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New Features in OpenOffice.org 2.4



General

  • Connect to WebDAV servers via HTTPS
  • Custom icons for toolbars are imported
  • Control password-storing with a master password
  • Warning if document is from a newer ODF
  • PDF documents: relative links, document references, PDF/A-1 (ISO 19005-1) supported, and cross-document link behavior options
  • Mac OS X: Quicktime support for movies and sound / use the built in spell checker
  • Print dialog improvements in usability
  • Edit boxes: warning at limit of characters
  • DejaVu font is now default instead of BitStream Vera

Localisation

  • Entries for 10 languages added

Base / DBA

  • Improved rendering of numeric(n) data from JDBC and Oracle
  • Easier choice of table name in "Copy table"
  • Editing of views in HSQLDB
  • Query designer for all properties which allow SQL command
  • Query designer in SQL view
  • Relation design accessible for MySQL databases
  • Setting to check for required fields on forms
  • Support for Access 2007 (.accdb files)

Calc

  • Convert text to columns: with this feature CSV data inside cells can be transformed into columns directly
  • Columns and rows in spreadsheet can be moved with drag and drop
  • Enter key returns to the column where the input started, one row below
  • Formula input: "+" and "-" can also be used to start
  • Individual zoom level per sheet
  • AutoFilter: choices clearer grouped and based on result of filtering in other columns
  • DataPilot: Manual Sorting / Double-click in DataPilot cell provides calculation data of that cell
  • Performance improvement with functions VLOOKUP and MATCH
  • Print dialog for Calc easier to use
  • PageUp and PageDown keys work in print preview
  • Sheet names in cell-hyperlinks: renamed properly

Chart

  • Regression curves: show equations and R² value
  • Reverse axes possible
  • Bars on different axes displayed next to each other
  • Data labels: Number format
  • Data point label: display both value and percentage
  • Data label: display each part in a separate line
  • Data labels: more flexible placement of labels
  • Labels on pie segments: avoiding overlapping
  • Data point label: can be removed with delete key

Draw

  • Navigation (tab) order of page objects
  • PDF export: page names as bookmark
  • Reduce complexity: no longer necessary display options removed

Impress

  • Navigation (tab) order of page objects
  • Thrilling 3D effects in slide transitions
  • Export slide names as PDF bookmarks
  • Easier to insert background picture

Writer

  • Selecting rectangular region of text
  • Find and Replace: backward references in regular expressions
  • Spell checking: easier selecting of the language
  • Insert&Insert Object toolbar redesign - Writer
  • Printing of hidden text can be turned on
  • Printing text place holders can be turned off
  • Shortcuts added for paragraph style Heading 4, Heading 5 and Textbody
  • Ctrl-click behaviour for hyperlinks can be changed
  • Custom document properties: Text fields and UI support

Extensions/ programmability / API

  • Extensible Help System for extensions
  • Extensions can have a separate display name
  • Extensions: support of web based update
  • Extensions: additional information about the publisher and release notes
  • Extensions: check for updates
  • Dialogs can have a wallpaper set
  • Transparent background for controls
  • Remote control presentations via API
  • API: get selected table(s) or query(s) in the main Base window

Blogs & Screen Shots

Blogs

Screen Shots

Print Hidden Text

Language Selector

PDF/A Export

Chart: Equations for regression curves

Chart: Reverse axes

Chart: Display bars on different axes next to each other

Chart: Number format for data labels

Chart: Display both in the data point label: value and percentage

Chart: Allow to display each part of a data label in a separate line

Chart: More flexible placement of labels on data points

Chart: Automatic positions for labels on pie segments

Persistent Icon List

Enhanced tooltip for "Print Directly" toolbar button

Release notes

Known issues

- none


See list of regressions found in OpenOffice.org version 2.4.0.

