AbiWord 2.2 Unleashed 344
uwog writes "AbiWord 2.2 marks a new milestone in the life of our beloved Ant. With a native port to MacOSX, and new features such as live updating tables of contents and TextBox support, Abi is finally a grown up Ant. Read the full announcement or go grab your own copy."
I like Abiword.... (Score:4, Insightful)
Re:I like Abiword.... (Score:3, Informative)
That's the main reason I use abiword. A lot of my friends who use OSS prefer OOo Writer, but I don't see why. Abiword has all the features of Word that I need, but absolutely none of the bloat. It's also one of the few open sourced programs* I can feel confident recommending to my non-geek friends, and that's saying a lot.
*The others being Firefox and gaim
Re:I like Abiword.... (Score:2)
My log
Re:I like Abiword.... (Score:2, Informative)
with OOo you'd see a significant response time jump.
and another big issue with abiword is that it more often than not,
doesn't read or make compatable MS Documents.
just thought i'd add my $0.02
--kingpunk
Re:I like Abiword.... (Score:2, Insightful)
Re:I like Abiword.... (Score:2)
How can anyone be productive in an environment where C-a doesn't take you to the start of the line and C-t doesn't transpose characters? Screw word... long live emacs and LaTeX
Re:I like Abiword.... (Score:5, Informative)
Re:I like Abiword.... (Score:3, Informative)
Bug fixes (Score:2, Interesting)
Re:Bug fixes (Score:3, Interesting)
Re:Bug fixes (Score:3, Insightful)
Re:I like Abiword.... (Score:2)
What takes five minutes to start up? If you mean OpenOffice.org, it takes exactly 20 seconds to start up on my 1 GHz desktop, and after that it's nimble as anything else.
Abiword doesn't work for me because it just isn't stable under Windows. Out of curiosity (to see whether support for OpenOffice's document format existed yet) I tried using Abiword 2.2 to open an OpenOffice generated xml file. The software crashed without a trace -
Re:I like Abiword.... (Score:2)
Re:I like Abiword.... (Score:5, Funny)
localized fonts? (Score:4, Informative)
If you are non-english person - how's Abiword working for you?
Re:localized fonts? (Score:2, Insightful)
Re:localized fonts? (Score:2)
My app was *asked for* by MS's localization people. Six months later the MSDN official stuff
for greek was (well we scored 100% to my extreme surprise)...
Nuff said.
Please don't be so limited when you write apps. Think global...
Even if only o
Re:localized fonts? (Score:3, Insightful)
It's only 10 million people here so I always understand if we are overlooked, but I try. If you design for at least europe + US then you are doing pretty well. Languag
Re:localized fonts? (Score:2)
Re:localized fonts? (Score:2, Informative)
Re:localized fonts? (Score:5, Informative)
Among the new features in AbiWord 2.2 are:
* A MacOSX port
* Tables of contents
* Document history/revisions
* Text frames
* Better support for international scripts and locales
* List folding
* Text wrapping around images
* Faster rendering
* Dashboard integration
* Visual drag and drop
This release also includes an enormous number of bug fixes and improvements across the board.
Re:localized fonts? (Score:2)
Re:localized fonts? (Score:2, Interesting)
"Unleashed" (Score:3, Funny)
Re:"Unleashed" (Score:2, Informative)
Re:"Unleashed" (Score:2)
But, hey, this is
Re:"Unleashed" (Score:2, Funny)
Does a standalone WP have a use now? (Score:4, Interesting)
I seem to remember that in the beginning, the group was going to put out an entire office suite, but then got bogged down just trying to create the word processing component. A small and dedicated userbase, aside does Abiword have a future without these other components?
Re:Does a standalone WP have a use now? (Score:4, Informative)
Re:Does a standalone WP have a use now? (Score:5, Informative)
Are we going to see "AbiExcel?"
How about Gnumeric? [gnome.org].
But does it matter is Abiword is part of a suite? I use it on Linux because I need a good Word Processor, and Abiword takes less overhead and looks better than the OO writer. But each to his own...
