Novell to support Microsoft Office documents

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A familiar refrain.

Selected quotes from the article linked:

ODF is the only accepted standard in the proposal. Earlier drafts of the Belgian proposal had put ODF and Microsoft's own Open XML format (which is to be included in Office 2007) on equal footing.

...

From September 2008 onwards, Belgium's federal services must use ODF when exchanging documents, though other formats will still be allowed for internal use, Strickx confirmed. However, Belgium is leaving the door open for Open XML.

"Open XML today does not exist, as there is no product on the market that supports it. Once it is available as a product and proposed to the ISO, it is possible that the format will also be accepted," Strickx said. However, there will be an additional hurdle: Open XML must also be proven to be easily convertible to and from ODF.

...

However, Strickx would not confirm that the Belgian government is envisaging a migration away from Microsoft Office and toward software that supports ODF, such as Open Office. "We are analyzing the impact" of the move to an open format for document exchange on the internal software usage, Strickx said.

Belgium would be the first country to opt for open document standards in this way.

[End quotes.]

So Belgium gave itself 2 years to work out the problems, including acceptance of Microsoft formats and continued use of Microsoft Office.

There's also the hint of skullduggery with the reference to the removal of Microsoft's formats from the acceptable list. And the possibility specifically held out that they can be returned.

The internal use excepton shows that employees can still use Office to its best advantage while awaiting resolution of the political issues.

So there's a real chance for a peaceful resolution in which ODF gets official endorsement and Microsoft's formats get all the use.




The issue of Open Office and other cheaper versions of Office is different. A few governments may insist on switching their employees without regard to their preferences (which, by the way, also happened when Office was installed).

The employees may campaign for Office's return or use their own copies of Office or surrender to the employer's will.

That situation will be dynamic, rather than the quiet which could have been expected from staying with Office. It's not the users or most taxpayers who push for such upheaval.

Posted by: Anton Philidor   Posted on: 12/04/06 You are currently: a Guest | Members login | Terms of Use

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