Full list

General

Feature Description Specs/Issue
Connect WebDAV servers via HTTPS OOo is now able to connect WebDAV servers via HTTPS. 31053 Spec
Custom icons for toolbars imported Icons can be imported for toolbars (Tools>Customize>Toolbars...>Modify>Change icon). Now those are stored persistently into a user-icon list. Icons for import shall be in PNG format and shall have a size of 16x16 or 26 by 26 pixel. The dialog has new buttons for Import and Delete. 73357 Spec
ODF in the names of the file types The 'ODF' abbreviation replaces the 'OpenDocument' description of file types. 80206 Spec
Master password/ password configuration The security tab in the Tools>Options dialog contains now possibility to control password-storing ( the passwords for specific URL-sites could be stored there ). By default the storing is not allowed. 82892 Spec
Warning if document is from a newer ODF version If a file is opened, that is written in a newer ODF version, than supported by the installed OpenOffice.org (i.e. ODF 1.2 versus ODF 1.1) a new dialog is shown. This dialog informs about online update to a newer version of OOo. 83653 Spec
Relative links can be created in PDF documents When exporting to PDF, links in those documents can be made relative on request. Thus for example, some related PDF-documents can link to each other. The PDF Options dialog has a new tab page: Links. Article

56629

Document references can be converted in PDF targets When exporting a PDF, this option changes ODF-extensions (such as .odt, .ods, and .odp) to .pdf. Of course this is useful with the feature of the relative links, and it can be found at the same place: File>Export to PDF ..>Links Article
PDF/A (ISO 19005-1) supported When exporting a document to PDF, the PDF Options dialog offers export to PDF/A-1a. PDF/A-1a is ISO 19005-1:2005 International Standard. Article

59651 Spec

Mac OS X: Quicktime support for movies and sound The Mac OS X native used Quicktime player is now supported by OpenOffice.org. 82234 Spec
Mac OS X: use the built in spell checker Mac OS X has a built in spell checking facility in many languages. Thus the user can maintain a single word list across all applications. Now these spellcheck services are integrated into the existing OpenOffice.org user interface. 77592 Spec.
Print dialog: cursor on field 'number of copies' The print dialog in all OOo modules (Ctrl-P or File>Print) now starts with the focus on the 'number of copies' the user would like to print. This often saves tabbing or clicking. 9521
Print dialog: 'Sort' option default In the Print dialog the 'Sort' option is defaulted to on. This makes it easier to print multiple copies of a document. 82071

Spec

Warning when limit of characters reached for edit boxes If an edit box (such as text box or combo box and others) reaches the limit of characters, a message box warns that the text is truncated. (The limit of characters can either be set for the control, or be the maximum count (65535) of characters possible in such controls.) 73360
AutoCaption format localisable Now the AutoCaption format (figures, tables) is localisable. In some languages, the number has to be placed before the word "figure", for example. 61007
DejaVu font is now default in stead of BitStream Vera DejaVu provides a wider range of characters, suitable for more languages/localizations. 59853


Localisation

Feature Description Specs/Issue
Serbia and Montenegro Disentangled the Serbia and Montenegro locales 71789
Add locales of available dictionaries to language list box New language list box entries available for font attribution: "Nyanja" [= ny-MW], "Kashubian" [= csb-PL], "Spanish (Cuba)" [= es-CU], "Tetun" [= tet-ID] 76233
Venezuela (es_VE): currency From 2008-01-01 the Bolivar Fuerte, VEF, is the new currency for Venezuela. In OpenOffice.org 2.4 it will be the default currency for the es-VE locale. 78601
Farsi/Persian: numbering support Added support of Farsi/Persian native numbering and alphabetic outline numbering, the latter appearing in Writer under Format -> Bullets and Numbering -> Options -> Numbering list box. It is not available in the preset numbering types or outlines yet. Native numbering is available through the number formatter for format codes using the [NatNum1] modifier. 79797
Bolivia, Quechua: added to language list box New language list box entries available for character attribution: "Quechua (Bolivia, North)" [= qul-BO], "Quechua (Bolivia, South)" [= quh-BO] 80114
Low German (nds-DE): added to language list box. New language list box entry available for character attribution: "Low German" [= nds-DE] 80432
Hiligaynon (hil_PH): added to language list box Added a new language list box entry and locale data for Hiligaynon_Philippines (hil_PH), available for character attribution, number formats and as default document language. 82723
Sámi languages: added to language list box Various Sami entries added to the language list box. These are available for character attribution and spell-checking: ... 82927 ]
Somali (so_SO): added to language list box Added a new language list box entry and locale data for Somali_Somalia (so_SO), available for character attribution, number formats and as default document language. 83369


