On March 13th, 2008, Microsoft announced a roadmap for the Open XML SDK.  The Open XML SDK, originally announced at TechEd in June 2007, is designed to help developers create client and server solutions that take advantage of the Ecma Office Open XML Formats (ECMA-376).

The Open XML API will be released in two versions:

  • The Open XML API “version 1.0” will include an updated version of the CTP that was released in June 2007 and will contain the Open XML Packaging API.  The next version of the CTP will be released in April 2008 and the final release of the Open XML API “version 1.0” in May 2008. 
  • The Open XML API “version 2.0” will contain all the necessary components of the Open XML API architecture, including WordprocessingML, SpreadsheetML, PresentationML and Shared ML API.  The first CTP will be available in July 2008  with the final release of the Open XML API “version 2.0” timed to the release of Office 14. 
    Hundreds of solutions have been created by developers worldwide building on the 2007 Microsoft Office system. Through the Open XML SDK’s sample code and how-to articles on the programming object model, developers will be able to decrease their development time for scenarios such as:
    • Creating documents programmatically
    • Customizing parts within documents
    • Adding and inspecting custom XML within documents
    • Working with and customizing document properties

Customers and partners interested in learning more should visit http://openxmldeveloper.org/archive/2008/03/13/OpenXMLSDK.aspx

OpenXMLtimeline

Additional information: