[opensuse] [OT] spreadsheet data exchange format?

newer
[opensuse] suse 10.3-vmware login...

Zhang Weiwu

11 Dec 2007 11 Dec '07

13:05

Dear all, this is OT but I am not sure where to ask about it: Usually when we work on web applications and offer user some spreadsheets for downloading, my primary choice is CSV format. This is because both Excel and OpenOffice users can open it. Now we need to generate spreadsheet from the web application that has merged cells in it. This time CSV format doesn't work, it cannot represent merged cells. I prefer not to create Excel formats because I don't wish to encourage use of Excel format. I cannot use ODF because no one can open it (people use things like Excel 2003). PDF also doesn't work because we need to allow users to do some calculation based on table sell data. Is there another format I can offer? Best regards Zhang Weiwu -- Real Softservice Huateng Tower, Unit 1788 Jia 302 3rd area of Jinsong, Chao Yang Tel: +86 (10) 8773 0650 ext 603 Mobile: 135 9950 2413 http://www.realss.com -- To unsubscribe, e-mail: opensuse+unsubscribe@opensuse.org For additional commands, e-mail: opensuse+help@opensuse.org

Show replies by date

Felix Miata

11 Dec 11 Dec

13:32

On 2007/12/11 21:05 (GMT+0800) Zhang Weiwu apparently typed:

...

Dear all, this is OT but I am not sure where to ask about it:

...

Usually when we work on web applications and offer user some spreadsheets for downloading, my primary choice is CSV format. This is because both Excel and OpenOffice users can open it. Now we need to generate spreadsheet from the web application that has merged cells in it.

...

This time CSV format doesn't work, it cannot represent merged cells.

...

I prefer not to create Excel formats because I don't wish to encourage use of Excel format. I cannot use ODF because no one can open it (people use things like Excel 2003). PDF also doesn't work because we need to allow users to do some calculation based on table sell data. Is there another format I can offer?

Before Excel even existed there was a virtually universal format used by the app that made PC spreadsheets popular - .wk1 from Lotus 1-2-3. Excel & OO should be able open it. If they can't, they're broken. -- " Our Constitution was made only for a moral and religious people. It is wholly inadequate to the government of any other." John Adams Team OS/2 ** Reg. Linux User #211409 Felix Miata *** http://mrmazda.no-ip.com/ -- To unsubscribe, e-mail: opensuse+unsubscribe@opensuse.org For additional commands, e-mail: opensuse+help@opensuse.org

M. Fioretti

13:39

On Tue, December 11, 2007 2:05 pm, Zhang Weiwu wrote:

...

Dear all, this is OT but I am not sure where to ask about it:

I'd suggest subscribing to the OpenOffice spreadsheet dev or users lists at: http://sc.openoffice.org/servlets/ProjectMailingListList;jsessionid=373696F3... *if* there is a solution to your problem, they are much more likely know it. This said, here is a suggestion, since you rightly don't want to encourage usage of proprietary formats:

...

I cannot use ODF because no one can open it (people use things like Excel 2003).

if you have the possibility, generate _also_ an ODF version of each spreadsheet and then send or publish online _both that and the one format those people can use, together with a short note that more or less says "here is the real file, in OpenDocument format which is an open, modern ISO standard. As a fall back solution for those who are still stuck with legacy, user locking software here is also an alternate copy in another format" Depending on the context, this may stimulate at least some of those people to see the light and switch to software which is compatible with non- proprietary formats. HTH, Marco Fioretti -- Your own civil rights and the quality of your own life heavily depend on how software is used *around* you: http://digifreedom.net/node/84 -- To unsubscribe, e-mail: opensuse+unsubscribe@opensuse.org For additional commands, e-mail: opensuse+help@opensuse.org

Kai Ponte

13:55

On Tuesday 11 December 2007 05:05, Zhang Weiwu wrote:

...

Dear all, this is OT but I am not sure where to ask about it:

Usually when we work on web applications and offer user some spreadsheets for downloading, my primary choice is CSV format. This is because both Excel and OpenOffice users can open it. Now we need to generate spreadsheet from the web application that has merged cells in it.

This time CSV format doesn't work, it cannot represent merged cells.

I prefer not to create Excel formats because I don't wish to encourage use of Excel format. I cannot use ODF because no one can open it (people use things like Excel 2003). PDF also doesn't work because we need to allow users to do some calculation based on table sell data. Is there another format I can offer?

