https://bugs.documentfoundation.org/show_bug.cgi?id=169305
Bug ID: 169305
Summary: Arabic script Kashida justification feature
Product: LibreOffice
Version: 25.8.2.2 release
Hardware: x86-64 (AMD64)
OS: All
Status: UNCONFIRMED
Severity: enhancement
Priority: medium
Component: Writer
Assignee: [email protected]
Reporter: [email protected]
Description:
In LibreOffice Writer version 24.8.7.2, Arabic text justification using kashida
elongation worked very well — the results were smooth, balanced, and visually
similar to professional Arabic typography such as that produced by Adobe
InDesign.
However, after upgrading to newer versions (24.8.8.x and later), the kashida
justification feature stopped working correctly. The Arabic text no longer
receives the proper intra-word elongation to achieve full justification.
Instead, lines appear unevenly spaced or ragged, and the typographic quality of
Arabic text has degraded significantly.
This appears to be a regression, as the behaviour was correct in version
24.8.7.2.
Steps to Reproduce:
1.Open LibreOffice Writer.25.x.x.x
2.Type several lines of Arabic text.
3.Set paragraph alignment to Justify.
4.Observe that kashida elongation is applied and the text is evenly justified,
similar to Adobe InDesign’s Arabic justification.
5.Open the same document in LibreOffice 24.8.8.x (or later) on Arch Linux.
6.Observe that kashida elongation is no longer applied; text justification
becomes uneven or uses large spaces instead.
Actual Results:
>From LibreOffice 24.8.8.x onwards, Arabic kashida elongation is missing or
drastically reduced, and justification relies on inter-word spacing instead.
The output looks uneven and unprofessional compared to both previous
LibreOffice versions and Adobe InDesign.
Expected Results:
Arabic text should be justified using kashida elongation (stretching within
words), producing smooth and balanced lines — matching the behaviour of
LibreOffice 24.8.7.2 and similar to the professional typographic approach used
in Adobe InDesign.
Reproducible: Always
User Profile Reset: No
Additional Info:
OS: Arch Linux (previously Fedora Linux)
Font(s) tested: [list the Arabic fonts you used, e.g., Amiri, Noto Naskh
Arabic, etc.]
The behaviour is reproducible with different fonts.
Occurs in a clean user profile with default settings.
The last known good version is 24.8.7.2.
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