LibreOffice frequently, because the compatibility upgrades are coming so thick and quick that “every new model improves dramatically over the earlier one”.

Albeit arguably the largest one, this isn’t the one change in LibreOffice 7.4. In actual fact, there are fairly a number of enhancements within the newest model of the productiveness suite, together with the spreadsheet app, Calc, now supporting 16,374 columns, and the complete suite now getting help for darkish mode in each Home windows 10 and 11. 

With regards to efficiency, the staff has additionally made enhancements for instances like PDF export, doc loading, and extra.

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