Never treid this but I'd heard good things... http://sourceforge.net/projects/odf-converter ...in this manner your customers can open ODF files from within MS Office. I'll give it a shot today when I go to work to see what it does in Office 2003.

Dave Howorth

14:11

Kai Ponte wrote:

...

On Tuesday 11 December 2007 05:05, Zhang Weiwu wrote:

...
Dear all, this is OT but I am not sure where to ask about it:

Usually when we work on web applications and offer user some spreadsheets for downloading, my primary choice is CSV format. This is because both Excel and OpenOffice users can open it. Now we need to generate spreadsheet from the web application that has merged cells in it.

This time CSV format doesn't work, it cannot represent merged cells.

I prefer not to create Excel formats because I don't wish to encourage use of Excel format. I cannot use ODF because no one can open it (people use things like Excel 2003). PDF also doesn't work because we need to allow users to do some calculation based on table sell data. Is there another format I can offer?

Never treid this but I'd heard good things...

http://sourceforge.net/projects/odf-converter

...in this manner your customers can open ODF files from within MS Office. I'll give it a shot today when I go to work to see what it does in Office 2003.

There are also those described here (note the Sun one): http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/OpenDocument_software#Third_party_support:_Four... You could also point them to the OOo download page :) Cheers, Dave -- To unsubscribe, e-mail: opensuse+unsubscribe@opensuse.org For additional commands, e-mail: opensuse+help@opensuse.org

James Knott

16:22

Kai Ponte wrote:

...

On Tuesday 11 December 2007 05:05, Zhang Weiwu wrote:

...
Dear all, this is OT but I am not sure where to ask about it:

Usually when we work on web applications and offer user some spreadsheets for downloading, my primary choice is CSV format. This is because both Excel and OpenOffice users can open it. Now we need to generate spreadsheet from the web application that has merged cells in it.

This time CSV format doesn't work, it cannot represent merged cells.

I prefer not to create Excel formats because I don't wish to encourage use of Excel format. I cannot use ODF because no one can open it (people use things like Excel 2003). PDF also doesn't work because we need to allow users to do some calculation based on table sell data. Is there another format I can offer?

Never treid this but I'd heard good things...

http://sourceforge.net/projects/odf-converter

...in this manner your customers can open ODF files from within MS Office. I'll give it a shot today when I go to work to see what it does in Office 2003.

Sun also provides an ODF plugin. http://www.sun.com/software/star/odf_plugin -- Use OpenOffice.org http://www.openoffice.org -- To unsubscribe, e-mail: opensuse+unsubscribe@opensuse.org For additional commands, e-mail: opensuse+help@opensuse.org

Kai Ponte

16:46

On Tuesday 11 December 2007 08:22, James Knott wrote:

...

...
Never treid this but I'd heard good things...

http://sourceforge.net/projects/odf-converter

...in this manner your customers can open ODF files from within MS Office. I'll give it a shot today when I go to work to see what it does in Office 2003.

Sun also provides an ODF plugin. http://www.sun.com/software/star/odf_plugin

I just tried the sourceforge version on Office 2003. It was painful to setup but it did work. -- To unsubscribe, e-mail: opensuse+unsubscribe@opensuse.org For additional commands, e-mail: opensuse+help@opensuse.org

James Knott

17:25

Kai Ponte wrote:

...

On Tuesday 11 December 2007 08:22, James Knott wrote:

...
...
Never treid this but I'd heard good things...

http://sourceforge.net/projects/odf-converter

...in this manner your customers can open ODF files from within MS Office. I'll give it a shot today when I go to work to see what it does in Office 2003. Sun also provides an ODF plugin. http://www.sun.com/software/star/odf_plugin

I just tried the sourceforge version on Office 2003. It was painful to setup but it did work.

The Sun plugin is very easy to install. There is nothing to configure. -- Use OpenOffice.org http://www.openoffice.org -- To unsubscribe, e-mail: opensuse+unsubscribe@opensuse.org For additional commands, e-mail: opensuse+help@opensuse.org

kanenas＠hawaii.rr.com

17:46

On Tuesday 11 December 2007 06:46:10 am Kai Ponte wrote:

...

On Tuesday 11 December 2007 08:22, James Knott wrote:

...
...
Never treid this but I'd heard good things...

http://sourceforge.net/projects/odf-converter

...in this manner your customers can open ODF files from within MS Office. I'll give it a shot today when I go to work to see what it does in Office 2003.

