ODF Split Shakes Up Document Battle

The ongoing fighting between file formats proponents OpenDocument format (ODF format), as well as Microsofts Office Open XML (ooxml) in a surprising turn lthis week, a key proponent of ODF announced its intention to abandon the International Organization for Standardization approved specifications.

The motion by the OpenDocument Foundation, in less than two months after Microsoft lost an important vote on the International Organization for Standardization, ooxml approval as a standard.

Sam hiser, vice president and director of business affairs, said that OpenDocument Foundation, a fundamental disagreement about the definition of interoperability, leading to separatism. "When you talk to developers, there is a view that ODF is a universal file format, but this year it has been denominated purchases, but the fact is not the case," he said.

This issue, said hiser that such norms ODF function is to focus on providing a tightly OpenOffice software suite. This approach to a more efficient and streamlined document format - o oxml This is not, the experts agreed that - but did not account for the difficulties caused by the relocation of the application.

"Every one of them, there are the same experience," said hiser, uses ODF format as the center of the OpenOffice suite. "They will try to move through the OpenOffice, they will just [scream], they go crazy, in this environment, and I feel as an immigration expert.

"OpenOffice is not, 85% of the Fidelity files with Microsoft Office documents, you still have huge problems, you must pass." OpenDocument Foundation, the industry is being urged to provide support for complex document formats (CDF), the document format standardized management by the World Wide Web Consortium (W3C), the same institutions, establish and maintain XML and HTML format. CDF began work on the specifications, in October 2004.

Alexander Dr Falke, the presidents XML tools vendors altova said, in an e-mail interview that his company had not paid much attention CDF. "We looked at it, in the past, but it does not seem too much momentum. [We] have no immediate plans to support its right now, we have yet to see any benefits from our customers, not far from. " Two-step withdrawal sudden departure is certainly damage to ODF format, and could help Microsoft obtain ISO certification ooxml, when it comes, to vote in February. However, Dr Falke said the ODF split is not surprising that in the world of evolving standards.

"Consortium of Non-Aligned interests often seem to be crumbling, when it becomes apparent that the interests of the Non-Aligned are not as we all think that they," he wrote.

Hiser said that his group has been hamstrung by the ODF format, with a view to the application of OpenOffice, as well as by Sun Microsystems to expand the scope of ODF interoperability.

"[Civil] is a format that everyone can work well, every one application, can work to equal rights, because it is not out of an application," hiser said. "We need an application-neutral format will become a universal file format." For developers, suspected separatist ODF is a feasible target file storage. Equally important, it may convince many shops that Microsofts format is the best ooxml XML-based file format option, at least in the short term.

"Reality - When you listen to our customers - oo xml people interested, because this is the format of the M i crosoftOf fice product," Dr Falke wrote. "In the grand scheme of things, this ODF / CDF theater, there is no significance, for people to start work with ooxml today."

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