KOffice 1.1beta2 Released

DATELINE MAY 21, 2001

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

KOffice Suite Beta Released for Linux

KDE, the Leading Linux Desktop, Ships Beta of KOffice
Suite

May 21, 2001 (The INTERNET). The KDE Project today announced the release
of KOffice 1.1beta2. KOffice
is an integrated office suite for KDE which utilizes open standards
for component communication and component embedding. The primary
goals of this release, which comes 4 weeks after the release of
KOffice 1.1beta1, are to provide a preview of KOffice 1.1 and
to involve users who wish to request missing features or report
problems. Code development is currently focused on stabilizing
KOffice 1.1,
scheduled for final release this summer.

This release includes the following components:

• KWord (a frame-based, full-featured word processor);
• KPresenter (a presentation application);
• KSpread (a spreadsheet application);
• KIllustrator (a vector-drawing application);
• Krayon (a bitmap image editor);
• Kivio (a flowchart application);
• KChart (a chart drawing application);
• KFormula (a formula editor);
• Kugar (a tool for generating business quality reports);
  and
• filters (for importing/exporting documents).

While the entire release is designated as a beta release,
individual components are all at various stages of development,
which is indicated next to each component’s description below.
Changes to individual KOffice components are also enumerated below.
In addition, a list of
changes and a FAQ about
KOffice are available at the KOffice website.

KOffice and all its components are available for free under Open
Source licenses from the KDE server and its
mirrors. As a result
of the dedicated efforts of hundreds of translators, KOffice
1.1beta2 is available in 26>
languages.

KOffice Components

KOffice is an integrated office suite consisting of numerous
components which can interact, share data and embed each other
using KDE’s open KParts and DCOP technologies.

A new overall feature in 1.1beta2 is the autosave feature, which
allows users to have an automatic backup copy regularly updated, in
case of an unlikely crash.

The 1.1beta2 release includes the following components:

1. KWord
   (alpha). KWord is a frame-based word-processing and
   desktop publishing application. KWord’s features include:
   • paragraph settings (alignment, spacings, indentations,
     numbering, etc.);
   • a stylist to edit, add, remove and update paragraph styles
     (including a number of provided ones);
   • frame orientation;
   • multiple columns per page;
   • tables;
   • image and other document embedding;
   • in-place formula editing;
   • headers and footers;
   • chapter numbering;
   • document statistics;
   • auto-generation of table of contents;
   • variables;
   • spell checking; and
   • templates.

   Since KOffice-1.0, KWord has been completely redesigned, and is
   based on a new formatting engine (Qt RichText).
   Changes since the last release (beta1) include:

   • Copying frames has been implemented, fixing headers and
     footers.
   • Implemented tabulators (left/right/center/decimal
     aligned).
   • Implemented floating framesets, mainly for inline formulas and
     tables.
   • KWord can now be embedded into another KOffice
     application.
   • More precise coordinate system (especially for frames).
   • Many improvements for tables (including splitting and merging
     cells).
   • Highlight mispelled word during spell-checking, and spell-check
     all framesets.
   • UI improvements including a complete redesign of the menus,
     undo/redo fixes, font-size fix, border-drawing improved, etc.
   • Fixed crash when embedding into Konqueror.
   • Many new variables available.
   • Redesigned style editor (stylist), now all in one dialog.
   • When changing a style, only the changes are applied to existing
     paragraphs (not the whole style).
   • Fixed drawing and printing of embedded objects.
   • Respect user’s color scheme.
   • Improved visual appearance (page shape, with shadow).

2. KPresenter
   (beta). KPresenter is a presentation application which
   features:
   • inserting all kinds of graphic objects;
   • inserting and editing rich text (with lists, indentations,
     spacings, colors, fonts, …);
   • inserting autoforms;
   • inserting pictures and clipart;
   • embedding other KOffice parts;
   • setting many object properties (background, many types of
     gradients, pen, shadow, rotation, object specific settings,
     ….;
   • working with objects (resizing, moving, lowering, raising,
     …);
   • grouping/ungrouping objects;
   • headers/footers;
   • advanced undo/redo;
   • setting background (color, gradients, pictures, cliparts,
     etc.);
   • assigning effects for animating objects and defining effects
     for changing slides;
   • playing screen presentations with effects;
   • print as PostScript;
   • creating HTML slideshows with a few mouse clicks;
   • using and creating templates;
   • using XML as document format; and
   • a Presentations Structure Viewer.

   Changes since the last release include:

   • Pages can now be renamed (independently from their title text
     object)
   • New templates added
   • Fixed AutoForm loading bug
   • Speedup for loading and saving + smaller file size

3. A HREF=”http://www.koffice.org/kspread/”>KSpread
   (beta). KSpread is a full featured spreadsheet program. It
   can work as a traditional table-oriented sheet but also supports
   complex mathematical formulas and statistics. In addition, KSpread
   supports displaying data graphically, scripting using a restricted
   (for security purposes) language and templates.

