On 11/8/06, Joe Morris (NTM) wrote:

IIUC, it isn't a case of mine is better, but mine is open. I had even read somewhere that MS had finally agreed to support ODF in Word, but as I suspected that was words to soothe the lawyers.

actually, I am pretty sure that word (can or will be) able to open ODF formatted documents directly. Probably also save docs in that format. It is just that MS is also developing there "own" xml-based doc format that will be the ms office default and that will carry ms specific "extensions" . I believe one of the issues Novell and MS will be working on is the interoperability of the ODF format, so that docs exchange gracefully and well. Peter

On 11/8/06, BandiPat wrote:

Actually there is already a filter for MS Word to save and open in ODF. I believe some of the Openoffice guys created one just after all the noise created in the Mass controversy. So considering the fact that is taken care of, what else does Novell need to be concerned about, as the two office suites work suitably with each other, now.

that's cool if true, I'll have to fire up my winders vm to see if I can find and install that. But, I am sure the doc spec is pretty large ... and while working on ms formatted docs has been "ok" in the past, there are still translation issues. I would think that is still the case working in ms on ODF docs, also. One example: There is the idea of embedded macros, and translating those ... which is very important in a corp world. My county government social services folks use complex excel spreadsheets that they expect contracting agencies to use for reporting ... open office spreadsheet just could not translate that document ... so, the small agency I help HAS TO HAVE excel. It would be way cool, if this moving back and forth between programs was transparent. So .. maybe it is that kind of stuff, that still needs working on? Peter