Sun also provides an ODF plugin. http://www.sun.com/software/star/odf_plugin

I just tried the sourceforge version on Office 2003. It was painful to setup but it did work.

Is the odf plugin or any other odf converter applicable to 64 bit machines? -- To unsubscribe, e-mail: opensuse+unsubscribe@opensuse.org For additional commands, e-mail: opensuse+help@opensuse.org

Joe Morris (NTM)

14:19

On 12/11/2007 09:05 PM, Zhang Weiwu wrote:

...

Dear all, this is OT but I am not sure where to ask about it:

Usually when we work on web applications and offer user some spreadsheets for downloading, my primary choice is CSV format. This is because both Excel and OpenOffice users can open it. Now we need to generate spreadsheet from the web application that has merged cells in it.

This time CSV format doesn't work, it cannot represent merged cells.

I prefer not to create Excel formats because I don't wish to encourage use of Excel format. I cannot use ODF because no one can open it (people use things like Excel 2003). PDF also doesn't work because we need to allow users to do some calculation based on table sell data. Is there another format I can offer?

Would it be possible to go ahead and use the best choice, odf, and either allow them to use an add on for their MS Office, or co-install OpenOffice. It is still a free solution, and is better in the long run. Maybe they will learn OpenOffice is quite a viable choice and they will dump the MS tax. -- Joe Morris Registered Linux user 231871 running openSUSE 10.3 x86_64 -- To unsubscribe, e-mail: opensuse+unsubscribe@opensuse.org For additional commands, e-mail: opensuse+help@opensuse.org

Bryen

15:34

On Tue, 2007-12-11 at 22:19 +0800, Joe Morris (NTM) wrote:

...

Would it be possible to go ahead and use the best choice, odf, and either allow them to use an add on for their MS Office, or co-install OpenOffice. It is still a free solution, and is better in the long run. Maybe they will learn OpenOffice is quite a viable choice and they will dump the MS tax.

-- Joe Morris Registered Linux user 231871 running openSUSE 10.3 x86_64

On that note, I'd like to offer up my little bit of amusing anecdote. About a year or so ago, I set up a friend's computer, installed everything from scratch. (ugh yes, Windows included.) And I installed OpenOffice. Told her she should try using that since she did not have a copy of MS Office laying around. A couple of months later, she called me complaining that OpenOffice was too cumbersome and her daughter was complaining that she didn't understand it because everything she learned in her elementary school computer class taught MS Word. We had a little bit of a heated discussion, and I told her that a) she can't afford MS Office anyway and b) she shouldn't be teaching her daughter to be MS centric and to broaden their horizons as one of these days you're going to have to start using OpenOffice or some other non-MS product. Last weekend, I had the pleasure of learning that her employer now requires everyone to use OpenOffice and not MS Word. Smug satisfaction? Yes indeed.

...

-- ---Bryen--- -- To unsubscribe, e-mail: opensuse+unsubscribe@opensuse.org For additional commands, e-mail: opensuse+help@opensuse.org

Sloan

17:58

Bryen wrote:

...

Last weekend, I had the pleasure of learning that her employer now requires everyone to use OpenOffice and not MS Word. Smug satisfaction? Yes indeed.

Ah, that warms the cockles of me heart - and at a time like this, who needs cold cockles? Joe -- To unsubscribe, e-mail: opensuse+unsubscribe@opensuse.org For additional commands, e-mail: opensuse+help@opensuse.org

Carlos E. R.

20:20

-----BEGIN PGP SIGNED MESSAGE----- Hash: SHA1 The Tuesday 2007-12-11 at 09:34 -0600, Bryen wrote:

...

