New Features 2.3
Category:Draft marketing ideas and materials
Draft marketing documents index
New Features in OpenOffice.org 2.3
Note - this list is based on the full list in Feature_Freeze_Testing_2.3 Full list is available below.
Chart
The Chart component of OpenOffice.org underwent a major revamp for 2.3. The developers added some new features, made "charts" simpler and improved their logic. The default chart appearance was also improved with a new colour palette. Scaling of axes was changed to get a better data representation. Appearance of 3D-Charts was greatly improved. It also became easier to create new 3-D charts. They added few new chart types such as '3D exploded pies' and 'exploded donuts' (watch out Homer Simpson). In "Charts", the developers improved the built-in data editor that now allows editing the chart data within other programs (e.g. Impress).
Writer
The developers modified the "page preview" mode and added a new filter that exports documents to MediaWiki ("Wikipedia") format
Calc
The new version of "Calc" now supports inline matrix/array constants in formulas. Summation was made more powerful and more intuitive. Manging error bars was made more user-friendly. Compatibility with Microsoft Excel was improved. Besides, "workarounds" for cotangent functions supported in Calc are not yet supported by Microsoft Excel.
Base
Base continues to evolve as a fully-fledged OpenOffice.org application in its own right, with its windows all having their own size, position, etc settings. The Report Builder, available as extension on http://extensions.services.openoffice.org, now has additional facilities for expert users. There is a greater support for keyboard shortcuts throughout Base.
Draw
Draw includes a number of accessibility improvements and support for .png images when exporting to .html documents
Impress
The much-loved 'move along curve' animation feature has been re-introduced, despite claims that over-use could easily create sea-sickness among sensitive members of an audience.
Language Support
Language support has been improved for a further fourteen languages, building on OpenOffice.org's already impressive language support.
Extensions
Several new features are available to developers of OpenOffice.org extensions. There is also a one click link to a new extensions repository.
Other
Writer, Calc, Draw, and Impress now allow users to preview their work inside the browser before exporting it to html-format. The default security level for Macro Security has been rised to "high", to make more difficult for users occasionally start malicious macros.
Release notes
Known issues
Function | Description | Issue |
---|---|---|
Compatibility with SELinux in enforcing mode | OOo 2.3.0 is incompatible with SELinux in enforcing mode: OOo won't start unless SELinux is (or gets) disabled.
A possible workaround is putting SELinux in permissive mode by issuing (as root) the command
A binary patch is being prepared and will be announced a soon as possible. |
80816 |
Fontwork | In various situations, Fontwork objects are not displayed.
Fontwork in documents from previous versions of OpenOffice.org may be affected as well. A binary patch is being prepared and will be announced a soon as possible. |
81609
|
Character formatting | In a certain situation, it's not possible to remove character formatting (e.g. bold, italics, underline). | #81764 |
See list of regressions found in OpenOffice.org version 2.3.0.
Full list
General
Feature | Description | Specs/Issue |
---|---|---|
Stylist filter selection persistent | Now the selection of a stylist filter is persistent. On a new session, the last selected filter is active. One selection for every application. | 4854 |
Behavior of hyperlinks | To follow a hyperlink, now on the most places Ctrl+click must be used. | specs |
Dialog PDF Export | The options dialog is now shown before the file dialog | specs / 13154 |
Shortcut for 'repeat' | Repeat | 41586 |
Configuration of behaviour with a line break | Options|Writer |Compatibility | specs / 45491 |
Web HTML Preview | The new function "Preview Document in Web Browser" provides an easy way to display the current document as a html export in the system web browser. | specs / 74477 |
Document stored printer setting may be ignored | Options|Load/Save | specs / 76885 |
Macro Security Default Level to High | The default Macro Security Level changed from Medium to High. Thus it is impossible to execute malicious macros by accident by just clicking OK | specs / 79170 |
Easier branding of OOo builds | Easier branding of OOo builds for better support the creation of adapted OpenOffice.org installation sets | announcm. / 66426 |
