Microsoft readies openXML for global standardization
By Erwin Oliva
INQUIRER.net
First Posted 11:56:00 01/17/2008
KIRKLAND, Washington -- Microsoft Corp. said it has done enough work to ensure that its open Extensible Markup Language (openXML), a data format that is now integrated into its Office product, would become a global standard.
This despite the ongoing criticisms from proponents of the Open Document Format (ODF), a data format standard that has already been approved by the International Standards Organization (ISO), Microsoft executives said.
“The openXML criticisms has no backing,” said Tom Robertson, general manager of corporate interoperability and standards group of Microsoft Corp. in a briefing here, who said that Microsoft products are also going to support ODF through a translator. “Interoperability is an issue that we vendors should deal with, not the customers.”
Making OpenXML a “global standard” is set to be resolved next month in Geneva, as member organizations of ISO are scheduled to meet for a ballot resolution meeting that would address comments from some countries who voted against making openXML a global standard.
The Philippines was among the countries who voted “No” against openXML with comments.
Microsoft executives stressed that OpenXML has already been accepted as an international standard by the European Computer Manufacturer’s Association (ECMA), and was placed in a fast-track process to make the document format a global “open format.”
OpenXML has already been integrated in the Office 2007 productivity software. Other vendors like Apple and Adobe have also shipped products that support openXML.
Robertson said that the push to make openXML an ISO global standard is part of its commitment to respond to clamor from its customers who are demanding interoperability.
“Interoperability is a necessity,” he added.
OpenXML goes head to head with ODF, which is also an XML-based format backed by companies like Sun Microsystems, IBM, Oracle and Adobe.
OpenXML has replaced the binary-based format used by Microsoft for its Office suite applications like Word, Powerpoint and Excel, among others. Using the binary format, documents or files are coded to be read only by Microsoft Office applications. OpenXML, however, replaces this, and uses an open standard (XML) that can now be opened and manipulated by applications supporting the new format.
Other vendors supporting openXML are Apple, Intel, Novell and Toshiba, among others, Microsoft said. With such support, Microsoft is confident that its data format would eventually become an evolving global standard.
“Interoperability is going to be a feature in a product, which customers demand. It is going to be a standard functionality, just like security,” he said.
The executive said that taking openXML to the ISO ratification process will now allow the global community which wants to have a voice in the evolution of this standard to participate.
“We don’t believe that the market should be limited to a one-size fits all format. ODF does not address the needs of our customers,”Robertson said.
Gary Knowlton, group product manager of Microsoft Office, pointed out that openXML has been part of Office 2000. The new Office suite now includes openXML support, plus an ODF translator.
“So we don’t really oppose ODF,” he said.
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