[odf-discuss] Re: OOXML stuff on /.

[Bart Hanssens]

robert_weir at us.ibm.com wrote:
> 
> Yes, there is a lot coming together at once.   Ecma has responded to the 
> 3,522 comments on Monday,the EC announced a new investigation, the 
> Burton Group releases a new report, a call for release of the legacy 
> binary formats.


According to slashdot, Microsoft will even initiate a project providing 
open source tools: http://it.slashdot.org/it/08/01/17/1553206.shtml


 From Brian Jones' blog (http://blogs.msdn.com/brian_jones)

"To make it even easier for third party conversion of Binary 
Format-to-DIS 29500, Microsoft agreed to:

     * Initiate a Binary Format-to-ISO/IEC JTC 1 DIS 29500 Translator 
Project on the open source software development web site SourceForge 
(http://sourceforge.net/ ) in collaboration with independent software 
vendors.  The Translator Project will create software tools, plus 
guidance, showing how a document written using the Binary Formats can be 
translated to DIS 29500.  The Translator will be available under the 
open source Berkeley Software Distribution (BSD) license, and anyone can 
use the mapping, submit bugs and feedback, or contribute to the Project. 
  The Translator Project will start on February 15, 2008.

     * Make it even easier to get access to the  Binary Formats 
documentation by posting it and making it available for a direct 
download on the Microsoft web site no later than February 15, 2008.  The 
Binary Formats have been under a covenant not to sue and Microsoft will 
also make them available under its Open Specification Promise (see 
www.microsoft.com/interop/osp) by the time they are posted."




Bart