Ability Office is an office suite developed by Ability Plus Software and distributed and marketed by Ability Software International and which consists of a word processor, spreadsheet, database, modules for presentation and photo or image editing, plus a photo/image organiser and vector line drawing application. The current version (V6) offers a level of compatibility with Microsoft Office, allowing users to create, load from and save both to Microsoft Office 2010 (*.docx etc.) and earlier (*.doc etc.) file formats. In the same way, the photo and image editing application will create, load from and save to Adobe Photoshop (*.psd) file formats, together with other mainstream graphical file types.
Development began in 1992 following a decision to replace Ability Plus, an existing DOS-based integrated package, and a first release was made in 1995 called Ability for Windows and consisted of modules for word processing, spreadsheet, database and communications (a terminal program).
A second version was released in 1998 called Ability Office 98. The framework for the entire suite was changed from Borland OWL to Microsoft MFC resulting in better performance and the database was re-written to use the Jet Database Engine.
Since then, modules have been added (an image editing module in 2000 and a presentation module in 2004) but the architecture has broadly remained the same with the step to a fully Unicode version being made in 2008. Ability Office is 100% C++, entirely 32-bit and uses the Microsoft Visual C++ 2005 compiler.
New version 8, released September 2018, includes Word Processor, Spreadsheet, Presentation, Database, Photo-editor, has a Microsoft Office 2016 style interface, is compatible with Windows 10 and all Windows versions back to XP, supports ODF import/export, allows switching interfaces between traditional toolbar mode and ribbon style, supports for 4k/hi-res displays, supports OOXML import/export — native support for docx, xlsx, pptx, and is free for personal (non-commercial) use.
OEM versionsEdit
In October 2006, Tesco launched a range of own-brand software[1] that included Tesco Complete Office, a Tesco-branded version of Ability Office.
Corel (Home) Office, Corel Home Suite are based on Ability Office 5.[2]
^"Product History". ability.com. from the original on 31 January 2019. Retrieved 10 October 2021.
External linksEdit
Official website
August 28, 2023
ability, office, office, suite, developed, ability, plus, software, distributed, marketed, ability, software, international, which, consists, word, processor, spreadsheet, database, modules, presentation, photo, image, editing, plus, photo, image, organiser, v. Ability Office is an office suite developed by Ability Plus Software and distributed and marketed by Ability Software International and which consists of a word processor spreadsheet database modules for presentation and photo or image editing plus a photo image organiser and vector line drawing application The current version V6 offers a level of compatibility with Microsoft Office allowing users to create load from and save both to Microsoft Office 2010 docx etc and earlier doc etc file formats In the same way the photo and image editing application will create load from and save to Adobe Photoshop psd file formats together with other mainstream graphical file types Ability OfficeDeveloper s Ability Software InternationalInitial releaseSeptember 1996 26 years ago 1996 09 Stable release11 February 2022Operating systemMicrosoft WindowsTypeOffice suiteLicenseProprietaryWebsitewww wbr ability wbr comNot only can version 6 be downloaded from the Ability website older versions are also available for download The most recent version is version 11 Contents 1 Development history 2 OEM versions 3 Version summary 4 See also 5 References 6 External linksDevelopment history EditDevelopment began in 1992 following a decision to replace Ability Plus an existing DOS based integrated package and a first release was made in 1995 called Ability for Windows and consisted of modules for word processing spreadsheet database and communications a terminal program A second version was released in 1998 called Ability Office 98 The framework for the entire suite was changed from Borland OWL to Microsoft MFC resulting in better performance and the database was re written to use the Jet Database Engine Since then modules have been added an image editing module in 2000 and a presentation module in 2004 but the architecture has broadly remained the same with the step to a fully Unicode version being made in 2008 Ability Office is 100 C entirely 32 bit and uses the Microsoft Visual C 2005 compiler New version 8 released September 2018 includes Word Processor Spreadsheet Presentation Database Photo editor has a Microsoft Office 2016 style interface is compatible with Windows 10 and all Windows versions back to XP supports ODF import export allows switching interfaces between traditional toolbar mode and ribbon style supports for 4k hi res displays supports OOXML import export native support for docx xlsx pptx and is free for personal non commercial use OEM versions EditIn October 2006 Tesco launched a range of own brand software 1 that included Tesco Complete Office a Tesco branded version of Ability Office Corel Home Office Corel Home Suite are based on Ability Office 5 2 Version summary EditSource 3 Product version Year latest update NotesAbility Office 8 2018 Sep 2018 support ODF import export and Microsoft Office 2016 style interfaceAbility Office 7 2017 Jun 2017 support for hi resolution 4k displays and sports a Microsoft Office 2013 style interfaceAbility Office 6 2012 Mar 2013 OOXML import export Microsoft Office 2010 style ribbon interfaceAbility Office 5 2008 Apr 2010 Unicode throughoutAbility Office 4 2004 Jun 2006 Presentation module addedAbility Office 2002 2002 Dec 2003 Save to PDF addedAbility Office 2000 2000 Mar 2001 Image editing module Photopaint addedAbility Office 98 1998 Nov 1999 MFC based Communication module droppedAbility for Windows 1995 Sep 1996 Write Spreadsheet Database and Communication modulesSee also EditList of office suites Comparison of office suitesReferences Edit Tesco moves into software market news bbc co uk 1 October 2006 Retrieved 10 October 2021 Corel Home Office By Edward Mendelson Product History ability com Archived from the original on 31 January 2019 Retrieved 10 October 2021 External links EditOfficial website Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Ability Office amp oldid 1121566745, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
