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!New Features in StarOffice 9^SO9_new_features.jpg|width=300px,align=right,vspace=5!
In the past, reading notes added to text documents, creating sophisticated professional looking charts as well as adding tables to slide presentations were not the most user-friendly tasks in StarOffice. Developers listened and StarOffice 9 offers a host of features that increase productivity. Writer offers a much improved note-taking feature, which allows you to display the notes at the edge of the document. In addition, Writer now allows you to view multiple document pages at the same time.
h2. StarOffice Writer
h3. Improved Notes
In the past, notes in StarOffice were only displayed as small yellow rectangles within the text. This was not very intuitive and user-friendly. With version 9, StarOffice Writer provides an advanced notes feature which displays notes on the side of the document. This makes notes a lot easier to read. In addition, notes from different users are displayed in different colors together with the editing date and time.
!_Images^improved-notes.png|width=600px,vspace=4,hspace=4!
h5. How to access
* Choose *Insert > Note*
h3. PDF Import
The [PDF Import Extension|http://www.sun.com/software/staroffice/extensions.jsp?cid=925128#pdfimport] allows you to modify existing PDF files, for which the original source files do not exist. PDF documents are imported in Draw and Impress to preserve the layout and to allow basic editing. Native PDF forms are not yet imported. In a later release PDF import will also be possible in Writer, which is focused more on edit capabilities and less on layout.
The PDF Import extension will allow you to export into a hybrid PDF file, which is a PDF with the embedded source file as ODF. Hybrid PDF files will be opened in StarOffice as an ODF file without any layout differences, while users without StarOffice can open the PDF part of the hybrid file (see also chapter 2, Hybrid PDF).
h5. How to access
* Install the [PDF Import Extension|http://www.sun.com/software/staroffice/extensions.jsp?cid=925128#pdfimport]
h3. Zoom Slider and Support for Large Monitors
When you are writing larger documents, it is often helpful to see the current page in context with the previous and next pages. With the new zoom slider, it is now easily possible to change the zoom factor. More importantly, StarOffice Writer can now display multiple pages for editing side by side. This feature is particularly handy on wide-screen monitors or dual-monitor setups.
!_Images^zoomslider.png|width=600px,vspace=4,hspace=4!
h5. How to access
* See the status bar at the bottom edge of the window.
h3. More Feature Highlights
h4. Rectangular Selection
The selection mode block selection allows you to select rectangular regions of text. This is useful, for example, if an OCR'd text has to be further edited.
h5. Example
Highlighting just one column is not possible with the standard selection.
!_Images^rectsel1.png|width=600px,vspace=4,hspace=4!
With the new block selection you can select a vertical column:
!_Images^rectsel2.png|width=600px,vspace=4,hspace=4!
h5. How To Access
* On the status bar, click STD several times until it reads BLK.
* Highlight the desired selection.
* You may also toggle the selection modes through the menu Edit > Selection Mode.
* Windows users can also enable block selection mode by pressing the ALT key while selecting with the mouse.
h4. Support for Backward References in Find & Replace
This feature opens new, sophisticated possibilities in automation through regular expressions. Backreferences themselves are not new. StarOffice has supported backreferences in the Search for field, and now you can also use them in the Replace With field.
h5. How To Access
* Choose *Edit > Find & Replace*.
* Click the button More Options and check the box Regular Expressions
h4. Improved Configuration of Printing of Hidden text
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Printing of hidden text (hidden paragraph field, hidden text field, and hidden characters) is now controlled via settings in *Tools > Options > StarOffice Writer > Print*.
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| !_Images^printeroptions.png|vspace=4,hspace=4,width=32,height=32!
!_Images^printeroptions.png|vspace=4,hspace=4,width=600,height=351! |
h5. How to Access |
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* Choose *Tools > Options > StarOffice Writer > Print*
h4. Printing Text Placeholders can be Turned Off
Text placeholders are fields. Enable this new option to print text placeholders, disable this option to leave the text placeholders blank in the printout.
h5. How to Access
* Choose *Tools > Options > Writer > Print*
h4. Mail Merge as One Document
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The Mail Merge Dialog now offers the possibility to save all documents as one.
