Major Feature Differences
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LibreOffice 7.5
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MS Office 2021 / 365
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Plattformübergreifende Verfügbarkeit (Desktop)
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.
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Windows and macOS versions have some document format compatibility problems, somewhat different feature sets and differences in the user interface; macOS version does not include the database application MS Access, does not include MS Publisher, and also lacks a number of other features (see below).
Feature inconsistencies/differences in Windows versions, between "MS Office 2021" sales version and the "Office 365" rental version: some features are being subsequently included only in the rental version (newly added features also differ between macOS and MS Windows) leading to inconsistencies in the feature set (see below).
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Unterstützte Windows-Versionen
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. Windows 7 SP1, 8, 8.1, 10, 11, Windows Server 2008, 2012, 2016, 2019, 2022. ([4]). Versionen bis LibreOffice 5.4 unterstützen immer noch Windows XP SP3, Vista.
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. MS Office 2021 sales version: Windows 10, 11; Server 2019, 2022. MS Office 365 rental version: Windows 8.1, 10, 11, Windows Server 2016, 2019 ([5]).
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Unterstützte macOS-Versionen
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. 10.13+ (High Sierra). Intel and Apple Silicon. ([6]).
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. Die drei neusten Versionen. ([7])
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Portable version that runs on USB flash disks (without installation)
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(download)
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Quelloffen
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, licensed under MPLv2 and others.
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, proprietary and closed-source
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Full integration of all office components
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. From within each office component, files of all other components can be opened and be newly created. Central StartCenter with access to office modules, recently used files and templates.
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Availability free of charge
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(download, donate)
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, proprietary software to purchase or rent. When subscription for the rental version ends, applications enter read-only mode (view or print) and no new documents can be created. The purchase-version is a perpetual license. One-month trial version available for the rental version (but not for the one-time purchase version).
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Verfügbarkeit von Erweiterungen
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. Complex ecosystem of extensions (over 390 on extensions.libreoffice.org and over 800 on extensions.openoffice.org), including automatic updates. Extensions and templates can be installed from within LibreOffice ("Additions dialog").
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. Partly, no centralized extension system for add-ons and macros. Microsoft AppSource for Office 365. [8] Office Apps not supported on macOS.
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Localization
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. 119 languages (detailed list of languages supported by LibreOffice)
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. 91 languages in Windows version, 27 languages in macOS version (display language for (some) office applications)[9], [10], [11]
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Support of Right-to-left (RTL) languages (e.g. Arabic) and other complex scripts
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. Comprehensive support, based on HarfBuzz text shaping library
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Additional writing aids
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. Extended support (spell-check dictionaries, hyphenation patterns, thesaurus and grammar check, specialized dictionaries as extensions ([12], [13]). Detailed list of LibreOffice writing aids for over 150 languages.
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. More limited, "proofing tools" for 92 languages in Windows version, 58 in macOS version [14], [15],[16]
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Language technology
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. Comprehensive support, based on the most popular spellchecking library Hunspell
LibreOffice Language Technology – News & Best practices,
YouTube,
Hunspell 1.7, LibreOffice vs MS Office,
Better coverage: words, Unicode, morphology,
3 false alarms in Word, zero in Writer
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. Eingeschränkt
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Support of complex languages and special smart-font features (ligatures, true small caps, old style numbers, proportional or mono-spaced numbers, capital spacing, and true superscript/subscript)
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. Full support of SIL Graphite font technology ([17],[18]) and full support of OpenType optional features ([19],[20],[21]) by syntax and UI (tdf#58941). See also LibreOffice Smart Font HowTo. Support for Apple Advanced Typography (AAT) available on all platforms. Interoperability: No support for optional OpenType features in OOXML (tdf#104281), and ODF 1.2 doesn’t provide OpenType optional features support (support scheduled for ODF later)
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. Limited via OpenType supporting ligatures, stylistic sets, number spacing options, number forms, and contextual alternates. [22] Support for optional OpenType features in OOXML.
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Support of font variation
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. Limited support for font styles predefined on the STAT table, no support to reproduce font variation instances on different axis. tdf#152206
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. Limited support for font rendering on screen, no support for printing and PDF export.
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Easy access to vector clip art
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. via LO Gallery (clipart extensions ([23] or [24])). Extension for the integration of clipart from OpenClipart.org. Additional toolbar control to insert Emojis (experimental: tdf#100100)
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. Selection of clip art is asking for search with Bing in Online Pictures. Extended selection of "icons". Access to stock photos and icons.
