Google: OOXML 'insufficient and unnecessary'
Published: 26 Feb 2008 11:38 GMT
Google has claimed that Microsoft's proposed Office Open XML document standard is unnecessary and should be rolled into the rival OpenDocument Format.
In a Monday post on Google's official blog, open-source programs manager Zaheda Bhorat said the issue affects everybody who uses editable documents.
"A document standards decision may not matter to you today but, as someone who relies on constant access to editable documents, spreadsheets and presentations, it may matter immensely in the near future," wrote Bhorat.
Document formats are shifting towards the use of the Extensible Markup Language (XML), which allows types of data to be defined and tagged within documents. The OpenDocument Format (ODF) has already been ratified by the International Organization for Standardization (ISO), but Microsoft's alternative, Office Open XML (OOXML), is currently undergoing its second attempt to gain ISO approval.
Google's technical analysis of the OOXML specification — which notoriously runs to 6,000 pages of code, compared with ODF's 860 pages — has led the company to believe that "OOXML would be an insufficient and unnecessary standard, designed purely around the needs of Microsoft Office", Bhorat claimed.
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OOXML is this week being debated for the second time by ISO, having failed to gain approval in a preliminary vote held six months ago. A ballot will not be held during the meeting, but the various national standards bodies that voted in September are being invited to adjust their positions, if they wish, by the end of March.
"We join the OpenDocument Format Alliance and many other experts in our belief that OOXML doesn't meet the criteria required for a globally-accepted standard," Bhorat wrote. "As ISO member bodies around the world work on possible revisions of their vote previously submitted, the deadline of 30 March approaches fast. I invite you to pay close attention and heed the call of many for unification of OOXML into ODF."
A Microsoft spokesperson defended OOXML by saying that its customers "have told us their data needs can't be addressed by a one-format-fits-all approach".
"Everyone wants to use their data in slightly different ways," said Microsoft's spokesperson. "Furthermore, multiple standards can foster a healthy, competitive industry. By developing tools like the [Office] Open XML-ODF translators and making them widely available, we are promoting customer choice, which is our top priority."
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65 comments
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Google has invested in competing format Albert -
Very nice Albert lars -
The rest of the text in the previous tal... lars -
Google motivation Albert
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Document standards 2000355890
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Questioning Google’s objectiveness harpless
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Microsoft's Argument is Ridiculous Goldie Simmons
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Microsoft double-tongued Anonymous123
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ODF useless for Microsoft needs Albert
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Which OOXML features in particular can't... Chris Rankin
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Features not in ODF Albert -
Of course ODF isn't backwards... Chris Rankin
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ODF also has backwards compati... Albert
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Actually, you're making all th... Chris Rankin
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If you plan for incompatiblity... Albert
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XML in spirit isn't going to be as effic... Anonymous123
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OOXML performance explained Albert
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Thank you for an intelligent r... Anonymous123
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MS influencing ODF development... Albert
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Terse markup for speed -- NOT Marbux
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Actually OOXML is not really t... Albert
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Do tell me more, Albert Marbux
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explaination Albert
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Then why does the same spreads... Marbux
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ODF better readable but less g... Albert
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Extensions are bugs, not featu... Marbux
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insufficient and unnecessary standard, designed pu... ator1940
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OOXML is fully open Albert
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But does even Microsoft Office use OOXML... Chris Rankin
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Office and OOXML David Meyer
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Then why add "read"... Chris Rankin
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MS Office 2007 does fully support O... Albert
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00o writes compliant files Goldie Simmons
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No, OOo is not fully complient... Albert
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Widespread support for OOXML a... Albert
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Questions for the community Goldie Simmons
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ODF and OOXML are standards in... Marbux
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Albert, give me a single examp... Marbux
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Interoperability Albert
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OOXML interop is abysmal Marbux
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Extensions to ODF realistic ? Albert
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Undocumented eXtensions and St... garyedwards
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Not 1,500 extensions Marbux
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You've got to be kidding,... Marbux
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You are contradicting Rupert G... Chris Rankin
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MS Office 2007 files fully val... Albert
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That's OK, I contradict R... Rupert Goodwins
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Actually MS Office 2007 compli... Albert
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Open Standards Moley
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OOXML is Open Albert
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It's a question of greate... Chris Rankin
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Believe is in the prove Albert
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Interoperability and the binary ODF conversion di... garyedwards
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Sorry, the comment was cut short. Here'... garyedwards
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Thanks Gary, very informative Goldie Simmons
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Reasons for lack of interoperbility in ODF Albert
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Durusau's proposal is preposterous Marbux
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A bit of background... Anonymous123
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ODF, The Big Picture Goldie Simmons
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A very Interesting Take Moley
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ISO Credibility garyedwards
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Tail end of previous comment garyedwards
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Cut to the chase garyedwards
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Microsoft moves forward with OOXML SDK Karen Friar
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Breaking the Web garyedwards
