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» Announcement: OpenOffice.org 3.2.0 GA Release available (PDF)
» OpenOffice.org 2.0.4 GA Installation (HTML)
» OpenOffice.org 2.0.4 GA Installation (PDF, 1 MB)
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Support Agreement for OpenOffice.org for eComStation and OS/2 - now part of eComStation 2.0 and 2.1

To better support the desktop requirements of eComStation and IBM OS/2 users, Serenity Systms International offers a 12 month support agreement for OpenOffice.org. As part of the support agreement, users will receive versions of OpenOffice.org developed and tested to run on eComStation and IBM OS/2.
OpenOffice.org 3.1.1 is now included in the eComStation 2.0 product license.
The OpenOffice.org 3.2.0 update can be downloaded as part of Software Subscription Services for eComStation.
OS/2 users still can obtain the support agreement if they so require.

OpenOffice.org 3.2.0 GA

Mensys B.V. is announcing the replacement of OpenOffice.org version 3.1.1 with version 3.2.0. This update has been compiled to run natively on IBM OS/2 and eComStation. Distribution will be limited to Support Agreement and eComStation 2.0 Software Subscription Services users. (Announcement PDF)


OpenOffice.org for IBM OS/2 and eComStation users has successfully passed all the testing procedures in place for other platforms, including Microsoft Windows(r), Linux, and Solaris(r). This includes a 48 hour automated testing cycle designed to use every dialog and runtimes exceeding 24 consecutive hours during which the application is subjected to constant usage.

Features

NLS:

OpenOffice.org 3.2 for eComStation and OS/2 is released in the following language versions:

• English
• German
• Italian
• French
• Spanish
• Dutch
• Russian

Internet integration:

e-mail related settings are now supported, you can email your current document, but only Thunderbird is supported. the default OS/2 browser will be used for opening web pages from URL links in documents.

Desktop integration:

• support for WPS integration via seperate package.
• support for the FreeType2 (FT2) font engine for improved text rendering.
• support for XWP/eWPS sliding menu hilite (requires XWorkPlace 1.0.8 or eCS 2.0 RC4 or newer)
• support for clipboard bitmap formats and unicode text.
• support for mouse wheel.

WPS integration package for OpenOffice.org 3.2 for eComStation and OS/2:

• Extends the WPS data file class to recognize OpenOffice.org document files
• Integrated support for WPS-Wizard hint and folder info area
• REXX hooks for reading document properties

Quickstart:

the quickstart feature has been implemented for eComStation and OS/2.

Availability

OpenOffice.org 3.2 is available to anyone with an active OpenOffice.org Support Agreement for eComStation and OS/2, or an active Software Subscription Services for eComStation, via their download-area at the Mensys Online Shop: http://www.mensys.net/login/

It is also part of the eComStation 2.0 product license.

Fixes and enhancements will be delivered to all active Support Agreement users. MSRP for the Support Agreement for OpenOffice.org for OS/2 is $49US. MSRP for renewals is $29US.
See where to buy? for availability in your region.

Serenity Systems International and Mensys B.V. will comply with all elements and restrictions associated with the licensing and distribution and use of OpenOffice.org.

What is new in OpenOffice.org 3.2

Below is a list of some of the improvements that are present in OpenOffice.org 3.2:

• OpenOffice.org 3.2 provides improved support for other common office document types:
  • Password protected Microsoft Office XML files (supported document types: MS Word 2007 documents (*.docx, *.docm); MS Word 2007 templates (*.dotx, *.dotm); MS Excel 2007 documents (*.xlsx, *.xlsm); MS Excel 2007 binary documents (*.xlsb); MS Excel 2007 templates (*.xltx, *.xltm); MS Powerpoint 2007 documents (*.pptx, *.pptm); MS Powerpoint 2007 templates (*.potx, *.potm)). OLE objects, form controls and pivot tables can now be read from MS Excel 2007 documents (*.xlsx, *.xlsb).
  • Encryption support within the Microsoft Word 97/2000/XP filter allows password protected
  • Microsoft Word documents to be saved (using the Microsoft Office standard RC4 algorithm).
  • OpenOffice.org 3.2 has made further strides in compliance with ODF 1.2, including closer conformance to OASIS ODFF/OpenFormula specifications.
• Faster start up times: OpenOffice.org 3.2 Calc and Writer have both reduced 'cold start' time by 46% since version 3.0 (results will vary on different operating systems and hardware).
• Start Center
  When launching OpenOffice.org 3.x, users are presented with the Start Center that allows the selection of an application within the office productivity suite without having to click the File -> New menu.
• Enhanced PDF export
  The PDF export feature in OpenOffice.org provides a huge set of formatting and security options; so that PDF files can be customized for many different scenarios.
• View Multiple Pages in Writer
  OpenOffice.org 3.x allows Writer users to view pages with single-page, two-page side-by-side and book layout options.
• Improved Notes
  The new version of Notes in OpenOffice.org 3.x provides additional formatting, spell checking and accessibility features while displaying notes within the margins.

A full list of enhancements can be found at: http://www.openoffice.org/dev_docs/features/3.2/
More information on the OpenOffice.org development roadmap can be found at: http://development.openoffice.org/releases/index.html

For more information about this powerful office suite, see:
» Extended list of features (external website)
» Number of PDF's describing OpenOffice.org 3.x (external website)
» OpenOffice.org Support (external website)
» OpenOffice newsgroup at news.ecomstation.com