StarOffice 9 is ready

It took Sun Microsystems about one month after the release of the open source OpenOffice 3.0 suite to complete the respective version of StarOffice. The office suite for Linux, Mac OS X, Solaris and Windows consists of Base (database access), Calc (spreadsheet), Draw (vector graphics), Impress (presentation) and Writer (word processor) components. The components' range of features doesn't effectively differ from that of their community counterparts.

Mac users in particular can for the first time enjoy the suite's complete integration into the Aqua interface. The previously necessary workaround via the X11 environment or the alternative use of the NeoOffice suite are things of the past. Further new features include the support of Microsoft's Office 2007 XML formats as well as the full support of the ODF 1.2 ISO format. Extended PDF options allow users to archive their documents in the standardised PDF/A ISO format. In addition, the extension manager makes it possible to install a PDF import plug-in for importing and editing unprotected PDFs, as graphical entities rather than text, in Draw. Detailed information is available in a pdf document on Sun's website.

One of the differences between OpenOffice and StarOffice is the support programme. With the Standard and Deluxe Editions intended mainly for private use and supplied by Avanquest or Sun, users receive three free support enquiries within the first two months after registration. For the the Enterprise Edition aimed at professional users, Sun has developed a multilevel support programme. Further details about the different support levels are available from Sun.

(djwm)