AbiWord 2.4.0

Grammar Checking

On-the-fly grammar checking is available for the English language. Sentences that are considered to be using bad grammar constructs are marked by green squiggles. For improved accessibility for color-blind or visually impaired users, the shape of grammar checking underlines differs from the underlines used for marking incorrect spelling.

Tight Image Wrapping

A new image wrapping mode has been added to allow text to flow freely over transparent regions of an image, tightly wrapping around its contents. Figure 2 shows this feature in action using the nicely curved AbiWord logo.

Equations

Also new in 2.4 is support for equation editing. Equations can be inserted using MathML or LaTeX-style syntax. Inserting a nice-looking equation is as simple as typing E=mc^2.

OpenDocument support

Support for the OpenDocument file format has been donated by INdT, Nokia's Technology Institute. Currently the OpenDocument import filter is basically complete, with support for styles, headers/footers, lists, image wrapping, text boxes, tables, footnotes/endnotes and tables of contents. OpenDocument export is planned as well and will be added during the 2.4.x series.

GNOME-Office charting

GNOME-Office integration is improved every release. This release adds the ability to embed charts in documents, and even create simple ones within AbiWord. More complex charts can be copied from the GNOME Office spreadsheet application Gnumeric and pasted into AbiWord.

... and more changes all over the map!

The Revision Marks and Document History features have seen a great number of bugfixes. Additionally, the document import filters for Word Perfect, XHTML, RTF and MS Word have received significant improvements. The export filters for RTF and XHTML documents were improved as well. Finally, substantial improvements were made to the CJK support.