[odf-discuss] Basic Compatibility Issues in Office 2007

[marbux]

On Feb 18, 2008 3:18 PM, Russell Ossendryver <worldlabel at gmail.com> wrote:

> This paper demonstrates how the basics of Office 2007 Compatibility are
> wrought with inconsistencies and bugs across the 3 primary applications that
> offer it: Word, Excel, and PowerPoint. It also discusses the impacts these
> problems will have on your end-users, your training requirements, and your
> Office 2007 deployment planning and decisions.
>
> http://dearmicrosoftofficeteam.blogspot.com/
>
>
If any NBs are taking a hard look at the compatibility framework specified
in DIS-29500 Part 5, the linked study might be very helpful.

Assuming the study's accuracy, my initial hunch is that either some of the
same bugs are reflected in the OOXML compatibility framework or they point
to inadequately specified compatibility markup. I.e., if Microsoft itself
has not got OOXML compatibility right across MS Office versions, would one
expect the compatibility framework in DIS-29500 to be both bug-free and
adequately specified?

This also points to the need for enforcement of the JTC 1 Directives
requirement on page 145 that the interoperable implementation of draft
international standards be demonstrable. If OOXML compatibility across MS
Office versions is demonstrably bug-ridden and Microsoft's implementations
of OOXML are conformant to DIS-29500, what hope is there of a competitor
achieving full round-trip interoperability with each of those versions, as
JTC 1 Directives require?

There's a major weakness of DIS-29500 glaringly exposed here if the study is
accurate and the various versions of Microsoft Office produce conformant
OOXML. DIS-29500 has plainly not met the Directives exit criteria identified
on page 145: [i] it has no adequate "standardised interface" enabling
"mutual use" of information by different information technology systems;
[ii] it specifies no "conformance requirements essential to achieve the
interoperability; [iii] it lacks a specified and adequate interoperability
conformance assessment procedure; and [iv] the interoperable implementation
of the draft standard has not been demonstrated.

These are not trivial issues.

Best regards,

Paul Merrell ("Marbux")



Best regards,

Paul Merrell ("Marbux")
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