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| !_Images^mailmergewizard.png|vspace=4,hspace=4,width=32,height=32!
!_Images^mailmergewizard.png|vspace=4,hspace=4,width=602,height=454! |
h5. How to Access |
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* Choose *Tools - Mail Merge Wizard*
h4. Direct Cross-References to Headings and Numbered Paragraphs in Text Documents
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A cross-reference to a heading or a numbered paragraph can now be inserted directly into the current text document by selecting the heading or the numbered paragraph from a list.
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!_Images^crossrefs.png|vspace=4,hspace=4,width=32,height=32! |
h5. How to Access |
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* Choose *Insert > Cross-reference...*
h4. Enhanced Chapter Number Capability on Writer Indexes
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Tables of contents and other index lists can now also contain the chapter numbers..
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| !_Images^indexchapnum.png|vspace=4,hspace=4,width=32,height=32!
!_Images^indexchapnum.png|vspace=4,hspace=4,width=600,height=308! |
h5. How to access |
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* Choose *Insert > Indexes and Tables > Indexes and Tables... > Entries > Chapter no.*
h2. StarOffice Calc
The StarOffice Calc spreadsheet allows you to calculate, analyze, share and visually communicate your data quickly and easily.
h3. Solver
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StarOffice now also has a solver component which allows solving optimization problems where the optimum value of a particular spreadsheet cell has to be calculated based on constraints provided in other cells. The new solver component should be particularly interesting to Mac users considering that Microsoft Office 2008 for Mac OS X apparently does not include a solver feature.
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!_Images^solver.png|vspace=4,hspace=4,width=32,height=32! |
h5. How to access |
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* Choose *Tools > Solver*
h3. 1024 Columns Per Calc Sheet (Instead of 256)
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With support for 1024 columns StarOffice 9 can now handle significantly moredata than before and import larger Microsoft Excel spreadsheets. Previous versions only supported 256 columns.
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!_Images^columnscalcsheet.png|vspace=4,hspace=4,width=32,height=32! |
h3. New Chart Component and Enhancements |
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StarOffice 9 has a new chart component with many new formatting options:
h4. Simplified Creation of Charts with a New Chart Wizard
The chart creation procedure has been simplified to take less steps. The chart is created automatically with a click. Every change that you apply is shown in the live preview. A new wizard offers the selection of the chart type as the first user action. The type can be selected on a single page. There is no need to switch between pages or scroll around anymore. The chart type dialog has been replaced to now be the new first wizard page.
h5. How to access
* Choose *Insert > Chart* or click the *Chart* button in the toolbar
h4. Flexible Source Ranges
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It is possible now to choose separate data ranges for each series. You can even select different x-values for different series. With the tab-page "Data Series" the user can change the source-range addresses of all data series separately, including their labels and all data sequences. You can also change the range for the categories or data labels (for charts that do not support categories).
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!_Images^dataranges.png|vspace=4,hspace=4,width=32,height=32! |
h5. How to access |
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* The Chart Wizard contains Data Ranges and Data Series in its road map.
* There is also a separate dialog under Format > Data Ranges.
h4. Right-Angled Axes Option for 3D Charts
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With the new right-angled axes option the user can easily ensure that the axes in a 3D chart are exactly vertical or horizontal. This simplified display looks comfortable and allows for more accurate reading. New charts are now created with this option as default.
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!_Images^3Dviewperspective.png|vspace=4,hspace=4,width=32,height=32! |
h5. How to access |
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* Double click the chart to enter chart edit mode.
* Choose *Format > 3D View* or select *3D View* from context menu.
This is a modal dialog and works with a live preview.
h4. Alternative and Simpler 3D look
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It is now possible to easily switch to a simpler 3D look in charts, with no shading or lines.
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!_Images^3Dviewsimple.png|vspace=4,hspace=4,width=32,height=32! |
h5. How to access |
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* Double click the chart to enter chart edit mode.
* Choose *Format > 3D View* or select *3D View* from context menu.