Location of file and other properties selectable | Properties>General, now can be selected an copied. | 64785 |
Customize>Keyboard | Customize>Keyboard has improved: so that there is more room for various list boxes. | 75754 |
Online update - info | Options|OpenOffice.org shows when was last checked for an update. | 70315 |
Online update - Direct download | On Windows it is possible to download direct from Online update, not on a website. | specs / 72386 |
Java GUI installation wizard on Linux | The Java GUI installation wizard is included in installations with JRE for easier installation on Linux | specs |
Identifiers for extensions | Extensions now can have an unique identifier This removes the restriction that no two extensions can have the same filename | specs / 69910 |
Options Dialog and Extensions | Extensions can integrate options pages into the options dialogs of the different applications. | specs / 75869 |
Merging of toolbar and menu items in extensions | Now it is possible to add, exchange or remove menu or toolbar items in extensions. Previously this was possible only for top-level menus and whole toolbars. | Wiki / 78020 |
"Get Extensions" link | The dialog Extensions Managers now has the link "Get Extensions" to http://extensions.services.openoffice.org/ | specs / 78209 |
FontOOo exits with an error message | The Add Fonts from Web Wizard exits with an error message. This is fixed and the fix is in the issue. | 81102 |
Localisation
Data for 12 new locales | Added are data for:
Hausa Ghana (ha_GH), Ewe language (ee_GH), Frisian Western (Netherlands), Tagalog_Philippines (tl_PH), Jewish (for en-US), Uzbek (uz_UZ), Occitan-languadocian's (oc_FR), Lingala (ln_CD), Sango – sg_CF, English Ghana (en_GH), Ganda Uganda (lg_UG), Armenian_Armenia (hy_AM) |
|
Changes for two localisations | Currency changed for Bolivar Fuerte and Ghana Cedi |
Calc
Default values print options | Now enabled by default are the options: print only selected sheets and suppress output of empty pages. This is shown in the print preview. A warning message is shown if nothing is to print. | Blog / 25278, 78488 |
Matrix/array constants in formulas | Calc now supports matrix/array constants in formulas
Supported by import/export Excel |
Announcm. / 32342 |
Shortcurt dialog cell formatting | Shortcut key Ctrl-1 opens the dialog for cell formatting | 35738 |
Shortcut keys insert/delete cells | Ctrl+ works for inserting and Ctrl- for deleting cells. Both work like the menu entries and can function for rows and columns also. | 38108 |
Shortcut keys show formulas | The shortcut key Ctrl~ toggles between formula result and formula For all cells on a sheet. (English keyboard layouts only.) | 56202 |
Value of function GETPIVOTDATA in cell formula | The GETPIVOTDATA function returns a result value from a DataPilot table, so it can be used in a cell formula.
Supported by import export Excel |
45843 |
Various improvements | Error codes on import Excel, context menu, naming of strings | 47732, 47644, 50436, 50439, 53756, 55972, 77653, |
Extended automatic summation | Capabilities to sum up cell values automatically are extended. Cell range is specified by the user | specs / Blog / 51564 |
Named ranges in validation lists | Now it is possible to use named ranges in the definition of cell validation lists. | 56566 |
Import drawing objects and pictures with macros | Drawing objects and pictures can be linked to a macro. Now that is handheld with the import from Excel files. | specs / 59082 |
JIS and ASC with katakana characters | The JIS and ASC functions support work with katakana characters (Japanese). | wiki / 70213 |
Cotangent functions in export | All cotangent functions are converted in the export to Excel, that doesn't know these functions. | 72768 |
Toolbar Form Objects removed | The toolbar Form Objects has been removed from Calc. All items are found on the toolbar Form Design | 72799 |
Toolbar Insert and Insert Object | The toolbar Insert Object has been removed. Items were moved to the Toolbar Insert | specs / 73123 |
Auto capitalisation | The first character of a word or the first sentence in a cell isn't automatically capitalized any more. | 78661 |
Writer
Pages centered in window | Pages that aren't wider than the width of the window, will be centered. | 1761 |
Export to MediaWiki | Export can make wiki-pages of your Writer documents | specs / Blog / 48409 |
Option Update charts independent | Options|OOo Writer|General) is independent from the setting of Update Fields | 55007 |
Language guessing for paragraphs | When the language of a paragraph is not set, now it is guessed when spellchecking. | specs / 73713 |
Enhancement Smart Tags | Smart tags functionality is available when when one or more are installed as extension.
