rudy wrote: > who says a "document" has to be in a format that might contain some worm or virus?
Dave followed with: I just dump M$ Office completely and use OpenOffice, it'll still open/save M$ Office files, but without the absolutely cretinous idea of allowing executable code within a document. Why, oh why, oh why does a document need executable code (macros) in it? The only exception would be spreadsheets... Tim submits a simple example: Our law firm submits dozens of legal documents a day - some to clients, some to the courts, some to other services and users. These documents are not always generated from scratch - otherwise, we'd have dozens of secretaries sitting around pounding on dozens of word processors, making dozens of mistakes in the process. Many of the documents are built from databases using "macros" or "executable code" simply because that's the only cost-efficient way of doing so (and accuracy is paramount). Moreover, many documents require change tracking as they're passed back and forth between parties, and must be in a specified format (usually some version of Word or WordPerfect). These activities require scripting that have access to resources (i.e. databases) outside of the the document's sandbox. While I'm not defending executable code in documents as always appropriate, I do see it as a viable solution to many business situations, particularly those that are tightly regulated. I daresay if we were required to fill out two or three dozen electronic forms for each website we build we'd be looking for ways to automate it. :-) Microsoft has always been about giving power to the user...power to accomplish work, yes, but also power to wreck things if misused. Users need to be aware of that power and use it intelligently (uh, training?). [story from my own experience] Nobody blasts motorcycle companies for building and selling crotch rockets, yet every day stupid kids die on them doing stupid stuff. I ride an older motorcycle, carefully, well within the limits of the law, and yet last November still ended up with a broken wrist due to someone else's negligence. Power = responsibility. You don't always need that much power...that's where the market makes room for other solutions, like OpenOffice. Or vi. :-) Tim ___________________________ Tim Furry Web Developer Foulston Siefkin LLP 316.291.9712 ____ • The WDVL Discussion List from WDVL.COM • ____ To Join wdvltalk, Send An Email To: mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] Send Your Posts To: [EMAIL PROTECTED] To set a personal password send an email to [EMAIL PROTECTED] with the words: "set WDVLTALK pw=yourpassword" in the body of the email. To change subscription settings to the wdvltalk digest version: http://wdvl.internet.com/WDVL/Forum/#sub ________________ http://www.wdvl.com _______________________ You are currently subscribed to wdvltalk as: [EMAIL PROTECTED] To unsubscribe send a blank email to [EMAIL PROTECTED] To unsubscribe via postal mail, please contact us at: Jupitermedia Corp. Attn: Discussion List Management 475 Park Avenue South New York, NY 10016 Please include the email address which you have been contacted with.
