Linux Word Processors

Robin Laing Robin.Laing at drdc-rddc.gc.ca
Fri Dec 24 16:33:59 UTC 2004


Tom Diehl wrote:
> On Fri, 24 Dec 2004, Robin Laing wrote:
> 
> 
>>Jeff Vian wrote:
>>
>>>On Wed, 2004-12-22 at 08:56 -0700, Robin Laing wrote:
>>>
>>>
>>>>Ryan D'Baisse wrote:
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>>Okay, I am beginning to see just how many apps out there are
>>>>>classified as word processors.  So, allow me to get a bit more
>>>>>specific...
>>>>>
>>>>>1. The editor must be WYSIWYG;
>>>>>
>>>>>2. It must be able to import to, and export from, Microsoft Word
>>>>>format without any difficulties; and,
>>>>
>>>>I will state that this won't ever happen unless all users are using 
>>>>the same version with the same installation configuration.  I hear the 
>>>>screams as people that are working on collaborations get work back 
>>>>that doesn't look like the copy previously worked on.  More hours lost 
>>>>re-formatting.
>>>>
>>>
>>>
>>>I think the *unreasonable* goal here is that it must interface with the
>>>proprietary format word documents, "without difficulty" and we all know
>>>that M$ changes the format regularly to prevent that.
>>>
>>>Thus an unreachable goal and a better plan would be to go to a
>>>standardized format that is not dependent upon the whims of M$. One that
>>>many editors can use easily and without the stress of trying to reverse
>>>engineer a format that is deliberately closed.
>>>
>>>
>>
>>The problem is Word has problems meeting this goal with other Word 
>>documents.  I hear this all the time.
>>
>>It is interesting that Sun has submitted the OpenOffice format to ISO 
>>for standardization.  If it is approved, it may force Microsoft to 
>>support the "Standard".  Wouldn't that be a coup. :)
> 
> 
> What makes you think M$ would suddenly care about standards? They have never
> cared in the past. Unless it is to their advantage I doubt they will care.
> 
> Tom Diehl		tdiehl at rogueind.com		Spamtrap address mtd123 at rogueind.com
> 

You are not wrong but it does provide a basis to push them.  There is 
alos the issue of some ISO certifice companies that will only use 
standards and this could make them need to shift to a different file 
format.
-- 
Robin Laing




More information about the fedora-list mailing list