Open XML Resources for Developers

Brian Jones: Open XML Formats — Tue, 01 Apr 2008 01:50:10 GMT

Doug has a great post today that helps get us back to what really matters in this whole file format discussion

re: Open XML Resources for Developers

orcmid — Tue, 01 Apr 2008 03:50:48 GMT

This is really great. I was going to start rounding up this sort of thing and 'lo, here it is!

Nice job.

re: Open XML Resources for Developers

Kevin — Tue, 01 Apr 2008 08:39:02 GMT

Wow, thanks for these links to such truly helpful tools!

Looking around, I see a crucial tool that is missing, however. For developers, could you please provide a link to a resource providing the full mapping from the legacy formats? You see, I want to implement this format fully and provide those who use my software with the specific added value for which OOXML was created.

So I need that mapping. Where is it?

re: Open XML Resources for Developers

Anon — Tue, 01 Apr 2008 18:03:27 GMT

Kevin, check http://b2xtranslator.sourceforge.net.

Ressources Open XML

Open XML — Tue, 01 Apr 2008 18:08:25 GMT

Point n’est besoin de s’attarder sur le résultat du vote ISO, l’actualité est déja ou sera largement

re: Open XML Resources for Developers

Kevin — Tue, 01 Apr 2008 20:42:07 GMT

Anon wrote, "Kevin, check http://b2xtranslator.sourceforge.net."

Anon, that's for working with the binaries and for doing reverse engineering on the spec. That's not what a developer should have to work with!

Also note at the link you provided:

"the binary formats have also been made available under the Open Specification Promise"

Yes, the binary formats have been made available under those terms, but no full, official ECMA or ISO documentation and mapping for them has been made available. Not even an unofficial Microsoft version.

Dough, I'd appreciate it if you could make some headway towards making sure that these resources are made openly available to all.

Open XML wurde als ISO Standard akzeptiert

Infos zu Open XML, VSTO, Deployment, .NET und anderes — Tue, 01 Apr 2008 20:49:29 GMT

Von den 87 National Body Members (stimmberechtigten Ländern) unterstützen 87% die ISO/IEC Standardisierung,

re: Open XML Resources for Developers

Ben Lincoln — Tue, 01 Apr 2008 21:21:09 GMT

What do you want Kevin? It's not really reverse engineering because you have access to the source code and so can see the exact mappings. I actually prefer this to what would otherwise be a long and dry piece of documentation. Moreover, in this case most of the work I would need/want to do (translation) is done for me.

So I guess the question is, what exactly are you looking for? I think there is a considerable difference between being open, providing appropriate resources, and then having to actually do all the work for people.

re: Open XML Resources for Developers

Ben Lincoln — Tue, 01 Apr 2008 21:25:40 GMT

Also Kevin, the Library of Congress is hosting the binaries, so there is no reason that someone from the open source community couldn't produce the mapping (if that's all you want) without fear using the translator.

It's interesting that in Open Source projects not hosted by Microsoft the community is expected to do some of the work. In contrast, when they do make donations and attempt to be more open, it is expected that they should do everything. At what point does it stop being open source and start becoming free labor?

FYI, I am pro open source but also VERY pro about the community dedicating their time and efforts and not just asking for things.

Office Open diventa uno standard aperto di formato dei documenti

Inside Office Online Italia — Wed, 02 Apr 2008 02:45:05 GMT

Te ne avevo già parlato negli scorsi mesi . Microsoft Office 2007 ha introdotto un nuovo formato di file

re: Open XML Resources for Developers

James Plamondon — Wed, 02 Apr 2008 03:57:12 GMT

Our mission is to establish Microsoft's platforms as the de facto standards throughout the computer industry.... Working behind the scenes to orchestrate "independent" praise of our technology, and damnation of the enemy's, is a key evangelism function during the Slog. "Independent" analyst's report should be issued, praising your technology and damning the competitors (or ignoring them). "Independent" consultants should write columns and articles, give conference presentations and moderate stacked panels, all on our behalf (and setting them up as experts in the new technology, available for just $200/hour). "Independent" academic sources should be cultivated and quoted (and research money granted). "Independent" courseware providers should start profiting from their early involvement in our technology. Every possible source of leverage should be sought and turned to our advantage.

I have mentioned before the "stacked panel". Panel discussions naturally favor alliances of relatively weak partners - our usual opposition. For example, an "unbiased" panel on OLE vs. OpenDoc would contain representatives of the backers of OLE (Microsoft) and the backers of OpenDoc (Apple, IBM, Novell, WordPerfect, OMG, etc.). Thus we find ourselves outnumbered in almost every "naturally occurring" panel debate.

A stacked panel, on the other hand, is like a stacked deck: it is packed with people who, on the face of things, should be neutral, but who are in fact strong supporters of our technology. The key to stacking a panel is being able to choose the moderator. Most conference organizers allow the moderator to select the panel, so if you can pick the moderator, you win. Since you can't expect representatives of our competitors to speak on your behalf, you have to get the moderator to agree to having only "independent ISVs" on the panel. No one from Microsoft or any other formal backer of the competing technologies would be allowed – just ISVs who have to use this stuff in the "real world." Sounds marvelously independent doesn't it? In fact, it allows us to stack the panel with ISVs that back our cause. Thus, the "independent" panel ends up telling the audience that our technology beats the others hands down. Get the press to cover this panel, and you've got a major win on your hands.

Finding a moderator is key to setting up a stacked panel. The best sources of pliable moderators are:

-- Analysts: Analysts sell out - that's their business model. But they are very concerned that they never look like they are selling out, so that makes them very prickly to work with.

-- Consultants: These guys are your best bets as moderators. Get a well-known consultant on your side early, but don't let him publish anything blatantly pro-Microsoft. Then, get him to propose himself to the conference organizers as a moderator, whenever a panel opportunity comes up. Since he's well- known, but apparently independent, he'll be accepted – one less thing for the constantly-overworked conference organizer to worry about, right?

IS29500 ehk OpenXml on nüüd ISO standard

Iga lahendus tekitab uusi probleeme ehk alati võib leida veel ühe bugi. — Wed, 02 Apr 2008 08:32:39 GMT

Eilne uudis on see, et DIS 29500 ehk Open XML -i standard, mis oli viimasel hääletusel ISO/IEC standardite

OpenXML to become ISO standard

US ISV Developer Evangelism Team — Wed, 02 Apr 2008 19:17:19 GMT

I've been talking more and more with ISVs and developers who are interested in using Office as a UI platform.

Happy News for Open XML Developers

Erika Ehrli — Thu, 03 Apr 2008 03:01:23 GMT

Many of you may have already heard that Office Open XML was approved as an ISO standard ! This is great

Office Open XML Approved as ISO/IEC Standard

The Curtain Raiser — Thu, 03 Apr 2008 15:45:58 GMT

You've probably heard the exciting news already - both ECMA and Microsoft have announced it. For

Open XML Ressourcen

Open XML, VSTO, Deployment, .NET und anderes — Tue, 08 Apr 2008 11:38:30 GMT

Doug Mahugh, Program Manager bei Microsoft in Redmond, hat eine umfangreiche Liste an Ressourcen zu Open

Blogging again

Amar Galla's Weblog — Mon, 02 Jun 2008 17:03:14 GMT

Some of my old readers would have noticed that I've stopped blogging for quite a while now. Thing in