This is a modal dialog and works with a live preview.
h4. Illumination Default Setting
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The defaults for illumination were changed to fit the new simplified 3D look with right-angled axes.
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!_Images^3dviewillum.png|vspace=4,hspace=4,width=32,height=32! |
h5. How to access |
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* Double click the chart to enter chart edit mode.
* Choose *Format > 3D View* or select *3D View* from context menu.
This is a modal dialog and works with a live preview.
h4. Exploded 3D Pie !_Images^explodedpie.png|vspace=4,hspace=4,align=right,width=111px,,height=92!
Segments of 3D pies or donuts now can be pulled out to stress single data points. The new chart types '3D exploded pie' and 'exploded donut' are offered in the new chart type dialog and wizard.
h5. How to access
* Choose *Insert > Chart* or click the *Chart* button in the toolbar.
* Select *Exploded Pie Chart* chart. You can select and pull out the chart segments via mouse.
h4. New Default Colors
The twelve default colors used for creating new charts have changed to a set of new colors. The colors are the winner of a voting on OpenOffice.org where twelve different proposals have been made. The colors have been changed in the Registry schema file Chart.xcs. They were also added to the standard color palette (standard.soc).
!_Images^defcol.png|vspace=4,hspace=4,width=383,height=167!
h5. How to access
* Double click the chart
* Choose *Format > Object Properties > Area* or select *Object Properties > Area* in context menu
h4. Enhanced Logarithmic Scales
Logarithmic scales have been enhanced. You can choose a minimum and maximum value. Thus for example, audio engineers now can display their log charts from typical 20 to 20,000 Hz. The major interval for logarithmic scales can now also be changed by the user.
h5. How to access
* The scaling of chart axis is done by the Scale tab of the Axis dialog, which can be reached by Format > Axis > x-Axis/y-Axis > Scale tab
h4. Additional Chart Types
!_Images^addcharttypes.png|vspace=4,hspace=4,align=right,width=199,height=147!
Additional sub chart types include
* 2D Lines subtype "points only"
* 2D net subtype 'points only'
* 3D XY
* 3D Smooth Lines
* 3D Donut
h5. How to access
* Choose *Insert > Chart* or click the *Chart* button in the toolbar to start the Chart Wizard.
* Select new chart types.
h4. Data Editor Enhancements
For Charts that display their own data there is a dialog for editing the data. The Chart Data dialog is capable of modifying, adding and deleting data that is used in data series and for categories. It is also possible to add and
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remove entire data series. All parts of a data series can be changed with this dialog. Charts with their own data are typically those in a presentation.
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!_Images^datatable.png|vspace=4,hspace=4,width=32,height=32! |
h5. How to access |
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* In a presentation document choose *Insert > Chart* or click the *Chart* button in the toolbar.
* Choose *View > Chart Data Table* or select *Chart Data Table* via context menu.
h4. Editing Regression Lines (Trend Lines) with Ease
For some chart types it is possible to add trend lines to data series. A trend line shows an approximation of the values in a mathematical curve. In addition to the actual curve, a graph can also contain graphical objects for the equation of a trend line and the accuracy of the calculation, denoted by R².
!_Images^trendlines.png|vspace=4,hspace=4,width=494,height=247!
h5. How to access
* Choose *Insert > Trend Lines*
h4. Display Equations for Regression Lines
The equation of trend lines and the R² value now can be displayed in the chart.
!_Images^equregrlines.png|vspace=4,hspace=4!
h5. How to access
* Select a data series in a chart.
* Insert a trend line via main or context menu.
* The property dialog has a Type tab page to select the regression type and to show the equation and correlation coefficient (R²).
h4. Show the Formula and R² Value of Regression Curve in Status Bar and Quick Help
When a regression curve in a chart is selected, the status bar now shows the formula and the square of correlation coefficient R in the status bar.
h5. How to access
* Select a data series in a chart.
* Insert trend line via main or context menu.
* Select the trend line and see the status bar.
h4. Regression Curves for 2D Charts
Regression curves are now also available for 2D line, bar, column and area charts.
!_Images^regrcurv2d.png|vspace=4,hspace=4,width=367,height=188!
h5. How to access
* Select a data series in a 2D line, bar, column or area chart.