   Changes since the last release include:

   • Copy can now export plain text.
   • Builtin visual support (based on the old kformula lib) removed,
     the kformula part can be used instead.
   • Fixed drawing of embedded kspread document.

    

4. KIllustrator
   (alpha). KIllustrator is the vector drawing program for
   KOffice. The aim of the KIllustrator project is the development of
   a freely available vector-based drawing application similiar to
   
   Corel Draw or Adobe
   Illustrator.

   Changes since the last release include improved speed and
   usability.

   • Helplines can be dragged.
   • Mouse cursor flickering fixed.
   • Fixes for readonly mode (e.g. embedded in konqueror).
   • UI improvements.

    

5. Krayon
   (beta). Krayon (f/k/a KImageShop) is an effort to make a
   professional level bitmap image painting and editing component of
   the KOffice project.

   Krayon is being released with KOffice for the first time.

    

6. Kivio
   (stable). Kivio is a flowcharting program which offers
   more than basic flowcharting abilities. Objects are scriptable, and
   a backend plugin system will offer the ability to make objects do
   just about anything. Feed it a directory of C++ header files, or
   even Java files, and let it generate a graphical class map for you.
   Give it a network and let it explore and map out the network for
   you. All this is possible through the scripting/plugin architecture
   Kivio will possess. The scripting language chosen is Python, though knowledge of Python or
   programming is not required to use Kivio. Kivio’s features include:
   • Multiple paper size support. All standard paper sizes are
     supported (letter, A4, etc…), and you have the ability to create
     your own.
   • Dynamically loadable stencils. Stencils support various
     attributes such as border width, foreground color and fill style
     (gradient, solid, pattern, pixmap, arrow heads and text).
   • Multiple pages per document to allow you to organize your
     document according to your own needs.
   • Grouping. Select any stencils you want, and group them into a
     single element for easier manipulation.
   • Full clipboard support (cut/copy/paste/duplicate).
   • Clipboard history. Paste previously copied stencils!
   • Layer support. Stencils can be layed out on different layers
     for easier organization. Stencils also default to specific layers.
     For example, if you are laying out a floorplan, furniture goes on
     one layer, while walls and structural shapes go on another, and
     wiring on yet another.
   • KParts support, which allows placing a Kivio document in a
     KWord document or inserting a KSpread spreadsheet into Kivio for diagramming.
   • Customizable helper lines for easy alignment.
   • Subselections. Some stencils are made up of numerous small
     shapes; with subselections you can change it.
   • Python scripting. Scripting allows not only the programming of
     the stencils, but also Kivio. Scripting can be used to add new
     interface elements or visualization tools.
   • C++ Plugin interface.
   • Customizable user interface. If you do not like the layout of
     the screen by default, drag the various elements around until you
     are satisfied. Some elements even allow you to change their colors
     for a more pleasing look.
   • Dynamically resizing grid. As you zoom in further and further
     on a document, the grid will constantly refine itself to allow you
     to place your stencils with more precision.
   • Stencil builder. The stencil builder permits you to create your
     own stencils without doing any programming.

   Changes since the last release include:

   • UI improvements.
   • Connector bug fixed.

7. KChart
   (alpha). KChart is an embeddable chart drawing
   application. Features include:
   • Simple wizard-based chart creation.
   • Support for bar charts, line charts, pie charts, hi-lo charts
     and area charts
   • Seamless integration into KSpread.

    

8. KFormula
   (beta). KFormula is a formula editor which provides
   easy-to-use input facilities. Some of its most exciting features
   are:
   • Easy Greek letter insertion.
   • Intelligent cursor movement.
   • Advanced syntax highlighting.
   • Multi-level undo support.
   • LaTeX export (copy and paste into a text editor).

   Since KOffice-1.0, KFormula has been completely redesigned and much
   improved.

9. Kugar
   (stable). Kugar is a tool for generating business quality
   reports. Besides the standalone report viewer, Kugar is available
   as a KPart report viewer. This means that any KDE application can
   embed the report viewing functionality and that reports can be
   viewed using the Konqueror browser. Kugar works by merging
   application generated data with a template to produce the final
   report. Both the data and the template are specified using XML.
   This approach means that applications only need worry about
   generating the data itself. A template can be referenced via a URL
   which allows businesses to create a centrally managed template
   library. Kugar templates include the following features:
   • Report headers and footers.
   • Page headers and footers including page numbers and current
     date and time.
   • Calculations of counts, sums, averages, variance and standard
     deviation.
   • Number formatting based on value.
   • Currency and date formatting.
   • Full control of fonts, colors, text alignment and
     wrapping.
   • Line drawing in multiple styles.

