Randomthots wrote:
mark wrote:
*****
There's an aspect to all this that I believe a lot of people who hate
html-mail, such as yourself, are missing. I believe that the "attachment
to e-mail" paradigm actually serves to fortify the MS file format lock-in.
Consider that html is actually a fairly poor file format for complex
layout; it's essentially all based on the abuse of tables. So when
someone wants to transmit a complex document via e-mail the only viable
choice is to attach a file -- generally a binary file. Even an ODF file
is binary as it sits on your hard drive (try opening a zip file in a
text editor sometime).
So if you're forced to attach a binary file to an e-mail, which type of
file are you going to use? Probably the type that is most likely to be
usable on the other end. Now this generally means either an MSO doc,
xls, or ppt, or a pdf. We would like to make that ODF but it's going to
be an uphill battle.
Now consider that ODF is a much richer format than HTML. And being
similar to HTML, there is no technical reason (that I see, anyway) that
the format couldn't be adapted to eventually replace HTML. This would
include usage in e-mail. The main adaptations would be that the XML
would have to remain uncompressed and then the individual files which
make up the document (content.xml, manifest.xml, etc.) would comprise a
sort of multi-part MIME message. The result would be that the complex
document that previously had to be transmitted as an attachment could
now actually BE the e-mail, the BODY of the e-mail.
When browsers and e-mail clients are developed that can render such a
beast then the scales will tip toward ODF being the MOST CONVENIENT
means of storing, handling, and transmitting documents. Binary formats
will be considered a PITA to deal with, even by the technically
illiterate. And since ODF is an ASCII format, it will be that much
harder to distribute viruses that way.
Yeah, it's a long chain of if's, and it won't happen overnight if at
all, but it's something to consider.
This is the best answer to the inclusion of email features within OOo.
The usage of ODF as a standard base. How do we push this forward.
FWIW, I have my mail program configure to view as text and not load
images, to many 1x1 address confirmation images for my liking. It is
a pain with some messages but it is handy.
For formatted text, I prefer pdf attachments.
Robin
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