[ Date Index ] [ Thread Index ] [ <= Previous by date / thread ] [ Next by date / thread => ]
I would also make it clear the proprietary formats don't garuntee that you'll always be able to read documents produced in it: if Microsoft decided to end support for .doc files and you didn't have access to any software that could read it you have no way of ever reading that file again. If, on the other hand, you're using an open format like ODF then you will always be able to read that file as, at the very least, the required documentation to implement the file format is always available. Btw, there were a few grammar issues (I spotted a missing appostrophe) - no big deal but it might be worth having a look at - perhaps by somebody who writes better than I do! Jon On 05/09/07, Henry Bremridge <henry.bremridge@xxxxxxxxx> wrote: > I have been asked to write a short note explaining why a school should not save > files in docx format. > > Any suggestions for improvement greatfully received > > > Currently 90% of computer users use microsoft office to prepare documents. 10% of > users do not. > > The problem with Microsoft Office documents is that when Microsoft changes their > file format then users are forced to upgrade their computer software and hardware > to the latest versions. This is a waste of money to all those who are happy with > the previous versions. > > Governments and organisations worldwide are increasingly getting irritated with > this "forced upgrade" and have asked for a standard file format that can be read > with any software. > > The latest set of upgrades is moving from Microsoft 97 (doc) to Microsoft 00xml > (docx). Microsofts objective to have docx accepted as a standard file format was > rejected by the ISO on Tuesday. (It was also rejected by the UK Government with a > number of technical issues to be addressed). This despite reported irregularities > that include purchasing of votes in Sweden, admitted by Microsoft; rejection of > Microsoft's competitors in Portugal because of lack of chairs; hijacking of > standardisation committees in many countries, including USA, Italy, Colombia and > Mexico; manipulations of the vote process by presidencies in Switzerland and > Uruguay; replacement of an insufficiently Microsoft-friendly technical committee > by a "more agreeable" one in Poland; non-acceptance of competition in Venezuela > and Ukrania; and more. > > As a result the only accepted ISO file format for Office Applications is Oasis - > or odt. > > In practice what does this mean > > - Sending files in a proprietory format (doc, docx) requires recipients to buy > software to read it. This is wrong to student's families who may not be able to > afford legal version of Microsoft software > - Education is a right: Public data should be accessible to citizens independent > of their income and their physical abilities. > - Docx can be used as a local format within the school: for all communication > outside the school *.doc should be used. > > > -- > Henry > Wed Sep 5 20:45:38 BST 2007 > > -----BEGIN PGP SIGNATURE----- > Version: GnuPG v1.4.6 (GNU/Linux) > > iQCVAwUBRt8H2K8rFab7RHqhAQL4GwP9H2KBlhZojkTE0ohi4wlvw7xTp2BM5bWi > eQbpRdS2DU6NF8wk4MI+DurBDHEcogGXuOvv4a70rxiT+icAXMrCOzf4ypNXSW7x > vAcUebWztZ3tg6v+hleTxehtufnVIawQ07TYy3x1t4iYCg2LpkJQVxPQMLdNewp6 > ds8SENd6GXE= > =N6Wu > -----END PGP SIGNATURE----- > > -- > The Mailing List for the Devon & Cornwall LUG > http://mailman.dclug.org.uk/listinfo/list > FAQ: http://www.dcglug.org.uk/linux_adm/list-faq.html > > -- The Mailing List for the Devon & Cornwall LUG http://mailman.dclug.org.uk/listinfo/list FAQ: http://www.dcglug.org.uk/linux_adm/list-faq.html