A couple of months later, she called me complaining that OpenOffice was too cumbersome and her daughter was complaining that she didn't understand it because everything she learned in her elementary school computer class taught MS Word. We had a little bit of a heated discussion, and I told her that a) she can't afford MS Office anyway and

That argument doesn't hold in some places, unfortunately. People here are convinced Windows is free, as in beer, and if it doesn't come included free, you just get a "pirate" copy from anybody. In the end, free. I simply can not convince anybody here to use linux or even OOo with the price argument, I loose. Windows software is free. And, if you are in a business, the boss pays, and as the boss is by definition always rich, so it is of no consequence, it is free. And you can borrow a copy for home, too. :-( The rest of the possible arguments are then moot. It is more difficult, it doesn't have all the whistles, it is not serious, it is not compatible (!), etc. The best argument in my armory, freedom and zero license cost being useless to them, the rest is moot. (Don't argue with me, I'm all for OOo... the problem is "them") So I remain "the freak" of the group. - -- Cheers, Carlos E. R. -----BEGIN PGP SIGNATURE----- Version: GnuPG v2.0.4-svn0 (GNU/Linux) iD8DBQFHXvEZtTMYHG2NR9URAuXeAJ0eOz0P+0DixdM12GmY60qCx8wTpwCghqet uc/3VayHeOa3JtLz8wItB0Q= =wlaA -----END PGP SIGNATURE----- -- To unsubscribe, e-mail: opensuse+unsubscribe@opensuse.org For additional commands, e-mail: opensuse+help@opensuse.org

peter

20:59

-----BEGIN PGP SIGNED MESSAGE----- Hash: SHA1 Carlos E. R. wrote:

...

(Don't argue with me, I'm all for OOo... the problem is "them")

I don't argue with nobody. I just do my work in all OOo formats *only* let 'them' do convert the files. Ain't no my business. I don't give a damn. ;)

...

So I remain "the freak" of the group.

You ain't freek m8. You're Carlos of Borg. We are the collective. We are the Borg. And 'them' will be assimilated. Resistance is futl'!! :> - -- All the best, Peter J. N. aedon DESIGNS, http://www.aedon.eu/ -----BEGIN PGP SIGNATURE----- Version: GnuPG v2.0.4-svn0 (GNU/Linux) Comment: Using GnuPG with SUSE - http://enigmail.mozdev.org iD8DBQFHXvoXh8q3OtgoGAwRApB1AJ0ee5tfvC6DJ/+NOyjfjKuWAbn0BwCfe0uO Dk+DKUjNDzZ3PBopQYQ6q/s= =+QX0 -----END PGP SIGNATURE----- -- To unsubscribe, e-mail: opensuse+unsubscribe@opensuse.org For additional commands, e-mail: opensuse+help@opensuse.org

Carlos E. R.

22:30

-----BEGIN PGP SIGNED MESSAGE----- Hash: SHA1 The Tuesday 2007-12-11 at 21:59 +0100, peter wrote:

...

Carlos E. R. wrote:

...
(Don't argue with me, I'm all for OOo... the problem is "them")

I don't argue with nobody. I just do my work in all OOo formats *only* let 'them' do convert the files. Ain't no my business. I don't give a damn. ;)

...
So I remain "the freak" of the group.

You ain't freek m8. You're Carlos of Borg. We are the collective. We are the Borg. And 'them' will be assimilated. Resistance is futl'!! :>

Amen! X'-) - -- Cheers, Carlos E. R. -----BEGIN PGP SIGNATURE----- Version: GnuPG v2.0.4-svn0 (GNU/Linux) iD8DBQFHXw+BtTMYHG2NR9URAhSPAKCWxrSGdfdq+36qzBfflylDybZf9wCdE7j0 8Y01WULjjkOwRz+lM9Kq8TI= =gISb -----END PGP SIGNATURE----- -- To unsubscribe, e-mail: opensuse+unsubscribe@opensuse.org For additional commands, e-mail: opensuse+help@opensuse.org

BandiPat

22:47

On Tuesday 11 December 2007, Carlos E. R. wrote:

...

The Tuesday 2007-12-11 at 09:34 -0600, Bryen wrote:

...
A couple of months later, she called me complaining that OpenOffice was too cumbersome and her daughter was complaining that she didn't understand it because everything she learned in her elementary school computer class taught MS Word. We had a little bit of a heated discussion, and I told her that a) she can't afford MS Office anyway and

That argument doesn't hold in some places, unfortunately. People here are convinced Windows is free, as in beer, and if it doesn't come included free, you just get a "pirate" copy from anybody. In the end, free.

I simply can not convince anybody here to use linux or even OOo with the price argument, I loose. Windows software is free. And, if you are in a business, the boss pays, and as the boss is by definition always rich, so it is of no consequence, it is free. And you can borrow a copy for home, too.

:-(

The rest of the possible arguments are then moot. It is more difficult, it doesn't have all the whistles, it is not serious, it is not compatible (!), etc. The best argument in my armory, freedom and zero license cost being useless to them, the rest is moot.