Re:Does a standalone WP have a use now? (Score:3, Funny)
Re:Does a standalone WP have a use now? (Score:5, Informative)
For now Abiword copies and pastes nices with gnumeric. Select a region in gnumeric, copy, paste into word, you get a nice table containing Gnumeric's contents.
Not full embedding yet but we'll get there.
Re:Does a standalone WP have a use now? (Score:2, Interesting)
Re:Does a standalone WP have a use now? (Score:3, Interesting)
Re:Does a standalone WP have a use now? (Score:2)
Not technical writers, but writer-writers: journalists, novelists, what have you.
The keys are to support all OS's, full unicode and manymany languages, and the features actual writers need.
One of the things I dislike about MS Word (2000) is that soooooo many of its features are geared towards, well, office document production.
That makes perfect sense for the bulk of their market, but whenever I find myself writing, say, a non-technical magazine article, it makes me want to scream.
Plus
Re:Does a standalone WP have a use now? (Score:2)
Re:Does a standalone WP have a use now? (Score:3, Interesting)
The basic problem with the ${foo}Office suites is that they run counter to one of the basic principles of good software design, which is to write a small tool that does one job really well.
Another thi
Re:Does a standalone WP have a use now? (Score:2, Informative)
For most of the power of TeX without a lot of the hassle, try LyX [lyx.org]. It's a graphical front-end for LaTeX, with an interface akin to a word processor. However, it still applies TeX philosophy, namely, you supply the content and it will supply the layout, you don't need to mess with that.
Re:Does a standalone WP have a use now? (Score:2, Informative)
Re:Does a standalone WP have a use now? (Score:2, Informative)
Well, for what it's worth, to get good-looking PDF output, I suggest dvipdf. It's all anti-aliased, etc. etc. and looks fine in Acrobat Reader, etc. Output from dvips looks good when printed, which you'd expect, since it outputs a PostScript file.
Re:Does a standalone WP have a use now? (Score:4, Informative)
Jedidiah.
Re:Does a standalone WP have a use now? (Score:3, Interesting)
I dig LyX but I have switched to Kile LaTeX Editor [sourceforge.net] (KDE Project) due to the skeletal support of the Memoir Class within LyX, amongst various other classes that may not be as commonly requested and therefore aren't natively supported in LyX. Both are wonderful applications.
I equate LyX and its WYSIWYM to be getting better yet too often I have to insert ERT and so I decided to just learn LaTeX directly and write in Kile. I build chapter templates quite simply with Kile. Customizing the appearance of ou
Re:Does a standalone WP have a use now? (Score:2)
Are you trolling, or just ignorant?
OpenOffice.org is LGPL licensed. LGPL is GPL compatible. It only requires java for a small number of functions (I've never used any of them).
Stop spreading FUD please, we're already fighting MS hard enough.
Re:Does a standalone WP have a use now? (Score:2)
Correction: With OpenOffice and KOffice, you have a pretty robust toolset. With Microsoft Office, you have an ugly crash-prone unreliable and slow headacheset.
Other than that, you are correct.
Re:Office suite need not apply (Score:3, Interesting)
Wrong. Integration is absolutely essential for an Office suite. Every single document I create (mostly technical reports) have some sort of embedded graph or table.
Without that feature, the word processor is useless for me.
Re:Office suite need not apply (Score:2)
Wrong. Integration is absolutely essential for an Office suite. Every single document I...
Hello? The "vast majority" does not at all times include "yourself". That's why it says the "vast majority", and not "all". You should really read up on basic language constructs.
What's the point (Score:2, Interesting)
Also, aren't word processors kind of backwards compared to typesetting systems?
Re:What's the point (Score:2)
Define "we".
Ever try to run OpenOffice on Mac OSX? It's not pleasant. Instead of using the native Aqua widgets, it uses X-Windows widgets, and requires you to run the X-Windows subsystem in order to run.
It works, but it's not terribly pleasant, and doesn't integrate well with the rest of the system. AbiWord, for all of its warts, is significantly better integrated into the OS.