Base / DBA

Feature Description Specs/Issue
Improved rendering of numeric(n) data from jdbc/oracle The Advanced Settings dialog now has a property to disable the currency return value from the ResultSetMetaData. Thus numeric data can be rendered as number, in stead of (always) as currency. 11746

Spec

Easier choice of table name in "Copy table" Now when you paste table-like data to OOo Base, with a table object selected, this table's existing name, along with the option "Append data", is pre-selected in the "Copy Table" wizard. 18907
Editing of views in HSQLDB From OOo 2.4.0 it is possibe to edit a view's design (underlying statement) in embedded HSQL databases. 49183
Query designer for all properties which allow SQL command From the property browser it is possible to invoke the query designer not only for the "Content" property of a database form (if it's content type is "SQL command"), but also for the list content of a list box control (or grid column), if its list content type is "SQL". The SQL command which you design in the query designer will, when saving it, be set as the respective property at the list box. 66624
Query designer in SQL view From within the property browser for a database form, you can open the query designer, to graphically design the SQL command underlying the form. ... 77492
Relation design for MySQL databases The relation design is now accessible for MySQL databases as well 68858
API: get selected table(s) or query(s) in the main Base window The ability is added (by supporting of com.sun.star.view.XSelectionSupplier interface) to find which table(s) or query(s) are currently selected in the main Base window. 69740
Setting to check for required fields on forms Now for databases, there exists a per-database setting which controls whether forms check for required fields when entering data. 80930
Support for Access 2007 (accdb) The new file format for MS Access 2007 (accdb files) is now also supported by the OpenOffice.org Base. When creating a new database, one can now select "MS Access 2007" as type to connect to. 81043

Spec


Calc

Feature Description Specs/Issue
Convert text to columns With this feature CSV data inside cells can be transformed into columns directly. It uses the already existing Text import dialog and transforms CSV data inside cells into multiple columns. Example: A1 holds '1,2,3,4". After using this feature, 1, 2, 3 and 4 are split over cells.

Start this feature with the menu Data>Text to Columns.

Article

4040 Spec

Cells in spreadsheet can be moved, copied, or linked Select one or more columns or rows, or a range of cells, and hold down Alt while moving the selection with the mouse. When the mouse button is released, other cells/columns/rows are moved left or down, to insert the selection. Before this feature, target cells always were overwritten.

7180 Spec

Enter key returns to the column where the input started, one row below Entering data row wise is made easier. The Enter key works like a carriage return-line feed on a type writer and allows to return to the column where the input started, but just a row below the current row. Video

15546 Spec

Formula input: "+" and "-" can also be used to start Most professional spreadsheet users do use the number pad for inputting data to save time. So it makes sense to allow to enter a formula not just by entering a "=" or hitting the Function button in the Formula tool bar. Therefore "+" and "-" can also be used to start entering a formula. This improves the usability and the speed when creating formulas in a spreadsheet. Furthermore this can be used as a little calculator. 20496

Spec

Individual zoom level per sheet Each sheet in a spreadsheet document can now have its own zoom level. 24372

Spec

AutoFilter: choices clearer grouped and based on result of filtering in other columns The AutoFilter function allows to filter data in a spreadsheet by one criteria per column. This feature allows to run a quick analysis of data. Two things are new: there is a clearer grouping of static filter choices. And if in one column a filter is set, the filters in the other columns only show the options that are available in the visible rows. 27745

Spec

DataPilot: Manual Sorting It's now possible to rearrange items in a DataPilot field via Drag&Drop or Copy&Paste. The default sorting for new tables is "Ascending", it is changed to "Manual" when items are moved. 32307

Spec

Double-click in Datapilot cell provides calculation data of that cell When a cell within the data field is double-clicked, it inserts a new sheet containing a subset of rows from the original data source that constitutes the result data displayed in that cell. For instance, when the data field function is selected to be SUM, then the number that is shown in the data field cell must be identical to the sum of all the data field values in the constituent rows displayed in the inserted sheet. 57030

Spec

Performance improvement with functions VLOOKUP and MATCH Spreadsheet functions VLOOKUP and MATCH results are used by OpenOffice.org to make these functions in the same row perform faster. 81336

Spec

Print dialog for Calc easier to use The Print dialog in Calc makes it easier to choose what part of the spreadsheet has to be printed. The option 'print only selected sheets' is now on that dialog.