(Don't argue with me, I'm all for OOo... the problem is "them")

So I remain "the freak" of the group.

-- Cheers, Carlos E. R.

============== Simple solution to that problem. A call to the BSA to alert them to the company letting this happen. Watch how quickly they lock it down or change once a few fines are levied. Lee -- To unsubscribe, e-mail: opensuse+unsubscribe@opensuse.org For additional commands, e-mail: opensuse+help@opensuse.org

Bryen

23:19

On Tue, 2007-12-11 at 17:47 -0500, BandiPat wrote:

...

On Tuesday 11 December 2007, Carlos E. R. wrote:

...
The Tuesday 2007-12-11 at 09:34 -0600, Bryen wrote:

...
A couple of months later, she called me complaining that OpenOffice was too cumbersome and her daughter was complaining that she didn't understand it because everything she learned in her elementary school computer class taught MS Word. We had a little bit of a heated discussion, and I told her that a) she can't afford MS Office anyway and

That argument doesn't hold in some places, unfortunately. People here are convinced Windows is free, as in beer, and if it doesn't come included free, you just get a "pirate" copy from anybody. In the end, free.

I simply can not convince anybody here to use linux or even OOo with the price argument, I loose. Windows software is free. And, if you are in a business, the boss pays, and as the boss is by definition always rich, so it is of no consequence, it is free. And you can borrow a copy for home, too.

:-(

The rest of the possible arguments are then moot. It is more difficult, it doesn't have all the whistles, it is not serious, it is not compatible (!), etc. The best argument in my armory, freedom and zero license cost being useless to them, the rest is moot.

(Don't argue with me, I'm all for OOo... the problem is "them")

So I remain "the freak" of the group.

-- Cheers, Carlos E. R.

==============

Simple solution to that problem. A call to the BSA to alert them to the company letting this happen. Watch how quickly they lock it down or change once a few fines are levied.

Lee

You guys are all missing the point of my anecdote since Carlos snipped out the last part of my original posting. In the end, while my friend disagreed with me that she would ever have to use OpenOffice, one year later, her employer mandated that she and everyone else in her company use OpenOffice. So, the "resistance is futile" quip that Carlos always refers to is quite relevant here. Resistance to OpenOffice is futile. :-) -- ---Bryen--- -- To unsubscribe, e-mail: opensuse+unsubscribe@opensuse.org For additional commands, e-mail: opensuse+help@opensuse.org

Carlos E. R.

23:47

-----BEGIN PGP SIGNED MESSAGE----- Hash: SHA1 The Tuesday 2007-12-11 at 17:19 -0600, Bryen wrote:

...

You guys are all missing the point of my anecdote since Carlos snipped out the last part of my original posting. In the end, while my friend disagreed with me that she would ever have to use OpenOffice, one year later, her employer mandated that she and everyone else in her company use OpenOffice. So, the "resistance is futile" quip that Carlos always refers to is quite relevant here. Resistance to OpenOffice is futile. :-)

I didn't miss that, simply I didn't comment on that part :-) It's a happy ending - from our point of view, of course ;-) - -- Cheers, Carlos E. R. -----BEGIN PGP SIGNATURE----- Version: GnuPG v2.0.4-svn0 (GNU/Linux) iD8DBQFHXyF3tTMYHG2NR9URAsWLAJwKzSvQniTa/XY5TP1CJsUA4uU4mQCePcJR RY25svvVTtcOIgU70yS7ZyU= =CLHq -----END PGP SIGNATURE----- -- To unsubscribe, e-mail: opensuse+unsubscribe@opensuse.org For additional commands, e-mail: opensuse+help@opensuse.org

Carlos E. R.

12 Dec 12 Dec

12:21

-----BEGIN PGP SIGNED MESSAGE----- Hash: SHA1 The Tuesday 2007-12-11 at 17:19 -0600, Bryen wrote:

...

