--- title: "LibreOffice 26.8 released with paragraph layout changes, draft view + more" url: https://daily.dev/posts/libreoffice-26-8-released-with-paragraph-layout-changes-draft-view-more-ob2jqvzoq source_url: https://www.omgubuntu.co.uk/2026/08/libreoffice-268-released type: article source: "omg! ubuntu!" published: 2026-08-26T17:38:55.908Z updated: 2026-08-27T01:58:37.177Z tags: ["python", "open-source", "linux"] reading_time: 5 upvotes: 0 comments: 0 language: en --- > ## Documentation Index > Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://daily.dev/llms.txt > Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further. # LibreOffice 26.8 released with paragraph layout changes, draft view + more **[omg\! ubuntu\!](https://daily.dev/sources/omgub)** · 5 min read · 0 upvotes · 0 comments ## Summary LibreOffice 26.8 has been released with a new Paragraph Composer for better justified text, variable OpenType font support, and baseline grid alignment in Writer. Right-to-left language handling improves across Writer and Calc, with automatic direction detection and Arabic/Hebrew/N'Ko/Adlam support in Math. Calc gains calculated fields for pivot tables, a shuffle command, and fixes for chart corruption when round-tripping Excel files. Writer adds a distraction-free Draft view and faster loading of image-heavy documents. Impress and Draw now support multiple page sizes per document and slide grouping. The Base database tool adds Firebird date/time filtering and SQL comment persistence, plus in-app Python scripting. The Document Foundation reaffirmed it will not add generative AI features, citing data privacy concerns. The release is available for Windows, macOS and Linux, and will ship in Ubuntu 26.10. ## Full article daily.dev links to this article rather than hosting it. Read it at the original source: ## Questions this post answers ### What new features does LibreOffice 26.8 add to Writer for justified text? LibreOffice 26.8 introduces a new Paragraph Composer that balances spacing across several lines at once instead of one at a time, producing more even justified text edges. The release also adds native support for variable OpenType fonts, letting users adjust letterform contrast and proportion, plus baseline grid alignment for text in frames. _Track office suite releases like this on daily.dev before rolling out an update across a team._ ### Does LibreOffice 26.8 include any AI features? No, LibreOffice 26.8 remains free of generative AI features. The Document Foundation states this is a deliberate position: documents are not transmitted to remote services, no component requires network access, and organizations handling confidential or legally privileged data can be assured nothing leaves the machine. _Developers weighing privacy tradeoffs in office tooling can follow stories like this on daily.dev._ ### What Calc improvements were added in LibreOffice 26.8? LibreOffice 26.8 adds Calculated Fields for pivot tables, a Shuffle command to randomize cell order in a range, relative font sizes in cell styles, and a border toolbar button that remembers the last-used style. It also fixes a bug that previously corrupted certain newer chart types when Excel files were opened, edited in LibreOffice, and reopened in Excel. _Spreadsheet users comparing office suite feature sets can keep up with changes like these on daily.dev._ ## Similar posts on daily.dev - [LibreOffice 26.8 Beta Released For Improving This Free Software Office Suite](https://daily.dev/posts/libreoffice-26-8-beta-released-for-improving-this-free-software-office-suite-es85yjxcp) · Phoronix · 0 upvotes · 0 comments --- Tags: [#python](https://daily.dev/tags/python), [#open-source](https://daily.dev/tags/open-source), [#linux](https://daily.dev/tags/linux) [View this post on daily.dev](https://daily.dev/posts/libreoffice-26-8-released-with-paragraph-layout-changes-draft-view-more-ob2jqvzoq)