A big update to ONLYOFFICE Desktop Editors, a free, open-source office suite for Windows, macOS, and Linux is available to download.
ONLYOFFICE 8.2 offers a clutch of new features, several performance gains, and a miscellany of smaller enhancements across the full suite, which is composed of a word processor, spreadsheet tool, presentation maker, form filler, and a PDF editor.
For a lighter look, ONLYOFFICE 8.2 includes a new grey theme in its appearance settings. This is not enabled by default but can be applied to all apps in the suite from the main settings, or applied to just specific components, depending on preference.
Other key improvements in ONLYOFFICE 8.2 affecting all components:
- Faster launch times thanks to script optimisations
- Signatures for PDF forms
- Field codes and enhanced version history in documents
- RTL support and smoother scrolling in spreadsheets
- Random transitions in presentations and more
- Improved touch screen support
- Native rendering of some SmartArt objects
- Histogram, Waterfall, and Funnel charts can now be opened
- Improved labels for chart axes
- Reordered file menu (plus new icons)
- New Tab style settings (Fill or Line) in Advanced Settings > Appearance
- Support for local templates (for new document creation only)
Changes debuting in the Document Editor:
- Support for old CheckBox types
- Inserting the contents of a 3rd-party documents
- New numbered list presets (Arabic UI)
- Option to highlight deleted text in selected file version
- Ability to add and edit complex fields using field instructions
The Presentation Editor benefits from:
- Faster file opening thanks to slide rendering tweaks
- Improved selection of object animations from extended list
- New ‘Random’ transition (selects a transition from available pool)
Tweaks specific to the Spreadsheet Editor:
- Improved support for smooth scroll
- Support for iterative calculations
- Added the ability to switch the direction of cell placement
- Added a button for setting the number format with separators to the toolbar
- Ability to display pages in real scale in the Print preview window
- The Pivot Table toolbar tab now only shows when using the pivot table
- The Pivot Table settings right panel now unfolds when adding a new Pivot Table
- Added the ability to display trendlines (Equation on chart) to the Chart – Advanced Settings
- Added preview window when opening local
CSVfiles
While the PDF Editor picks up:
- Improved text recognition
- Save
PDFfiles to (?) storage - Proper processing of cropped/combined shapes when opening files
- Support for gradients
Beyond the highlights listed above, ONLYOFFICE 8.2 includes the assorted tweaks, bug fixes, new translations (now including British English), and security patches.
Get ONLYOFFICE 8.2 Desktop Editors
Ubuntu users can download ONLYOFFICE Desktop Editors from the official website as a DEB package for Ubuntu, Linux Mint, and related distributions, or an AppImage.
If visiting the website cold (not using the link above) be sure to download the Desktop Editors version and no the ONLYOFFICE Docs version (unless you want that). While powered by the same tech, they’re different in scope – only Desktop Editors works offline.
Alternatively, you can opt for the official ONLYOFFICE Snap, or use the official Flatpak build that’s available on Flathub.
Worth trying? Absolutely
Although LibreOffice remains a gold-standard for users seeking a fast, interoperable, and free alternative to Microsoft Office, ONLYOFFICE isn’t fast gaining on it in the popularity stakes. If you’ve yet to sample this specific office suite, the latest update is a great place to start.