I'm looking forward to the day when OpenOffice has a proper OSX distribution, b
Re:Here's the point... (Score:2)
First, there are many ways to implement the same functionality. Some code is better than other code. Some apps are better at some things than others. There is no one magic bullet, and I hope it stays that way. Why? When you start to settle on one platform, on one way of doing things, the creative waters that were once a rushing river, dwindle to a stagnant puddle. Cancerous dynamics start to intrude on the process, and soon you've got a mess that no one will touch. Where does that leave you?
(Look at the go
How can it be? (Score:5, Funny)
I don't feel comfortable with this - it must be some sort of devilish sorcery!
Mac, Linux and Windows (Score:5, Interesting)
No Openoffice on Xfree86 does not count
Re:Mac, Linux and Windows (Score:2)
Worth a look. Works quite well.
Re:Mac, Linux and Windows (Score:2)
I've never had any luck with ABiWord, so I'm not surprised. Maybe Apple could use this as the basis for the next AppleWorks, of course I think KOffice would be a better fit.
Re:Mac, Linux and Windows (Score:5, Funny)
Well, how about this instead: Run OpenOffice for Windows on Wine on Xfree on Linux on VMware on FreeBSD on Bochs on Windows on VirtualPC on Mac OS X.
If you don't have a Mac, run Mac OS X in PearPC on Linux on x86.
That will make the system quick and responsive.
Re:Mac, Linux and Windows (Score:2)
Re:Mac, Linux and Windows (Score:4, Funny)
I'd say everybody who uses Windows, pays for it, but maybe not with money...
~jeff
Re:Mac, Linux and Windows (Score:2)
Re:Mac, Linux and Windows (Score:5, Insightful)
Re:Mac, Linux and Windows (Score:2)
I prefer OpenOffice to AbiWord, but with a Cocoa port years away AbiWord will do just fine for my day-to-day word processing needs. If there was a port of Gnumeric, and some equivalent of OOImpress I'd be all set.
Re:Mac, Linux and Windows (Score:2)
Default font for Abi Word? (Score:3, Funny)
AbiNormal
Thank-you, thank-you, I'll be here all week...
Ant? (Score:2)
Re:Ant? (Score:2, Informative)
"Native" Mac version (Score:4, Insightful)
Text drag & drop isn't integrated with the rest of the system, some of the text editing commands (like alt-forward-delete) just don't work, the buttons in the save-before-closing? dialog are in the wrong order and have the wrong titles, and there is just a subtle feeling of... alienness... over the entire GUI.
People who use AbiWord on other platforms should feel right at home but most Mac users will be turned off.
Re:"Native" Mac version (Score:2, Informative)
I'm just one person, with occasional bits of help from others. I'm working on making AbiWord behave like a native app, but I must confess that although I have been using Macs for over four years I don't have a particularly exact view of how native apps are supposed to behave.
Anyway, the Cocoa port is very much a work in progress, and any suggestions / complaints should be filed in Abi's bugzilla.
Don't forget to check for latest development information at:
http://www.abisource.com/~fjf/
This is fr
Ant? (Score:2)
Keeping up appearances (Score:5, Insightful)
Here's what I've noticed in AbiWord 2.2 so far. The buttons look very 10.0 and there is still some issues with ghosting or artifacting (whatever you want to call it) as you move the tabs across the rulers. The save dialog boxes aren't sheets. The formatting toolbar has some issues with dual monitors (it puts the styles menu on my secondary screen when the pull-down is close to the edge of the primary). Also, the toolbars must be treated as windows themselves, because clicking on the menu bar disables many of the menu options, making me think the document window isn't completely "active". On the positive, I'm glad there are live resizing windows and a good preferences interface. It's closer, but there's still a bit of polish to put on it before Mac users accept it with open arms.
Re:Keeping up appearances (Score:5, Informative)
Re:Picky Mac users (Score:4, Insightful)
It's really not about Mac users. It's that on the Mac there's so much uniformity in how applications look and behave (admittedly much more so on OS 9 than OS X) that your brain gets into a rut and really expects everything to work that way. Suddenly going from this to a Unixy app is like having the orientation of the ground you're standing on shift without warning - it's not going to be an entirely pleasant experience.