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Macro scripting languages
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. Multiple languages, support for wide variety of languages (LibreOffice Basic, JavaScript, BeanShell, and Python). ScriptForge libraries as extensible and robust collection of macro scripting resources for Basic and Python. Import and export of Visual Basic for Applications (VBA), see ([25] and the release notes).
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. Single language, support for Visual Basic for Applications (VBA). Indirectly also Visual Basic or Visual C# by using automation.
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CMIS protocol support to access Document Management Systems
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. Support for Google Drive, MS OneDrive, Alfresco, IBM FileNet, IBM Connections Cloud, Lotus Quickr Domino, Nuxeo, OpenDataSpace, OpenText ELS, MS Sharepoint, WebDAV, FTP, SSH, Windows share. (tdf#62437)
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. Inbuilt support only for MS SharePoint and MS OneDrive
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Support of ISO standards OpenDocument Format (ODF)
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. Advanced support, ODF v1.3 extended
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. Limited support, ODF v1.3, in MS Windows sales and rental version, and online version. Support of OpenDocument (ODF v1.3) in macOS version and mobile versions (Android, iOS) are more limited and require the use of an online file format conversion service. [26] [27] [28]
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PDF export extended options
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. Multiple options (Additional options: Tagged PDF, Time stamp protocol , detailed image settings, Hybrid PDF, transition effects, extended security and permission options, PDF forms, initial view settings, extended handling of URLs, digital signatures, and PDF signatures according to PAdES standard). Support for font embedding of all font types (incl. OpenType CFF fonts (.otf)). Support for PDF/A-1, PDF/A-2 (archiving) and PDF/UA (universal accessibility) standards.
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. High or low quality PDF, page and markup to print in Access, Word, Excel, and PowerPoint [29]; pictures resolution and non-printing informations in Publisher. No support for font embedding of OpenType CFF fonts in PDF export [30].
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Document classification
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. Document classification in Writer, Calc, and Impress according to TSCP-standards (also with multiple policies). See: [31] and [32].
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. No inbuilt document classification system, but Information Rights Management (IRM) supported
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Import of SVG vector graphics (.svg, .svgz)
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, .svg files supported
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Import of Encapsulated PostScript (EPS) vector graphics (.eps)
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(with some rendering issues: tdf#81497, tdf#67464)
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. Support for .eps images entirely removed in Office 2019 and rental version ([33]. In Office 2016 sales version, it was [34]) turned off by default due to security issues, but could be manually enabled via Windows registry. There were general rendering issues of .eps files in PDF export ([35]).
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Insert PDF as an image into documents
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([36])
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Creation of Hybrid PDFs (ODF file embedded in PDF for full editing)
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Import from raster graphics software: Adobe Photoshop (.psd)
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Import from vector graphics / DTP software: CorelDraw (v1-X7), Corel Presentation Exchange, Adobe/Macromedia Freehand (v3-11), Adobe PageMaker, Zoner/Callisto Draw (.zmf), QuarkXPress 3.1 to 4.1
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Import of MS Visio files
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. Supported (Visio 2000-2013)
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(only via MS Visio which is not part of MS Office)
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Import of video and audio formats FLAC Audio (.flac), Flash Video (.flv), Matroska Media (.mkv), OGG Audio, Ogg Video, Quicktime Video, WebM Video, Real Audio (.ra), Real Media (.rm), Digital Video (.dv), Audio Codec (.ac3), and Ogg Opus (.opus)
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Drawing and vector graphics software
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. LibreOffice Draw, drawing and vector graphics software that supports pages (up to 300cm x 300cm), layers, numerous drawing tools and DTP features.
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. MS Powerpoint provides some features of a drawing software.
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PIM and email software
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. Not part of LibreOffice, referring to alternative PIM software such as Mozilla Thunderbird. See the comparison on this wiki: Mozilla Thunderbird vs. Microsoft Outlook.
Mail Merge Wizard sends out emails directly from LibreOffice without email software. LibreOffice-wide access to address books via Base.
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. MS Outlook
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Desktop publishing (DTP) software
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. Writer supports many advanced DTP features (see section on Writer in this comparison table). Draw supports frame-based DTP features. Import of MS Publisher files (and from other DTP software) in Draw.
