OpenOffice.org welcomes gatecrashers to version 3.0 orgy

Key-swapping is optional extra

By Kelly Fiveash • Get more from this author

Posted in Applications, 10th October 2008 14:50 GMT

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OpenOffice.org is throwing a launch party in Paris on 13 October to mark the eighth anniversary of the popular open source office software suite and announce – it hopes – the release of version 3.0.

Release candidate 4 was made available on the outfit’s website earlier this week for brave souls to tinker with ahead of the expected release.

OpenOffice.org 3.0 will support the upcoming OpenDocument Format 1.2 standard, and can also open files created with Microsoft’s Office 2007 and Office 2008 for Mac OS X.

The latest version of the suite, which is a free alternative to Microsoft’s Office, will come loaded with support for the software giant’s “.docx” file format.

It will also feature a new Start Centre, icons and zoom control in the status bar, said OpenOffice.org.

Version 3.0 of OpenOffice.org natively supports Mac OS X without the need to install the X11 module to run the suite first. It also includes full Vista and partial VBA support.

The launch event will be sponsored by some French people (Région Île de France, Silicon Sentier) and OpenOffice. And, with this being an open source affair, all comers are welcome to the bash. ®

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