On Tuesday 01 Apr 2003 4:36 pm, Praedor Atrebates wrote: > I certainly understand the desire to not support M$ file formats. Even > though M$ doesn't gain directly from such support, they do peripherally. > It perpetuates the use of M$ software and the idea that M$ is a "standard" > that people need to follow. This sort of thinking is one of the reasons > that people seem to automatically assume that it is OK to send you a *.doc > file because, NATURALLY, you will use Windoze and/or Word. Of COURSE it is > acceptable to send *.doc files or request/require doc files because > everyone uses Word/windoze. It is better to encourage use of more > democratic/open formats, kill the assumption that everyone uses M$ products > and they are all that exist or are useful. > > It is handy to be able to read other people's files, regardless of the app > they used to create it, but it is better if a more universally available > and untied format is used. It irritates me when I receive a doc file from > a family member who has made the above erroneous assumption. This is an > endemic problem that can best be addressed by using open formats whenever > possible in preference to ANY closed format. > Fish and fruit, IMHO. .doc files are unnecessary, for the most part, because .rtf can deal with most of what people want to do. With spreadsheets I have not found any universally read file format if formatting needs to be kept. .csv is fine if it doesn't. Until there's an option, I use what's there. I'll change if you can show me one.
Anne -- Registered Linux User No.293302
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