[vicsireland] Microsoft's standards bid stalled
- From: "Ciaran Ferry" <Ciaran.Ferry@xxxxxx>
- To: <vicsireland@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
- Date: Wed, 11 Jun 2008 13:14:04 +0100
Interoperability between openXML and Daisy XML mightn't be a done deal
after all...
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/technology/7445956.stm
Four countries have appealed against a decision to fast-track the global
standardisation of a Microsoft document format, called OpenXML.
Brazil, India, South Africa and Venezuela have complained that there was
not enough time given to discuss improvements to the format.
The format is used for spreadsheets, charts, presentations and word
processing documents.
Critics claim it is not fully compatible with other document formats.
The ratification of OpenXML would be an important seal of approval for
Microsoft, which has long been taken to task for its failure to embrace
open standards.
Government bodies would be more likely to adopt the standard if it had
an "open" rubber stamp as many are concerned that storing documents in a
proprietary
format could cause problems for future archiving.
The Office OpenXML format was initially approved by the International
Organisation for Standardisation (ISO) in April but will now remain on
hold while
the appeals are investigated.
This could take several months.
Microsoft has been working towards a more open way of formatting
documents based around the Extensible Markup Language (XML) in response
to requests from
government customers.
Open standards would help preserve the structure of data in a document,
such as a spreadsheet, so that relationships between figures were
preserved as they
were opened in different programs or used for other purposes.
Microsoft's attempts to have the OpenXML format recognised as
interoperable has caused much controversy.
The BSI British Standards voted in favour of adopting it but now faces a
legal challenge from the UK's Unix and Open Systems User Group.
At the time of its challenge, UKUUG chairman Alain Williams commented:
"The format used for storage of documents will affect our lives for
decades to come,
and it is imperative that standards such as OpenXML are given a rigorous
review rather than being rubber-stamped by BSI.
Ciaran Ferry
Web & e-Services,
ICT Group, ESB,
27 Lower Fitzwilliam St,
Dublin 2, Ireland.
Tel: +353-1-70(27945)
Email: Ciaran.Ferry@xxxxxx
Web: www.esb.ie
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