Introduction to LibreOffice 24.2
LibreOffice 24.2, the open-source office suite, continues to evolve with new features and improvements across its various applications, including Writer, Calc, Impress, Draw, Base, and Math. In this article, we will explore the recent innovations in detail.
This release includes practical changes for document editing, spreadsheets, presentations, drawings, databases, formulas, file compatibility, interface behavior, and backup options. The sections below summarize the updates by module so that users can quickly identify the features that matter for their daily work.
Writer
Writer receives several improvements focused on structured documents, comments, and OOXML import. These changes help users work with longer documents, legal-style numbering, collaborative notes, and files created in other office suites.
List Numbering
Version 24.2 of Writer enhances list numbering with the ability to choose Arabic numerals for legal list levels. This feature makes document structuring more flexible and suited for legal needs.
For users who prepare contracts, formal documents, reports, or any text with several nested list levels, this option gives more control over how numbering appears in the final document.
Comment Styles
Comments can now utilize custom styles. By default, the "Comment" style is applied, making it easier to modify the formatting of all comments simultaneously or visually categorize different types of comments.
This can be useful when reviewing a document with multiple types of feedback. A user can apply consistent formatting to comments instead of changing each comment manually.
OOXML Import Improvements
Writer improves the import of headers/footers from the first page of OOXML documents by using the first page property in the existing page style instead of creating a new style.
This improvement helps preserve document layout when opening OOXML files, especially when the first page uses a specific header or footer.
Calc
Calc includes enhancements for finding functions, formatting numbers, previewing fonts, and switching between sheets. These updates make spreadsheet editing more direct and easier to control.
Function Bar Search
A new search feature has been added to the function sidebar, allowing users to quickly find necessary functions by entering relevant keywords.
This is especially helpful when working with large spreadsheets or when a user knows what a function should do but does not remember its exact name.
Scientific Format
Scientific format is now supported and saved in ODF, including formats such as ###.000 E0 for embedded texts and lowercase exponents.
This support improves the way scientific notation can be represented and preserved in ODF spreadsheets.
Live Font Preview
Hovering or navigating through the font dropdown temporarily applies the selected font to the chosen cells, providing direct feedback.
With this live preview, users can compare fonts visually before applying a final choice to spreadsheet cells.
Sheet Switching Shortcuts
Shortcuts for changing sheets now operate cyclically, moving from the last sheet to the first and vice versa.
This makes keyboard navigation more fluid when a spreadsheet contains several sheets.
Impress
Impress adds formatting and configuration improvements for presentations. These updates affect text styling, slideshow behavior, templates, and language support.
Small Caps
Impress now supports small caps, offering a new formatting option for presentations.
Small caps can be used to create a specific visual style in titles, labels, or presentation text.
Slideshow Settings
Slideshow settings, including the visibility of the navigation panel and presentation console settings, are now saved in the local configuration and can be easily adjusted.
This helps keep selected presentation settings available for later use on the same installation.
Template Improvements
Impress templates have been corrected to select the correct fonts for CJK and CTL languages, along with various other adjustments to enhance consistency and ODF compliance.
These template corrections support more consistent presentation creation when using CJK and CTL language settings.
Draw
Multi-Page TIFF Import
Draw can now import multi-page TIFF files, placing one image per page, which improves the management of large image files.
This feature is useful when a TIFF file contains several pages. Draw separates the imported images across pages, making them easier to view and organize.
Base
Base includes database-related changes that help when working with primary keys and embedded databases.
Auto-Generated Primary Key
Base automatically adds a primary key with AutoValue when the user accepts the assistant's suggestion to add a missing primary key upon closing.
This can simplify table creation when a primary key is required and the assistant detects that one is missing.
Support for Embedded Databases
The new database assistant supports generic/unknown embedded databases, providing more flexibility for creating new databases.
This improves the creation workflow for embedded database use cases already supported by the database assistant.
Math
Math introduces improvements for formula direction and visual formula editing. These updates support users who create or edit mathematical content in documents.
RTL Formula Direction
Math now supports the configuration and rendering of formulas in a right-to-left (RTL) direction, including Arabic and Persian operators and symbols.
This allows formulas to be displayed in an RTL direction when required by the language and notation being used.
Visual Formula Editor
Editing formulas in visual mode is now enabled by default, making it easier to create and modify mathematical formulas.
Visual editing helps users adjust formulas more directly while working with mathematical expressions.
Core / General
LibreOffice 24.2 also brings general improvements that apply beyond a single module. These include version numbering, backup behavior, user interface updates, and dark theme handling.
New Calendar-Based Numbering
A new calendar-based numbering method (YY.M.Patch) has been introduced, allowing users to easily see the installed version of LibreOffice.
This numbering format makes the installed version easier to identify directly from the version number.
Auto Backup
Automatic document backup is enabled by default, including creating backup copies. Improvements have been made to reduce the limitations of AutoRecovery and re-enable the AutoSave user interface.
These settings help users keep backup copies of documents and make recovery-related options easier to access.
User Interface Improvements
Various enhancements have been made to the Notebookbar interface, including better support for print preview and improved menus.
The Notebookbar changes affect common interface actions, including printing workflows and menu access.
Dark Theme
LibreOffice now automatically adapts to the system's dark theme settings, including user interface variants based on Qt used by default on KDE Plasma.
This allows the interface to follow the system appearance when dark theme settings are active.
LibreOffice 24.2 feature summary
| Module | Main improvements mentioned |
|---|---|
| Writer | List numbering, comment styles, OOXML header and footer import |
| Calc | Function search, scientific format in ODF, live font preview, cyclic sheet shortcuts |
| Impress | Small caps, slideshow settings, template improvements |
| Draw | Multi-page TIFF import |
| Base | Auto-generated primary key, embedded database assistant support |
| Math | RTL formula direction, visual formula editor enabled by default |
| Core / General | Calendar-based numbering, automatic backup, Notebookbar updates, dark theme adaptation |
FAQ about LibreOffice 24.2
What is LibreOffice 24.2?
LibreOffice 24.2 is a version of the open-source office suite that introduces new features and improvements across Writer, Calc, Impress, Draw, Base, Math, and the general interface.
Which LibreOffice applications are mentioned in this version?
The article mentions Writer, Calc, Impress, Draw, Base, and Math, as well as Core / General improvements that affect the suite more broadly.
What changes are included for Writer in LibreOffice 24.2?
Writer includes enhanced list numbering for legal list levels, custom styles for comments, and improved OOXML import for first-page headers and footers.
What improvements are included for Calc in LibreOffice 24.2?
Calc adds function search in the sidebar, support for scientific format saved in ODF, live font preview, and cyclic shortcuts for switching between sheets.
Where can users get LibreOffice 24.2?
Users can visit the download page to utilize these new features.
Conclusion
Version 24.2 and subsequent releases of LibreOffice bring a multitude of improvements and new features, further solidifying its position as a top open-source office suite. Whether you are using Writer, Calc, Impress, Draw, Base, or Math, these updates enhance the user experience and improve compatibility with other document formats.
LibreOffice 24.2 includes module-specific updates and general improvements that support document writing, spreadsheet work, presentations, drawings, databases, formulas, backups, interface use, and theme adaptation.
To utilize these new features, visit the download page.
