What's new in the free LibreOffice suite
Prepare to Jump

© Lead Image © Robert Collins, Unsplash.com
LibreOffice 5.4 is the last major release before the big jump to version 6. In addition to a number of updates, you can now sign Writer documents with OpenPGP.
Every six months, The Document Foundation publishes a new release of LibreOffice [1]. The versions in the fresh
branch offer experimental features aimed at users who want to test brand new functions, whereas the still
versions are for those who value reliability [2].
The new fresh
version 5.4, the last in the 5.x series before the big jump to version 6.0, is scheduled for early 2018. It comes with new toolbars, improved palettes and filters, and OpenPGP support for signing Writer documents. A test team looked at the new LibreOffice 5.4.0.3 under Debian 9.0 (Stretch, 64-bit).
LibreOffice developers have continued to modernize the appearance of the Office programs. In particular, the cleaned-up default color palette immediately stands out (Figure 1). Instead of colorfully mixed hues, the palette now follows the RYB (red, yellow, blue) color model reduced to 120 tones. A new palette for chart colors (not yet compiled and available as chart-palettes
) is also included.
[...]
Buy this article as PDF
(incl. VAT)
Buy Linux Magazine
Subscribe to our Linux Newsletters
Find Linux and Open Source Jobs
Subscribe to our ADMIN Newsletters
Support Our Work
Linux Magazine content is made possible with support from readers like you. Please consider contributing when you’ve found an article to be beneficial.

News
-
openSUSE Joins End of 10
openSUSE has decided to not only join the End of 10 movement but it also will no longer support the Deepin Desktop Environment.
-
New Version of Flatpak Released
Flatpak 1.16.1 is now available as the latest, stable version with various improvements.
-
IBM Announces Powerhouse Linux Server
IBM has unleashed a seriously powerful Linux server with the LinuxONE Emperor 5.
-
Plasma Ends LTS Releases
The KDE Plasma development team is doing away with the LTS releases for a good reason.
-
Arch Linux Available for Windows Subsystem for Linux
If you've ever wanted to use a rolling release distribution with WSL, now's your chance.
-
System76 Releases COSMIC Alpha 7
With scores of bug fixes and a really cool workspaces feature, COSMIC is looking to soon migrate from alpha to beta.
-
OpenMandriva Lx 6.0 Available for Installation
The latest release of OpenMandriva has arrived with a new kernel, an updated Plasma desktop, and a server edition.
-
TrueNAS 25.04 Arrives with Thousands of Changes
One of the most popular Linux-based NAS solutions has rolled out the latest edition, based on Ubuntu 25.04.
-
Fedora 42 Available with Two New Spins
The latest release from the Fedora Project includes the usual updates, a new kernel, an official KDE Plasma spin, and a new System76 spin.
-
So Long, ArcoLinux
The ArcoLinux distribution is the latest Linux distribution to shut down.