[odf-discuss] Mars: XMLisation of PDF - opportunity for ODF?

[Alex Hudson]

Daniel Carrera wrote:
> What's interesting is that it is stored in an ODF container. By that I
> mean that it is a JAR file and  META-INF/container.xml says:
>
> <container version="1.0"
> xmlns="urn:oasis:names:tc:opendocument:xmlns:container">
>   <relationships xmlns:pdf="http://ns.adobe.com/pdf/2006">
>     <relationship type="pdf:metadata" target="$path.xmp"/>
>     <relationship type="pdf:ann" target="$path.ann"/>
>   </relationships>
> </container>
>
> At first glance, it looks like it should be possible to make a file that
> is simultaneously a valid ODF and a valid Mars document. Think of the
> possibilities.

Yeah, someone else (Rob Weir?) mentioned this on their blog not long ago.

I have to say, I'm not _totally_ sold on the idea.

ODF -> PDF conversion would be so utterly useful it's not worth me
arguing. However, simultaneously distributing a PDF?

My problem is that the ODF -> PDF conversion will turn out different for
people using different software, which would confuse users. The PDF
would also only be useful for people who want to see the document
exactly as the author intended: while that has some uses, I would think
the ODF would usually be good enough. If it wasn't, there would be a
serious compatibility issue and editing the ODF to create a new PDF
would be vastly less useful. So, either the ODF part or the PDF part
will have marginal value when you have the other, depending on who you are.

In summary, an odf2mars utility would be fantastic. I don't see the use
in merging the files together to distribute as one, though.

-- 
Alex Hudson
IT Director, Stratagia Ltd.
P: 0845 226 17 13     W: http://www.stratagia.co.uk/
F: 0845 226 17 14     E: alex (at) stratagia.co.uk