* Insert a trend line via main or context menu.
h4. Enable Reverse Scales on Axes
It is possible now to change the direction of axes. Thus the user can choose where the lower values and higher values are displayed on an axis.
h5. How to access
* The option Reverse direction in on Scale tab of the Axis dialog, which can be reached by Format > Axis > x-Axis/y-Axis > Scale tab
h4. Display Bars on Different Axis Next to Each Other
In bar charts with two y axes it is now possible to display all the bars next to each other so that they do not overlap.
!_Images^displaybars.png|vspace=4,hspace=4,width=560,height=239!
h5. How to access
* Create a bar chart with two y axes.
* Choose *Format > Object Properties > Options* and enable *Show bars side by side*
h4. Number Format for Data Labels
For data labels in charts it is now possible to choose a number format for the display of values and percentage values.
!_Images^numberformat.png|vspace=4,hspace=4,width=542,height=231!
h5. How to access
* Choose *Insert > Data Label*
* Or select a data series and choose *Format > Object Properties > Data Labels > Show value as number* and select a number format
h4. Display Both Value and Percentage as a Data Point Label
For data labels in charts it is now possible to display the value and the percentage value at the same time (see dialog above).
h5. How to access
* Choose *Insert > Data Label*
* Or select a data series and choose *Format > Object Properties > Data Labels > Show value as percentage*
h4. Display Each Part of a Data Label in a Separate Line
The different parts of a data label now can be displayed in separate lines.
!_Images^datalabel.png|vspace=4,hspace=4,width=551,height=235!
h5. How to access
* Choose *Insert > Data Label*
* Or select a data series and choose *Format > Object Properties > Data Labels > Separator 'New line'*
h4. More Flexible Placement of Labels on Data Points
It is now possible to manipulate the placement of the data point labels relative to the data point. For example for symbol charts the labels can be placed above, below, left, right or centered on the symbol.
h5. How to access
* Choose *Insert > Data Label*
* Or select a data series and choose *Format > Object Properties > Data Labels > Placement*
h4. Better Automatic Positions for Labels on Pie Segments
Whenever possible, data point labels on pie charts are automatically adjusted so that they do not overlap..
!_Images^datapos.png|vspace=4,hspace=4,width=551,height=286!
h5. How to access
* Choose *Insert > Data Label*
* Or select a data series and choose *Format > Object Properties > Data Labels > Placement 'Best Fit'*
h4. Remove Data Point Labels with Delete Key
It is now possible to remove selected data point labels by pressing the Delete key.
h5. How to access
* Select the data point label and press the Delete (DEL) key.
h4. Title for Secondary X and Y Axis
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The title dialog now allows a secondary title for the x and y axis.
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!_Images^sectitle.png|vspace=4,hspace=4,width=400,height=282! |
h5. How to access |
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* Choose *Insert > Title*
h4. Clockwise Direction and Starting Angle for Pie Charts
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Two new options are available for pie charts: starting angle and clockwise direction.
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!_Images^anglepie.png|vspace=4,hspace=4,width=401,height=321! |
h5. How to access |
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* Select a data series and choose *Format > Object Properties > Options*
h3. More feature highlights
h4. Manual Sorting in DataPilot
It is now possible to rearrange items in a DataPilot field via Drag&Drop or Copy&Paste. The default sorting for new tables is "Ascending", it is changed to "Manual" when items are moved.
h5. How to access
* Choose *Data > Datapilot > Start*
* Create a Datapilot and select *Options*
* In the *Data Field* dialog select *Options* again to find the the sort order.
h4. Drill-Down in Data Field in DataPilot
Double-clicking in a DataPilot cell provides the calculation data of that cell. When a cell within the data field is double-clicked, it inserts a new sheet containing a subset of rows from the original data source that constitutes the result data displayed in that cell. For instance, when the data field function is selected to be SUM, then the number that is shown in the data field cell must be identical to the sum of all the data field values in the corresponding rows displayed in the inserted sheet.
h5. How to access
* Double-click in DataPilot cell.