   Kugar is being released with KOffice for the first time.

10. Filters.
    Various import/export filters are available in most of the KOffice
    applications to support document exchange with users of other
    office suits. For more information on KOffice filter status,
    including import filters for MS WinWord 97 and MS Excel 97, please
    visit the KOffice filters
    status page.

    Changes since the last release include:

    • New filter: Quattro Pro import filter for KSpread
    • Improvements to the MS WinWord and MS Excel import filters
      (less crashes, more features)
    • Improvements to the HTML and Abiword export filters

Downloading and Compiling KOffice

The source packages for KOffice 1.1beta2 are available for free
download at http://ftp.kde.org/unstable/koffice-1.1-beta2/src/
or in the equivalent directory at one of the many KDE ftp server
mirrors. KOffice
1.1beta2 requires qt-x11-2.2.4 or greater, which is available from
Trolltech at ftp://ftp.trolltech.com/qt/source/
under the name qt-x11-2.2.4.tar.gz,
although qt-x11-2.3.0
is recommended, as well as kdesupport-2.1.x, kdelibs 2.1.2 (kdelibs
2.1.x will work but will cause some crashes and anti-aliased font
problems), which are available from the KDE ftp servers at http://ftp.kde.org/stable/2.1.1/distribution/
and http://ftp.kde.org/stable/2.1.2/distribution/
(see also the KDE 2.1.1
press release and the KDE 2.1.2
press release for more information). KOffice 1.1beta2 will not
work with versions of Qt older than 2.2.4 or versions of kdelibs
older than 2.1.x.

For further instructions on compiling and installing KOffice,
please consult the installation
instructions.

Installing Binary Packages

Some distributors choose to provide binary packages of KOffice
for certain versions of their distribution. Some of these binary
packages for KOffice 1.1beta2 will be available for free download
under http://ftp.kde.org/unstable/koffice-1.1-beta2/
or under the equivalent directory at one of the many KDE ftp server
mirrors. Please note
that the KDE team is not responsible for these packages as they are
provided by third parties — typically, but not always, the
distributor of the relevant distribution (if you cannot find a
binary package for your distribution, please read the KDE Binary Package Policy).

KOffice 1.1beta2 requires qt-2.2.4 or greater, which is
available from Trolltech at
ftp://ftp.trolltech.com/qt/source/
under the name qt-x11-2.2.4.tar.gz,
although qt-2.3.0
is recommended, as well as kdesupport-2.1.x, kdelibs 2.1.2 (kdelibs
2.1.x will work but will cause some crashes and anti-aliased font
problems) and kdebase-2.1.x, which are available from the KDE ftp
servers at http://ftp.kde.org/stable/2.1.1/distribution/
and http://ftp.kde.org/stable/2.1.2/distribution/
(see also the KDE 2.1.1
press release and the KDE 2.1.2
press release for more information). KOffice 1.1beta2 will not
work with versions of Qt older than 2.2.4 or versions of kdelibs
older than 2.1.x.

At the time of this release, pre-compiled packages are available
for:

• Debian GNU/Linux:
  • ftp.debian.org: sid
    (devel)
  • kde.debian.net: potato
    (2.2)
• Linux Mandrake:
  • 8.0:
    i386
• RedHat:
  • 7.1: i386,
    alpha
    and ia64
    ; please see the noarch
    directory for translations
• SuSE Linux (README):
  • 7.1: i386,
    PPC
    and Sparc;
    please see the i18n
    directory for translations
  • 7.0: i386,
    PPC
    and S390;
    please see the i18n
    directory for translations
  • 6.4: i386;
    please see the i18n
    directory for translations

• Tru64 Systems: 4.0e,f,g, or
  5.x (README)

Please check the servers periodically for pre-compiled packages for
other distributions. More binary packages will become available
over the coming days and weeks.

About KOffice/KDE

KOffice is part of the KDE project. KDE is an independent,
collaborative project by hundreds of developers worldwide to create
a sophisticated, customizable and stable desktop environment
employing a component-based, network-transparent architecture. KDE
is working proof of the power of the Open Source “Bazaar-style”
software development model to create first-rate technologies on par
with and superior to even the most complex commercial software.

For more information about KDE, please visit KDE’s web site. For more information
about KOffice, please visit KOffice’s web site where you can find,
among other things, information on contributing to
KOffice.

Corporate KOffice Sponsors

Besides the valuable and excellent efforts by the KOffice developers
themselves, significant support for KOffice development has been
provided by theKompany.com, which has
contributed Kivo and Kugar to KOffice, and MandrakeSoft, which sponsors
KOffice developers David Faure and Laurent
Montel. Thanks!