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. MS Publisher
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Integrated Development Environment (IDE) feature set
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. The BASIC Integrated Development Environment (IDE) does not have: 1. Refactoring facilities (Renaming affects dependencies/Extract Method/Extract interface etc.) (tdf#92251, tdf#94524, tdf#94526, tdf#94527, tdf#94528, tdf#94529, tdf#94530); 2. Intellisense (or any other code completion functionality) such as auto-code-completion and showing the properties and methods of an object (tdf#66185); 3. Error checking (the IDE actually knows its symbols).
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. Supported with Visual Basic for Applications and/or additional purchase of Office Developer Tools for Visual Studio (Windows-only). macOS version only supports a simplified Visual Basic Editor.
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Import & Export of Microsoft OOXML files
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. Good and extended support of real life OOXML files (e.g. .xlsx, .docx, .pptx), standardized (transitional) OOXML files, as well as import of OOXML-strict files. [37]
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. Advanced support of transitional (default) and strict OOXML files
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PDF Import
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, into Draw and Writer with the limitation that text is imported line-based (tdf#32249).
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, into MS Word
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Synchronous collaborative editing
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. Not available in the desktop applications (tdf#133984), see development information: Collaborative Editing and Track changes. Collaborative editing in LibreOffice online versions.
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. Support in desktop applications via MS OneDrive, MS Sharepoint or MS Teams. Support in desktop applications varies: Real-time "co-authoring" in MS Word, Powerpoint, and MS Excel (only via AutoSave) [38] (MS Powerpoint 2021 sales version only allows for co-authoring (via AutoSave). Simplified "sharing" of office documents in MS Word, Excel, Powerpoint via OneDrive, OneDrive for Business, or SharePoint. AutoSave feature, which automatically saves every few seconds, is supported in MS Word, MS Excel, and MS Powerpoint, if files are stored on OneDrive, OneDrive for Business, or SharePoint Online. Supported in MS Office online versions. Collaboration with online versions is possible.
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User Interface approach
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. Highly customizable UI concept "MUFFIN" [39],[40]: Available user interfaces: (1) Classic UI with multiple toolbars mode, and Sidebar panel. (2) Single Toolbar mode, and Sidebar panel. (3) Notebookbar Tabbed UI. (4) Notebookbar Grouped Compact UI. (5) Notebookbar Tabbed Compact UI. (6) Notebookbar Contextual Single UI (Writer and Draw). Customization possible: Several icon themes available (Karasa Jaga, Breeze, Breeze Dark, New Colibre, Elementary, Sifr, Sifr Dark, Sukapura, Tango). Colour themes "Normal" and "Dark" via ▸ ▸ ▸ . Experimental dark mode support for Windows 10/11 [41]
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. Ribbon UI; Colour themes ([42]) on MS Windows: Colorful, Dark Gray, Black, White, Dark mode. On macOS: Colorful, Classic, Dark mode.
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User interface improved to enable use on touch screen devices on desktop operating systems.
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(tdf#102015)
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. Slightly adjusted user interface for touch screen devices, but no redesign.
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Keyboard driven menu system (search function to better find features in office suite), Head-Up-Display (HUD).
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. It can be invoked with the menu ▸ or the shortcut ⇧ Shift + Esc. tdf#91874 blog
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. Tell Me search bar. Search with voice (supported in Windows rental version, not supported in MS Office 2021 sales versions; not available on macOS)
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Accessibility checker
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. Accessibility checker and support for PDF/UA. Accessibility improvements [43]. Extension for text documents: AccessODF.
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[44], [45].
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Chat with other authors (collaborative editing)
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. In-app chat with co-authors for shared files on SharePoint Online or OneDrive for Business. Not supported for OneDrive Consumer or any other storage location. Non-persistent chat (history not preserved; new users see only newly incoming messages). (Not supported in MS Office 2019 sales version; not supported on Android and iOS).
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Integration of instant Messaging (IM), voice, video, or screen sharing.
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. Skype integration (not supported in macOS version).
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Dictation / speech recognition
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in MS Word, MS Powerpoint, MS Outlook [46]. Voice audio is sent to Microsoft cloud servers and returned as text. (Not supported in MS Office 2021 sales versions)
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Inserting and editing 3D models
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(previous support in Impress for glTF (.dae/.kmz) 3D models removed in version 6.0)
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in Powerpoint, Word, and Excel. Insert animated 3D graphics in Powerpoint, Word, and Excel (Supported in Windows rental version, not supported in MS Office sales versions.)
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Support of color fonts
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. Support for color fonts using color layers (COLR/CPAL OpenType tables) and color bitmaps (CBLC/CBDT or sbix tables). No support for color fonts using SVGs (SVG table) and COLR version 1 format (tdf#114403 tdf#151057).