* Or choose *Data > Group and Outline > Show Details*
h4. Clipboard Format for CSV
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When pasting unformatted text with a field delimiter, the CSV text import dialog is opened to allow detailed processing of the content. The text must consist of more than one line and the field delimiter is a comma, semicolon, tab or blank.
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| !_Images^csvclip.png|vspace=4,hspace=4,width=505,height=375!
!_Images^csvclip.png|vspace=4,hspace=4,width=600,height=445! |
h5. How to access |
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* Paste text with more than one line and field delimiters into Calc.
h4. Adjustable Margins and Column Widths in Page Preview
Margins and column widths can now be adjusted in the page preview. The page preview in Calc has a new tool bar button 'Margins'.
!_Images^adjmargin.png|vspace=4,hspace=4!
h5. How to access
* Choose *File > Page Preview*
* Select Margins
h2. StarOffice Impress and Draw
StarOffice Impress module is a full-featured presentation tool, complete with animations, presenter views, slide transitions, and templates.
h3. Presentation Minimizer
The Sun Presentation Minimizer is used to reduce the file size of the current presentation. Images will be compressed, and data that is no longer needed will be removed. The Sun Presentation Minimizer can optimize the image quality size. Presentations designed for screen or projector do not require the same high quality as presentations designed for print.
!_Images^presomin.png|vspace=4,hspace=4,width=553,height=344!
!_Images^presomin2.png|vspace=4,hspace=4!
h5. How to access
* With an installed [Sun Presentation Minimizer extension|http://www.sun.com/software/staroffice/extensions.jsp#minimizer], choose *Tools > Minimize Presentation.*
h3. Native Tables
There is now a better way to create tables in Impress and Draw, rather than embedding Calc objects or creating tables by using multiple shapes. It is now possible to create native tables like you can in StarOffice
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Writer. Table designs can be changed from the Table Design pane on the task panel in Impress or from the Table Design dialog in Draw.
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!_Images^nativetables.png|vspace=4,hspace=4!
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h5. How to access
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... * Choose *Insert > Table* or click the *Table* icon.
h3. Presenter Console
The [Presenter Console Extension|http://www.sun.com/software/staroffice/extensions.jsp#prescon] provides more control over your slide show presentation, such as the ability to see the upcoming slide, the slide notes, and a presentation timer, whereas the audience sees only the current slide. |
To avoid confusions by displaying a large number of presentation elements, the Presenter Console displays only the elements you need on three different easily changeable views. |
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| * The first view displays the current slide, including the effects and the upcoming slide. |
| !_Images^prescon1.png|vspace=4,hspace=4,width=400px! |
| * The second view shows the speaker's notes in large, clear, and scalable type, plus the current and upcoming slide. |
| !_Images^prescon2.png|vspace=4,hspace=4,width=400px! |
| * A slide sorter with the slide thumbnails is on the third view. |
| !_Images^prescon3.png|vspace=4,hspace=4,width=400px! |
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| !_Images^prescon1.png|vspace=4,hspace=4,width=501px,,height=401! \\ | !_Images^prescon2.png|vspace=4,hspace=4,width=500px,,height=400! |
| !_Images^prescon3.png|vspace=4,hspace=4,width=500px,,height=400! | | |
h3. Maximum Page Size Enlarged for Draw |
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StarOffice Draw allows you to create very large documents of up to 300cm by 300cm.
!_Images^maxsize.png|vspace=4,hspace=4!
h5. How to access
* Choose *Format > Page*
h3. Multiple Monitor Support in Impress
Impress supports multiple monitors, so that presenters can look at something else while presenting their slides on a projector. With the upcoming Sun Presenter Console extension this feature can be exploited to its maximum, because presenters will be able to see their next slides as well as the time and the speaker notes.
!_Images^multmon.png|vspace=4,hspace=4!
h5. How to access
* Choose *Slide Show > Slide Show Settings*
h3. More Feature Highlights
h4. Insert Picture on Background
You can now use the context menu to insert a picture as a slide background.
h5. How to access
* Open the context menu.