You guys are all missing the point of my anecdote since Carlos snipped out the last part of my original posting. In the end, while my friend disagreed with me that she would ever have to use OpenOffice, one year later, her employer mandated that she and everyone else in her company use OpenOffice. So, the "resistance is futile" quip that Carlos always refers to is quite relevant here. Resistance to OpenOffice is futile. :-)

I later remembered an anecdote of mine, or rather of a friend of mine. He is a kids teacher on a neighbor province. The authorities are pushing linux in the school, and thus they supplied the school where my friend was at the time with a bunch of linux PCs for the kids and another one for the administration. The administration machine was installed in the office, and as soon as the technician left, she (the director) told my friend to install windows there. A bootlegged copy, of course. She didn't want "that crap" in "her" computer. (You can get Windows for schools really cheap, if you shop around, even for free, and legally. The chaps at Microsoft are no fools: they know they benefit from kids learning to love Windows). They also installed a room with the computers. Some localized linux version, loading from a local server. The setup never worked right. My friend is not a computer chap, but a teacher, with teaching skills, not technical - but he is of the tinkering mindset, so lets say he is good with computers... running windows. He is friendly to linux, but knows very little linux and hates the command line; but being the only teacher that even knew something, the task of setting that computer room fell on him. It never worked right. Programs did not start, one or another PC would not boot, or the server would not boot... countless problems. I couldn't help him: not over the phone, and me not knowing the exact setup. The technician came many times. No good. Of course, the technician assumed the teachers knew how to use and manage Linux, which is false. My friend barely knows how to do an "ls". The room was never used for kids. My friend left that school, for another (he is a "temp"), so I don't know what become of it this year. I understand the politicians have dropped that linux version and switched to Ubuntu. Of course, they should have trained the personnel first. What do you expect? Politicians... However, these attempts to forced switchovers in fact make people hate linux, IMO. I'm afraid I'm a pessimist O:-) - -- Cheers, Carlos E. R. -----BEGIN PGP SIGNATURE----- Version: GnuPG v2.0.4-svn0 (GNU/Linux) iD8DBQFHX9I8tTMYHG2NR9URAjwcAJ0fdsAkXwO4CIUdsHPmQ+Z0DqGxCwCePRMU gTCHHyNREmUp1MLrZzKS2TQ= =HvMy -----END PGP SIGNATURE----- -- To unsubscribe, e-mail: opensuse+unsubscribe@opensuse.org For additional commands, e-mail: opensuse+help@opensuse.org

Randall R Schulz

11 Dec 11 Dec

23:29

On Tuesday 11 December 2007 14:47, BandiPat wrote:

...

...

Simple solution to that problem. A call to the BSA to alert them to the company letting this happen. Watch how quickly they lock it down or change once a few fines are levied.

Does the BSA operate in Europe?

...

Lee

RRS -- To unsubscribe, e-mail: opensuse+unsubscribe@opensuse.org For additional commands, e-mail: opensuse+help@opensuse.org

Sunny

23:46

On Dec 11, 2007 5:29 PM, Randall R Schulz wrote:

...

Does the BSA operate in Europe?

Sadly, they do. -- Svetoslav Milenov (Sunny) Even the most advanced equipment in the hands of the ignorant is just a pile of scrap. -- To unsubscribe, e-mail: opensuse+unsubscribe@opensuse.org For additional commands, e-mail: opensuse+help@opensuse.org

Sunny

23:47

On Dec 11, 2007 5:46 PM, Sunny wrote:

...

On Dec 11, 2007 5:29 PM, Randall R Schulz wrote:

...
Does the BSA operate in Europe?

Sadly, they do.

Actually, it's not sadly, this adds to the "price" argument for using OOS. Cheers -- Svetoslav Milenov (Sunny) Even the most advanced equipment in the hands of the ignorant is just a pile of scrap. -- To unsubscribe, e-mail: opensuse+unsubscribe@opensuse.org For additional commands, e-mail: opensuse+help@opensuse.org

Russell Jones

12 Dec 12 Dec

10:10

Randall R Schulz wrote:

...

On Tuesday 11 December 2007 14:47, BandiPat wrote:

...
...

Simple solution to that problem. A call to the BSA to alert them to the company letting this happen. Watch how quickly they lock it down or change once a few fines are levied.

Does the BSA operate in Europe? I don't know, but there is an industry organisation called FAST in the UK that deals with this sort of thing: http://www.*fast*.org.uk/

Bear in mind that some organisations do negotiate for their staff to be allowed to use bulk licensed software at home. I don't know if MS do this. They'll certainly offer a discount, e.g. to students, on certain products. I wouldn't be surprised if they did this for a friendly company's employees. -- To unsubscribe, e-mail: opensuse+unsubscribe@opensuse.org For additional commands, e-mail: opensuse+help@opensuse.org

Carlos E. R.

