Re: [tdf-discuss] Re: Do not support writing to OOXML format

Hi Sveinn,

> Sure, but how about conservation and readability by future generations 
> (when there's no more Microsoft knowledge around and nobody knows 
> anymore how to decrypt all the nuances of.doc + .docx files) ?

Fair point.

But: most users do not care.  Not exporting to Word will make it look like LibO is faulty.

I have to save in MSO formats to share work with others.  At work, we have an MSO policy.  
While I can use whatever I like on my desktop, I have to save spreadsheets in MSO formats 
because Excel 07 kills ODS formulae.  If I prepare a document as ODT, the few Word 2003 
dies-hards complain I am refusing to inter-operate.  I do still assign student work to be 
submitted as either .doc or .odt and mark students down for using .docx (they failed to read 
the instructions).  They are also marked down for not using proper spacing and a serif font.

I don't want to see the .docx format spread any further and advocate using ODT as the 
default.  However, not having the option to export as .doc and .docx will cause users to 
wonder if they want to promote LibO.

> > It must be arrogant for them to send you a format you don't support.
> > Also, if the Win 7 users don't know what format the documents are in,
> > why does it matter if it's returned to them in a .doc format?
>
> Think you hit the nail on the head, pal.
> Those who ignore any notion of a file format, will do it both ways, 
> always, anyways...

Office on-the-web only saves in docx.  Office 2013/4 will quite possibly drop .doc export, 
just as Word 6/95 export was dropped from Word 2003 - after a failed attempt to drop it 
from 2000.  MS can do this because they are the market leader.  To fail to offer even 
rudimentary docx export would damage LibO's market penetration. 

my thoughts anyway!

zf


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