[odf-discuss] Response from a GNOME Foundation board director

[Lars Noodén]

Jody Goldberg wrote:
> ...
> Getting documentation for a format != advocating it's adoption

Depends on how you choose to go about getting that documentation.

> ... MS vanished those {XLS specifications} down the
> memory hole, leaving a copies in a few out of print books.  The
> costs of not having those specs have been made very very clear
> through years of pain. ...

And this has nothing to do with MOOX except as perhaps a warning that
you are in for more of the same.  To read / write /use the old XLS
formats, then those are what's needed.  It has nothing to do with MOOX.

However, if you are now taking off the XLS hairshirt and beginning to
wear the hairshirt for MOOX, then realize that all the autoflagellation
in the world won't change the fact that by participating in the ISO
process on behalf of MOOX as a representative of GNOME you are lending
GNOME's authority to MOOX.

As Ian pointed out a great many people see the participation differently
that you say you see it.

Holding off for 6 months won't have adverse effects on getting
documentation (if that is really what is going on) for MOOX.

-Lars