Hi, Perhaps you have noticed, perhaps not, it looks like something called Open Document Format was approved (see link below). What it is? Well, a description of standard objects and their representation that can be present in an office document.
Contents of this email: * What it is? * How it is related to Etoile? * Summary What it is? Simply: gooid idea, but... As you might think, it is XML based file format. As the preparers think that it is one of the most important properties of the format, let us give them few days of happiness by being quiet. On the other hand, if you like it or not, the XML is becoming a standard communication language for structured data exchange. But this is another topic. The specification is 600+ pages long, mostly containing, for me obscure, XML definitions and examples. Seems to be written for those who know what it is about. If someone finds a picture of the specification from less detailed point of view, please, let me know. The specification contains information about different document variants, such as: * word-processor document * spreadsheet * presentation * drawing * math * ... It contains description of objects and their properties that build those documents. Very positive is, that it describes well known concepts from existing office applications and puts them into a single place. What I do not like the most is, that the document, perhaps not intentionaly, defines boundaries of another closed monster environment called "office desktop". The structure puts limits to the application behaviour. How it is related to Etoile? The office desktop is a collection of tools - office components, that work together on a single document. Which is, in its nature, not bad and it resembles subset of what Etoile wants to do. Correct me if I am wrong. You will have an office sub-environment which will work on a object repository called office document. Objects are defined by the specification. Etoile is more than that. Anyway, I think, that as this standard looks like it is going to be adopted by major office applications, Etoile should not ignore it and keep it in mind. I do not say, that we should implement it, but at least have interfaces that can be made compatible with the specification. As Etoile project based environment is object based, I think that creating Open Document exporter would be something like creating Open Document NSArchiver subclass. Summary: * open document format was accepted and it is going to be used by major office apps * file is XML based * specification defines office objects observed from current office apps * specification defines office sub-environment * Etoile should be able to cooperate Reference: http://www.oasis-open.org/committees/tc_home.php?wg_abbrev=office My opinion, if someone is interested, is: I like the initiative. I do not like the trend of office spearation from other desktop objects, however this is another long story... What do you think? How do you see it and how we should stand to it? Regards, Stefan Urbanek -- http://stefan.agentfarms.net First they ignore you, then they laugh at you, then they fight you, then you win. - Mahatma Gandhi