Furthermore the 'Sort' option is defaulted to on. This makes it easier to print multiple copies of a document.

82071

Spec

Print preview: PageUp and PageDown keys work From 2.4.0 PgUp/PgDn scroll continuously through the print preview. Ctrl + PgUp/PgDn scroll to top of next/previous page. 7269
Sheet names in cell-hyperlinks: renamed properly Now sheet names in cell-hyperlinks are renamed properly. This also corrects the import from Excel with cell references to other sheets. 81154


Chart

Feature Description Specs/Issue
Regression curves: show equations and R² value The equation of trend lines and the R² value now can be displayed in the chart.

7998 Spec Screen Shots

Reverse axes It is possible now to change the direction of axes. Thus the user can choose where the lower values and where the higher values are displayed at an axis.

Screen Shots 24614 Spec

Different axes: bars displayed next to each other In bar charts with two y axes it is now also possible to display all the bars next to each other, thus they don't hide each other anymore.

Screen Shots 26795 Spec

Data labels: Number format For data labels in charts it is now possible to choose a number format for the display of values and percentage values. Thus the precision of the displayed values can be changed for example.

Screen Shots 37792 Spec

Data point label: display both value and percentage For data labels in charts it is now possible to display the value and the percentage value at the same time.

Screen Shots 43489 Spec

Data label: display each part in a separate line The different parts of a data label now can be displayed in separate lines.

Screen Shots 82051 Spec

Data labels: more flexible placement of labels It is now possible to manipulate the placement of the data point labels relative to the data point. For example for symbol charts the labels can be placed above, below, left, right or centered on the symbol.

Screen Shots 63857 Spec

Labels on pie segments: avoiding overlapping There is an automatism now which tries to avoid the overlapping of data point labels on pie charts.

Screen Shots 4039 Spec

Data point labels can be removed It is now possible to remove selected data point labels with pressing the delete key or using the mouse.

83344


Draw

Feature Description Specs/Issue
Navigation (tab) order of page objects When a shape is selected, the Tab-key brings the focus to the next object. Now the navigation (tab) order of the shapes can be set with drag and drop in the Navigator. Before, the tab order always was dependent on the paint order. 68097

Spec

PDF exported: page names as bookmark When exporting to PDF, you can now able choose to make bookmarks of the names of the pages in a draw document.

40318

Reduce complexity: no longer necessary display options removed Some no longer necessary display options are removed. These options were needed in very early office versions, but already were switched off in the configuration for some time. 80528

Spec


Impress

Feature Description Specs/Issue
Navigation (tab) order of page objects When a shape is selected, the Tab-key brings the focus to the next object. Now the navigation (tab) order of the shapes can be set with drag and drop in the Navigator. Before, the tab order always was dependent on the paint order. 68097

Spec

Slide transitions: thrilling 3D effects Transition is an animation where one page is visible in the beginning and another in the end. It is used during presentation slideshow to switch pages. OpenOffice.org 2.4 makes it possible to use an extension (using OpenGL) to show these 3D transitions, and when OpenOffice.org 2.4 is released, this extension will be available.

82460

PDF exported: slide names as bookmark The PDF export filter is now able make bookmarks of the names of the slides in a presentation

40318

Background picture: easier to insert Now choosing a picture file and set it as the background of a slide is in the context menu of a slide. This is much easier that how this had to be done previously. 82911

Spec


Writer

Feature Description Specs/Issue
Selecting rectangular region of text The selection mode "block selection" allows the selection of text inside a rectangular region. Start this by holding down Alt while dragging, or start mode "block selection" with the control on the status bar.

1596 Spec

Find & Replace: backward references in regular expressions Find & Replace now can substitute regular expression subexpression in replace. "$n" references the nth subexpression of the found string, n >= 0, n<=9. With "$0" the whole found string can be referenced.

15666 Spec

Spell checking: easier selecting of the language A new control in the status bar of Writer is introduced to show the language at the current cursor position/selection. Furthermore the entire document language can be changed.

The same possibilities are now found in the menu Tools>Language.