Now context menus are integrated. |
specs / 75130 |
Mail merge | The Simple Mail Merge Dialog now offers the possibility to save as one document. Also the window is resizable. | specs / 76853 |
Mail merge warning message | The option "Do not show this message again" when choosing to print the document directly or to make mail merge, has been removed. | specs / 76853, 51906 |
Soft page breaks export | ODF 1.1 allows the export of soft page breaks. This export now is implemented. Useful for a.o. digital books. | specs / 78650 |
Chart
New Chart Wizard | Simplified chart creation, with less steps. | specs / 20344 |
Flexible source ranges | Source ranges can be associated to different chart-objects. Thus for example different x-axis values can be used. Improves interoperability with other applications. | specs / 3997 |
More clear information about regression curves | Formula and r^2 value of a selected regression curve are shown in status bar. | specs / 78442 |
Improvements for 3D charts | Better and clearer dialog, 'right angle axes' option, simple 3D look, default illumination accordingly, exploded 3D Pies | specs / 75176, 67754, 14202, 76430, 20321 |
New colors | New colors have been chosen and added to the default colors in the Office color palette | info / specs / 7019, 75202 |
Enhanced Logarithmic scales | Free manual choose of minimum and maximum values and user defined major interval. | specs / 27694, 26869 |
Easier working on various points | Selection by mouse of chart objects, automatic scaling of axises, and placing of title have been improved. | specs / 58161 |
Enhancement of the data editor | In charts with their own data (not from a spreadsheet) the data editor allows to modify, add and delete all data | specs / 64824 |
New menu, toolbar, Help | The new Charts comes with new menu items, toolbar entries, help information | 60358, 70287, 27351, 74907, 74909 |
Impress
Export to HTML | Export to HTML now supports png-graphics | specs / 23353 |
Custom animation paths | The animation path for moving objects on slides now is editable. | specs |
Play sound all over the slide show | Now it is possible to play a sound without interrupt over multiple slides | 24969
|
Draw
Export to HTML | Export to HTML now supports png-graphics | specs / 23353 |
Alternative text for image maps and drawing layers | Image maps and drawing layers now provide for alternative text that is essential for accessibility | specs / 68099, specs / 68100 |
Maximum page size enlarged | Now it is possible to make pages up to 300 x 300 cm. If more is needed, it may be changed in 'MaximumPaperWidth/MaximumPaperHeight' in share\registry\schema\org\openoffice\Office\Common.xcs where these defaults are defined. WARNING: See explanations in given task before doing this! | 4219, |
Base/DBA
Window size and state of forms and reports | Forms now have windows size and state that is independent from that from normal Writer documents | 45663 |
Keyboard shortcuts | (More) shortcuts are available in the task pane, forms, | 71900, 74918, |
No slashes in names of objects | Slashes (/) in the name of reports, forms etc are not allowed any more.
When present in existing base documents, slashes will be automatically converted to underscores (_) |
73084 |
Report Builder (designer) extension | A full new report designer has been made available as extension.
To create reports with content from OOo Base as well as a wide range of proprietary and OpenSource relational databases. |
Download , specs, Wiki / 76758 |
XML-Forms
Window size and state of XML-forms | XML-forms now have windows size and state that is independent from that from normal Writer documents | 75146 |
API / programming
Sequence as input | A possibility to represent a sequence as a seekable input stream is offered. | 77185 + idl specification |
Number of heading rows of table | Now it is possible to set the number of heading rows by API | info / 79458 |
Keys and document macros | It is possible now to assing keys to macros contained in a document. | 56351 |
Listeners and changes on shapes | Impemented listeners now are notified about changes of properties of shapes | 71036
|
Tree control | A tree control is available | specs / 78847 |
Single Dialog Export | Now it is possible to export single Dialogs in the Dialog Editor (as *.xdl files. This export includes possible localized properties files. | specs / 77640, 75778
|
Few of the bug Fixes
PDF File size | Due to a bug in 2.2,1 the exported PDF could become very large. This has now been corrected. | 78613 |
Number formatting in Writer tables | Number formatting now also works in cells with more than one paragraph. | 77649 |