Robert Nelson wrote:
Hello , could you please tell me if should users of M S Office be able to read open office files.
No. MS Office can't read OpenOffice files. It can read it's own format, so OpenOffice users can export to MS Office format, and then MS Office users can open the files.
If so why can't they read my files.
Microsoft don't want to acknowledge OpenOffice. They particularly don't want to make it easy for people to use OpenOffice, and adding support to their cash-cow darling for a competitor's file formats helps people to use that competitor's product - it increases interoperability. A convicted monopolist wouldn't really be expected to increase interoperability. Proof that this is still the case is in the fact that Microsoft have only ever used binary formats for their files, and have done everything they can to keep the details of these formats secret.
It could also be argued that Microsoft lacks the skill required to add support for a superior format such as the Oasis format, which OpenOffice uses.
It's probably a bit of both. -- Daniel Kasak IT Developer NUS Consulting Group Level 5, 77 Pacific Highway North Sydney, NSW, Australia 2060 T: (+61) 2 9922-7676 / F: (+61) 2 9922 7989 email: [EMAIL PROTECTED] website: http://www.nusconsulting.com.au --------------------------------------------------------------------- To unsubscribe, e-mail: [EMAIL PROTECTED] For additional commands, e-mail: [EMAIL PROTECTED]