11 Dec 11 Dec

23:58

-----BEGIN PGP SIGNED MESSAGE----- Hash: SHA1 The Tuesday 2007-12-11 at 17:47 -0500, BandiPat wrote:

...

Simple solution to that problem. A call to the BSA to alert them to the company letting this happen. Watch how quickly they lock it down or change once a few fines are levied.

No, I will never do such a thing. First, this is not the USA. Second, let that BSA watch their own bussiness, I will not help them by accusing others. Third, I have to live. - -- Cheers, Carlos E. R. -----BEGIN PGP SIGNATURE----- Version: GnuPG v2.0.4-svn0 (GNU/Linux) iD8DBQFHXyQmtTMYHG2NR9URAgzOAJ9vWq0MevhuvnAAh6kADDqs3cZunQCcC16Z hWkJ0seBRScpfexbBkMF/M8= =liND -----END PGP SIGNATURE----- -- To unsubscribe, e-mail: opensuse+unsubscribe@opensuse.org For additional commands, e-mail: opensuse+help@opensuse.org

Aaron Kulkis

12 Dec 12 Dec

20:15

Carlos E. R. wrote:

...

-----BEGIN PGP SIGNED MESSAGE----- Hash: SHA1

The Tuesday 2007-12-11 at 17:47 -0500, BandiPat wrote:

...
Simple solution to that problem. A call to the BSA to alert them to the company letting this happen. Watch how quickly they lock it down or change once a few fines are levied.

No, I will never do such a thing.

First, this is not the USA. Second, let that BSA watch their own bussiness, I will not help them by accusing others. Third, I have to live.

They offer SUBSTANTIAL rewards for information about software piracy. In the U.S., $100,000 is typical. In some ways, the BSA is a thug organization set up by some pretty thuggish companies (Microsoft). On the other hand, it's very existance is a good way convert people TO Open Source software.... and so in the long run, it actually erodes from the user base of these companies (not only leechers, but paying customers, too). -- To unsubscribe, e-mail: opensuse+unsubscribe@opensuse.org For additional commands, e-mail: opensuse+help@opensuse.org

Zhang Weiwu

05:43

New subject: [SOLVED] Re: [opensuse] [OT] spreadsheet data exchange format?

Actually it's not "solved", it's I think I got the information I need: CSV file format do not support merged cells, that's when I start to look for alternative formats. Felix Miata suggested to use .wkl format which is created long before ODF and even before Excel. Kai Ponte suggested to use an opensource ODF converter for MS Office from sf.net. James Knott suggested another converter from Sun. Other people reports the sun version is easier to use. I will try both later. Carlos E. R. points out the difficulty in introducing OOO in piracy area (unfortunately, that's where I stand now, China). Thanks for understanding, but I do think there are chances to introduce OOO by my superior knowledge of OOO. E.g. I can introduce people to use DataPilot and they probably turn to OOO because of that. Meanwhile I know Excel has Pivot Data feature, which is as good or better, but I don't know how to use it, thus my users don't, thus they will prefer OOO. Zhang Weiwu wrote:

...

Dear all, this is OT but I am not sure where to ask about it:

Usually when we work on web applications and offer user some spreadsheets for downloading, my primary choice is CSV format. This is because both Excel and OpenOffice users can open it. Now we need to generate spreadsheet from the web application that has merged cells in it.

This time CSV format doesn't work, it cannot represent merged cells.

I prefer not to create Excel formats because I don't wish to encourage use of Excel format. I cannot use ODF because no one can open it (people use things like Excel 2003). PDF also doesn't work because we need to allow users to do some calculation based on table sell data. Is there another format I can offer?

Best regards Zhang Weiwu

-- Real Softservice Huateng Tower, Unit 1788 Jia 302 3rd area of Jinsong, Chao Yang Tel: +86 (10) 8773 0650 ext 603 Mobile: 135 9950 2413 http://www.realss.com -- To unsubscribe, e-mail: opensuse+unsubscribe@opensuse.org For additional commands, e-mail: opensuse+help@opensuse.org

Felix Miata

06:36

On 2007/12/12 13:43 (GMT+0800) Zhang Weiwu apparently typed:

...

Felix Miata suggested to use .wkl format which is created long before ODF and even before Excel.