Compare this to a straight Unix environment, using all sorts of X apps. Every single app (more or less) behaves a little differently, uses slightly different widgets, uses different keyboard commands, and all that. It's like being on a boat - when the surface you're standing on tilts to the side, it's no problem because it's constantly swaying back and forth, and you expect it.
This is probably the core of why I have a Linux install separate from OS X. When I'm booted into Linux, I love old stand-by apps like the GIMP and OO.org. But an hour later I might be booted into OS X and running a Fink install on them and find them to be the most baneful travesties imaginable.
Re:Keeping up appearances (Score:2)
First impressions from a MacOS X User (Score:4, Informative)
I don't use MS Word.
A word processor for me has to integrate pretty seamlessly with the operating system--it has to look and feel like a MacOS X application--so I focused on where AbiWord falls short of that mark in this review.
Using it on a 12" PowerBook:
* It initially takes up an enormous amount of screen real-estate, with the main window stretching down into my dock where I have to move the window to get to it.
* Korean input was a little funky compared to normal MacOS X entry. It showed up okay, but the intermediate steps don't display.
* The same appears to be true of all special character/multi-key entry (such as option-e e to generate an accented e). The end result shows up fine, but the intermediary display for what I am doing is nonexistent.
* The initial display of the tool palette is largely redundant with the tool bars.
* Slow when on a highish processor load. I type text and it hesitates a moment before displaying it. This is noticeably worse than the rest of the system under the same load.
* Some standard command keys do not work as they should (e.g., command-t). Others are just strange (command-. is "paste unformatted").
* Highlighting is strange, reversing the color of the highlighted text. It also feels slow and clunky.
* On the plus side, it now seems to use the system dictionary for spelling, which is a Good Thing™.
* It doesn't support drag-and-drop from the desktop or to other apps.
* It doesn't always like pasting PDF clips copied out from other documents (namely TeXShop).
* Nonstandard save dialogue that gives options "No" [space] "Yes" and "Cancel" with the default going to "Cancel."
Solid, they've made a lot of improvement since I last used it (particularly on MacOS X), but it isn't there yet.
Re:First impressions from a MacOS X User (Score:2)
This always makes me crazy. Buttons should be Verbs because they cause an action. A dialog should tell you what happened, why it happened, and what you can do. This is the way it should be. [apple.com]
Re:First impressions from a MacOS X User (Score:2)
Explain to me how this is better. You've explained why it's broken, now tell me why it's better.
Re:First impressions from a MacOS X User (Score:2)
Play dumb all you want, it was quite obvious what my reference was. You also avoided the challenge completely. Fitting.
The way I understand it (Score:3, Interesting)
When OO was new, I thought it was the Abiword killer.
I also dont quite get why Abiword isnt packaged as a part of OO. License incompatibility?
Lastly, I'm waiting for the firefox of word processors, something sleek and lean, fast, stable, with only the functionality I need, yet compliant with MS Word 2000. I've only needed Word and Excel, and these two applications need not be in the same office suite; only fast and compliant.
Re:The way I understand it (Score:2)
Platform-dependant. Starts quickly on my Mac here (867Mhz G4 Powerbook), whereas OpenOffice and NeoOffice take an age.
Cheers,
Ian
Re:The way I understand it (Score:2)
Perhaps that is the case for AbiWord 2.2, but not for earlier versions. AbiWord 2.0 fails for very simple Word documents, but I haven't had many problems with OOWriter, except for a very graphical 'poem' that was totally dependent on font and font size (and line breaks).
But as OO and Abi have different release schedules, you can expect one to surpass the other at various points in time, just like IE once was
Well, it LOOKS nice. (Score:5, Insightful)
Simple means: 1 logo graphic, one horizontal rule, text and a bulleted list.
Beyond that, why oh why oh why does every word processor default to changing e-mail addresses to clickable links? If my document is formatted in black 12 pt Arial I do NOT want anything on my page changed into blue underlined Times New Roman.