* Choose *Slide > Set Background Picture for Slide ...*
h4. HTML Export with PNG Support
The HTML Export Wizard for Draw and Impress now supports PNG files.
!_Images^htmlex.png|vspace=4,hspace=4!
h5. How to access
* Choose *File > Export*
* Select *HTML document*.
h4. Custom Animation Paths
The user interface for custom animation now supports adding user-drawn motion path effects, and you can edit the path of existing motion path effects.
!_Images^customanim.png|vspace=4,hspace=4!
h5. How to access
* Choose *Custom Animation... inside the Slide Show menu.*
* Click *Add...* and select *Motion Paths* in the *Custom Animation* dialog.
h4. Play Sound all Throughout the Slide Show
Now it is possible to play a sound without interruption while going over multiple slides.
h5. How to access
* Choose *Slide Transition* in the task pane and select *Sound*.
h2. StarOffice Base
StarOffice Base is a powerful database application, it provides a query, form, and report editor. It supports a large number of different database servers, such as MySQL, Oracle, and Microsoft SQL Server and includes an integrated database engine. The integrated database engine makes it very easy to create new databases and has also the advantage integrate the data, form, reports, and queries in a single file.
h3. Report Builder Extension
You can use the [Sun Report Builder|http://www.sun.com/software/staroffice/extensions.jsp] to create stylish, smart-looking database reports. The flexible report editor can define group and page headers as well as group and page footers and even calculation fields are available to help you create complex database reports.
!_Images^repbuild.png|vspace=4,hspace=4,width=600px!
h5. How to access
* Download and install the [Sun Report Builder Extension|http://www.sun.com/software/staroffice/extensions.jsp#repbuilder].
* Create a database
* Choose *Insert > Report...*
h3. Support for Access 2007
The new file format for MS Access 2007 accdb files is now also supported by StarOffice Base. When creating a new database, you can now select "MS Access 2007" as type to connect to. Please note this is available on Windows only.
h5. How to access
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* Create a new database with File > New > Database > Connecting to an existing database > Microsoft Access 2007.
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h3. Native MySQL Driver
This Extension will install a native MySQL database driver. MySQL databases are then natively supported and not through JDBC or ODBC drivers at it was the case for StarOffice 8. The native driver is faster, seamlessly integrated, and easier to administrator. There is no need to install and set up a separate JDBC or ODBC driver.
h5. How to access
* Download and install the StarOffice Extension from the Extension Repository.
* Create a new database with File > New > Database > Connecting to an existing database > MySQL Native Driver.
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h3. More Feature Highlights
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h4. Edit Views in Embedded HSQL Databases
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... Views in embedded HSQL databases can be edited.
h5. How to access
* Create or select a Table View.
* Choose *Edit > Edit ...*
h4. Relation Design for MySQL
The relation design is now available for MySQL databases.
h5. How to access
* Create or edit a query and choose *Insert > New Relation*
h4. Allow Query Designer in SQL View
You can open the query designer from within the property browser for a database form. The query designer can be used to graphically design the SQL command underlying the form.
h5. How to access
* Create or edit a query and choose *View > Switch Design View On/Off*
h4. Improved SQL Editing
The database application now supports an additional command Edit in SQL View..., which can be applied to one or more queries.
h5. How to access
* Select a saved query and choose *Edit > Edit in SQL View*
h4. "Queries within Queries" Feature
With the implementation of the "queries in queries" feature, it is now possible to add both tables and queries to other queries.
h5. How to access
* Create or edit a query and choose *Insert > Add Table or Query*
h4. Macro Events at Form Controls
Same as the form controls on text documents, providing the controls on database forms is a set of scripting events for calling scripting languages such as StarOffice Basic.
!_Images^macroevents.png|vspace=4,hspace=4!
h4. New Menu in Table Data View
The table data view of a table now has a new menu entry Insert > Record. This command inserts a new row at the end of the data set.
h4. New Entry "Delete Record" in Database > Edit Menu
The table data view of a table now has the menu entry Edit >Delete Record. This command deletes the current selected row (this excludes the row when inserting a new one).
h5. How to access
* Choose *Edit > Delete Record from the table data.*
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