.wkl != .wk1 Lotus 1-2-3 formats include .wks, .wk1, .wk!, .wk3 and others. .wks is the oldest. .wk1 is newer, but doesn't include multipage. .wk! includes compression. .wk3 includes multipage, but was developed after Excel. -- " Our Constitution was made only for a moral and religious people. It is wholly inadequate to the government of any other." John Adams Team OS/2 ** Reg. Linux User #211409 Felix Miata *** http://mrmazda.no-ip.com/ -- To unsubscribe, e-mail: opensuse+unsubscribe@opensuse.org For additional commands, e-mail: opensuse+help@opensuse.org

Zhang Weiwu

13 Dec 13 Dec

02:49

Felix Miata wrote:

...

On 2007/12/12 13:43 (GMT+0800) Zhang Weiwu apparently typed:

...
Felix Miata suggested to use .wkl format which is created long before ODF and even before Excel.

.wkl != .wk1

Lotus 1-2-3 formats include .wks, .wk1, .wk!, .wk3 and others. .wks is the oldest. .wk1 is newer, but doesn't include multipage. .wk! includes compression. .wk3 includes multipage, but was developed after Excel.

So do you also happen to know since which version they started to use unicode? This is important for me and, if it never used unicode, it's a trouble for me to use it. Multipage is not necessary to me:) -- Real Softservice Huateng Tower, Unit 1788 Jia 302 3rd area of Jinsong, Chao Yang Tel: +86 (10) 8773 0650 ext 603 Mobile: 135 9950 2413 http://www.realss.com -- To unsubscribe, e-mail: opensuse+unsubscribe@opensuse.org For additional commands, e-mail: opensuse+help@opensuse.org

Felix Miata

04:59

On 2007/12/13 10:49 (GMT+0800) Zhang Weiwu apparently typed:

...

Felix Miata wrote:

...

...
On 2007/12/12 13:43 (GMT+0800) Zhang Weiwu apparently typed:

...

...
...
Felix Miata suggested to use .wkl format which is created long before ODF and even before Excel.

...

...
.wkl != .wk1

...

...
Lotus 1-2-3 formats include .wks, .wk1, .wk!, .wk3 and others. .wks is the oldest. .wk1 is newer, but doesn't include multipage. .wk! includes compression. .wk3 includes multipage, but was developed after Excel.

...

So do you also happen to know since which version they started to use unicode? This is important for me and, if it never used unicode, it's a trouble for me to use it. Multipage is not necessary to me:)

I can only guess that all but .wk3 predate unicode by at least 10 years, and that .wk3 likely wouldn't support it either. First thing to do is try writing a simple .wk1 with OO and see if Excel can read or write it. IIRC, upthread you wrote CSV won't work. Did you try DIF format, or maybe RTF? -- " Our Constitution was made only for a moral and religious people. It is wholly inadequate to the government of any other." John Adams Team OS/2 ** Reg. Linux User #211409 Felix Miata *** http://mrmazda.no-ip.com/ -- To unsubscribe, e-mail: opensuse+unsubscribe@opensuse.org For additional commands, e-mail: opensuse+help@opensuse.org

Hylton Conacher (ZR1HPC)

16 Dec 16 Dec

10:24

Zhang Weiwu wrote:

...

Dear all, this is OT but I am not sure where to ask about it:

<snip>

...

....Now we need to generate spreadsheet from the web application that has merged cells in it.

This time CSV format doesn't work, it cannot represent merged cells.

I prefer not to create Excel formats because I don't wish to encourage use of Excel format.

Very wise not to encourage Excel use :) Openoffice.org has a mailing list similar to opensuse that can be subscribed to by sending an email to users-subscribe@openoffice.org Answer the confirmation email and you are subscribed. I think they would be a far better group of folk to ask this question, if you don't get an answer here first. HIH Hylton -- To unsubscribe, e-mail: opensuse+unsubscribe@opensuse.org For additional commands, e-mail: opensuse+help@opensuse.org

5981

Age (days ago)

5982

Last active (days ago)

List overview

Download

29 comments

18 participants

participants (18)

Aaron Kulkis
BandiPat
Bryen
Carlos E. R.
Dave Howorth
Felix Miata
Hylton Conacher (ZR1HPC)
James Knott
Joe Morris (NTM)
Kai Ponte
kanenas＠hawaii.rr.com
M. Fioretti
peter
Randall R Schulz
Russell Jones
Sloan
Sunny
Zhang Weiwu