On Tue, 2003-04-01 at 10:44, diego wrote:
> XML is universal and should perform ok with any perl/whatever script to
> convert to/from any other format. Only backdraw I can think of is
> unefficiency (you'd probably end with much more tags than data
> itself)...
> 
>       Anyway, it seems you have hit a good point: missing aplication
> standards!!

This made me curious so I did a little googling.  Turns out the Standard
format is the one(s) that M$ uses.  The older (pre XP) use the format
created by Lotus-1-2-3 and office XP is using XML output.  So I would
guess that if you want to output into a standard format that isn't M$
XML really is the answer.  What I don't know is if Gnumeric or OOo take
it as input.

James

> 
> 
> 
> El mar, 01-04-2003 a las 18:11, Anne Wilson escribi�:
> > 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
> > 
> > 
> > ----
> > 
> 
> > Want to buy your Pack or Services from MandrakeSoft? 
> > Go to http://www.mandrakestore.com


Want to buy your Pack or Services from MandrakeSoft? 
Go to http://www.mandrakestore.com

Reply via email to