Am I alone in believing that a document intended to be printed on paper is different from a web page?
Oh yeah - and it's slow as molasses.
Re:Well, it LOOKS nice. (Score:3, Insightful)
Nope. Get a Text Processor instead of a Word Processor and all will be well - you can define your output type when you run it on your source file.
Good Text Processor's include: TeX (and family eg. LaTex), and groff/nroff. If you want to produce good looking printed material, both are excellent. Beware the learning curve though.
Jedidiah.
Re:Well, it LOOKS nice. (Score:3, Informative)
A couple of questions about Windows ports (Score:2)
Does the Windows port now support text folding?
Last time I tried this feature it wasn't working on Windows.
Also, what is the status of Gnumeric on Windows?
Thanks to everybody who contributed to these products. I think they are excellent.
Software Listings (Score:2, Insightful)
Its all well and good with this software and what not, but this is just getting out of hand. News for Nerds, yeh, but there is a reason why we have places like FreshMeat
-Brandon
Re:Software Listings (Score:3)
Three years ago called. They want their whining back.
11 millionths post (Score:3, Interesting)
OS X beta (Score:2)
Disclaimer: this remark because AbiWord is obviously targeted to non-power users...
ps: and with KDE/mac lurking around the corner, what exciting times!
My experiences with this program (Score:2)
Already a KDE user, I'd rather use KWord than install the whole GTK stack for this application. But KWord does not save in MSWord's format and the RTF it creates is wanting -- certainly so with respect to page headers/footers.
Curiously, AbiWord does not save in MSWord's format either. Oh, it pretends to so, and the file is named .doc, but if you compare it to the .rtf version, you'll discover, that the file name ext
Re:My experiences with this program (Score:2)
Thanks for the pointer! I just added this bug some votes.
They can't copy ingenuity (Score:2, Insightful)
While some are able to copy a subset of features of the Microsoft's Word product, none have come close to it, let alone achieving any groundbreaking functionality. This highlights the problem with open source movements. Microsoft has spent millions of dollars figuring out how
OpenOffice killed my AbiWord (Score:3, Interesting)
I wonder just how hard AbiWord will get hit when OOo 2.0 comes out this year. You know, an OOo that doesn't take half of the morning to start up...
Re:AbiWord vs. OpenOffice? (Score:4, Informative)
Re:AbiWord vs. OpenOffice? (Score:2, Interesting)
I've just compared soffice and Abiword for win32 on "War And Peace" from Project Gutenberg.
soffice takes about 50 Megs of memory, and free()s most of it when minimized. A nice feature, imo.
Abiword on the other hand takes about 164 Megs, and constantly burns a few cycles for whatever, I don't know what. It also doesn't free() memory when minimized. So, for that huge documents (~1300 pages) soffice seems to be a lot better, at least technically. AbiWords UI feels more intuitive though.
Re:AbiWord vs. OpenOffice? (Score:2)
standardized from the FUD/marketspeak point of view, but still too easy a target. The major Open source apps absolutely need to have excellant cross app compatability when lo
Re:UNLEASHED !!!! (Score:2)
Re:UNLEASHED !!!! (Score:2)
"What is this talk of 'release'? Klingons do not make software 'releases'. Our software escapes, leaving a bloody trail of designers and quality assurance people in its wake!"
From: here [asp.net]
Re:UNLEASHED !!!! (Score:2)
When they say "Unleashed" (Score:2)
LaTex? (Score:2, Informative)
I'm sure that a mature student such as yourself knows to use LaTeX for the advanced math formulas you're no-doubt creating. LaTeX is the only real answer for complicated math equations and such. Check out LaTeX: Math into LaTeX Short Course [loria.fr].
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Re:Word count and formulae (Score:4, Informative)
Re:Word count and formulae (Score:4, Informative)
It's a LaTeX front-end, and more. It's a perfectly serviceable word-processor that uses LaTeX for rendering, and I first began using because of the equation editor.
Re:Ant? (Score:2)
S