1034 77208 Spec.
Insert&Insert Object toolbar redesign - Writer Toolbars for Insert&Insert Object have been changed. Choices no longer needed, are removed. 73117 Spec
Printing of hidden text can be turned on Printing of hidden text (hidden paragraph field, hidden text field, hidden characters) is now possible. It is controlled via settings in Tools>Options>Writer>Print.

Or just for print command via File>Print>Options.

81434 Spec
Printing text place holders can be turned off It is no longer that text placeholders are always printed out. It can controlled via settings in Tools>Options>Writer>Print.

Or just for print command via File>Print>Options.

81434 Spec
Shortcuts added for paragraph style Heading 4, Heading 5 and Textbody The following shortcuts to apply paragraph styles have been added: ctrl+4 => Heading 4; ctrl+5 => Heading 5 (current shortcut for 1 1/2 will be dropped); ctrl+0 => Textbody; ctrl+shift+0 -> Default 81514 Spec
Ctrl-click behaviour for hyperlinks can be changed By default, hyperlinks in Writer are activated by holding down the Control key while clicking.

This can be turned off via Tools>Options>OpenOffice.org>Security ...>Options, Security options, "Ctrl-click required to follow hyperlinks".

83402 Spec
Custom document properties: Text fields and UI support In OOo 2.4.0 user interface support and text fields are added for custom document properties. Since OOo 2.0.3 the Word document variables (custom document properties) were imported. Further enhancements expected. 5091 blog


Extensions/ programmability / API

Feature Description Specs/Issue
Extensible Help System for extensions Now help content inside extensions is supported. Extension help content is provided together with the OpenOffice.org installed help content. It's also possible to extend the help index. The implementation supports extended tool tips and accessing extension help content by pressing F1 in UNO dialogs and menus. 20164 Spec
Extensions can have a separate display name An extension may have a display name, shown in the Tools>Extensions Manager dialog. It can be localized. If no display name is provided then the file name of Extension will be displayed. 81326 Spec
Extensions: support of web based update The Extension Manager online update feature now also supports web-based updates. The “Update Extensions” dialog shows available updates which one can only obtain through a particular website and which the Extension Manager cannot automatically download. When the user installs the updates, web browser will be started which navigate to the websites where the user can manually download the update. Article

82775 Spec

Extensions: additional information about the publisher and release notes It is now possible to see additional information for an available update of an extension in the “Update Extensions” dialog (Extension Manager dialog -> button “Updates”). This is first the name of the publisher and second a link to the release notes. Also the publisher name is a link. Clicking on these links will open an browser and navigate to the respective web sites. Article

81502 Spec

Extensions: check for updates When the office is configured to check for office updates automatically, the office will look for updates for the installed extensions, too. When any updates are found, the user will be notified via the menu bar about these updates. 82851 Spec
Dialogs can have a wallpaper set A new property for dialogs and tab pages is added, for an image URL which is used to display as a background image. 83238 Spec
Transparent background for controls A transparent for background of controls, e.g. for Labels, is now a property that can be set over the toollkit. 83237
Remote control presentations via API API added for remote control of presentations, e.g. to advance to next slide and go back to previous slide, from an other application. 15900
API: get selected table(s) or query(s) in the main Base window The ability is added (by supporting of com.sun.star.view.XSelectionSupplier interface) to find which table(s) or query(s) are currently selected in the main Base window. 69740
stoc library merge Those various small UNO component libraries from stoc that are relevant at OOo startup (implreg.uno.so, nestedreg.uno.so, regtypeprov.uno.so, security.uno.so, servicemgr.uno.so, shlibloader.uno.so, simplereg.uno.so, typeconverter.uno.so, typemgr.uno.so, uriproc.uno.so) have been merged into two new larger bootstrap.uno.so (for those components that are used during binary UNO bootstrap and need UNO type information in a format independent of types.rdb) and stocservices.uno.so (for the rest). Client code should not be affected by this change. 77885


Few of the bug Fixes

Feature Description Specs/Issue
 ??? Table has no top border when over 2+ pages 9860
 ??? Fields from Endnote skipped during Word import in OOo 2 61075
 ??? wrong cursor position when undoing "insert table row" 18014


Performance improvements

See Integrated_Performance_Improvements


Note - this list is based on the full list in Feature_Freeze_Testing_2.4