If you integrate PDF import into OOo, users might start thinking that PDF would be just an other document format, and maybe start complaining why certain documents don't work.
They will see PDF as "yet an other document format" because they can use file/open - how bad! IMHO, file/open should only work with hybrid PDF files, where the ODF is included, but not for normal PDF. Normal PDF should work via import. IIRC, the reason that you can use hybrid PDF only when import PDF extension is installed was that UX said people wouldn't understand that they sometimes can use file/open for PDF, sometimes not. Might be difficult to explain to the user, not sure, but I would have preferred to always have the Hybrid PDF feature, since this is _not_ related to PDF import. Hybrid PDF is a great feature and full reliable. PDF import will never have nearly the same quality for all kind of PDF documents that only the OCR programs with PDF support have nowadays. To be honest, I never would have started Import PDF at all... But if you plan the pre-install it anyway, please keep in mind that it brings xpdf with it. A third party library which has to be updated quite frequently, because of security issues... Just my 2 cents, Malte. Martin Hollmichel wrote, On 06/12/09 14:24: > Hi, > > the situation is not easy: some people are sying, the PDF import should > already be integrated with the OpenOffice.org product and others are > complaining that the import does not fulfil their expectations (in some > cases). How do we come to an agreement on how to proceed ? > > Martin > > Stefan Weigel wrote: >> Hi, >> >> Martin Hollmichel schrieb: >> >>> I would like ask you to review the Feature List on >>> http://wiki.services.openoffice.org/wiki/Pdf_Import_Extension/Announcement >>> and specify either concrete issues or features of what you think that >>> should be in a 1.0 release. >> I had already been looking at the Feature List. However, korrect >> positioning of text and graphics is not on this list. I guess this is >> self-evident and not to be mentioned explicitly. >> >> The example files given in the issue are unusable after importing by >> the PDF Import Extension, because of heavy displacement of text and >> graphic objects. I could deliver countless PDF documents from >> different sources that suffer the same. This is definitely something >> one would *not* expect from a peace of software that passed the beta >> phase and became Version 1.0. >> >> Sorry, I am not an expert enough in order to specify this more >> concrete. But what I can say for sure: I did get frequent complaints >> from disappointed users that had been trying PDF Import full of >> expectation after it had been greatly announced some months ago. The >> announcements did not always mention the beta status. What I fear now >> is a new wave of complaints when the extension is declared to have >> left beta stadium now, but still most of the PDF documents out in the >> wild will not be readable or usable after opening with OOo. >> >> I personally do not need PDF import at all. So I wouldn´t care. But >> for the sake of the project´s reputation I would suggest *not* to >> claim that OOo is generally able to open PDF files. I would suggest to >> name it "still working on this feature". >> >> Regards >> >> Stefan >> > > > --------------------------------------------------------------------- > To unsubscribe, e-mail: [email protected] > For additional commands, e-mail: [email protected] > --------------------------------------------------------------------- To unsubscribe, e-mail: [email protected] For additional commands, e-mail: [email protected]