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. [47]
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Support of math fonts
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(tdf#103680), workaround using TexMaths extension with XeLaTeX compiler. [48]
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Minor Feature Differences
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LibreOffice 7.5
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MS Office 2021 / 365
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Generation of QR codes and barcodes
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. QR codes and one-dimensional barcodes. In Impress, Draw, Writer and Calc
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. [49]
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Support of graphics formats: WebP
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Import of graphics formats DXF, MET, PBM, PCD, PCX, PGM, PPM, PPM, RAS, SGF, SVM, TGA, XBM, XPM
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Import of Classic Mac OS legacy vector and bitmap graphics formats: BeagleWorks, ClarisWorks, GreatWorks, MacPaint, MacWorks, SuperPaint, MacDraw, MacDraw II, RagTime for Mac 2-3, ClarisDraw, MacDraft
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Import of additional video and audio formats: CD Audio, Vivo Video.
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Drawing features: Arrow endings
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. Substantially wider selection, including Crow’s feet notation
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. Less supported arrow endings
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Drawing features: Point Eraser, Lasso, Sketched outline style.
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. ([50]) (not available on macOS). ([51])
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Document converter wizard
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Euro currency converter wizard
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Expert config to access a multitude of settings from UI
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Support for multiple color palette formats: Gimp (.gpl), Adobe Swatch Exchange (.ase), LibreOffice/Apache OpenOffice (.soc)
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(note: tdf#92354)
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Import MathML formula from clipboard
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Import of StarOffice binary file formats .sdc, .sda, .sdw
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. Basic support
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Digital signatures / Signature Line
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. Multiple signatures, including OOXML signatures. Visible signatures in Writer, Calc and Draw. Round-trip with MS Office problematic (tdf#58442, tdf#58476). Import/export of PDF signatures. Support of XAdES standard (XML Advanced Electronic Signatures) and OpenPGP keys. Support for ECDSA keys (on Linux and macOS). Support for OpenPGP-based document encryption.
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(OOXML/XML-DSig and XAdES signatures)
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Convert SVG image to shapes / polygon
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. Conversion supported in LO Draw. Additionally opening SVG files directly as shapes is supported in LO Draw. (tdf#115571)
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Enhanced list of recent files and folders
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(tdf#61174, tdf#60743). Option to clear list of recent documents. Selectively delete Recent Documents (in StartCenter)
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(option to set recent files as permanent)
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Custom colors in formula editor
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. Full support of HTML colors in Math (RGB colors, UI in element pane) (tdf#40436)
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Third-party software dependencies
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. Java runtime environment (JRE) installation required for certain - but not most - features of the software. Java is notably required for Base.
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. Not required
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Shortcut keys for accented Latin characters
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(tdf#71176), workaround using Unicode conversion, see Unicode character input with Alt+X
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. Limited support
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Inserting audio / video / pictures from online sources
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(tdf#42246). Work-around: Download of online video and embed it in presentation (incl. Flash videos)
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[52] Insert online videos (Youtube, Vimeo, Slideshare.net) to MS Word (not available on macOS). Insert online videos (Youtube, Vimeo, MS Stream, Flipgrid) to MS Powerpoint. Insert online pictures in Word, Excel, Powerpoint.
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Collaboration with @mentions in comments
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, in PowerPoint, Excel, Word, and Outlook. [53]
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Quick access to email attachments
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, "Shared with me" feature in PowerPoint, Excel, Word.
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Streaming of office applications/office on demand
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(possible via third party services)
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([54])
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Ink drawings / annotations (e.g. on touch- and pen-enabled devices)
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(tdf#35092), (only support for import of existing ink annotations from MS Word file format)
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. Several pens, highlighters, colors and color effects, and pencils for inking to draw/annotate/highlight. Lasso Select (free-form tool for selecting ink). Ink replay feature
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Recognition of shapes from ink drawings
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. [55] supported in MS Word, MS Excel, and MS Powerpoint
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Recognition of text from ink drawings
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. [56] Conversion of ink to shapes in MS Powerpoint and MS Word (Not supported in MS Office 2021 sales versions)
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Automatic background removal of a picture
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(tdf#103424)
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. Supported in MS Windows version (not supported in macOS version)
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Live preview while formatting
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(tdf#37048)
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Inserting a screenshot from within applications
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Import of graphics formats: MEZ, PCZ
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Export to XPS format
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Support for Touch Bar on Apple MacBook Pro
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(tdf#105803)
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(macOS only)
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