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Open Document Format Not So Open, Not So Great

The Open Document Format (ODF) is a terrific concept: a single file format that can be used by productivity apps and more, and allows for easy sharing -- even with Microsoft Office. That's the promise.

The reality ain't so hot. A leading advocate of ODF now says it isn't living up to its promises, isn't so great at interoperability, and thus not so great at application migration. All this is leading former ODF proponents to suggest a newer format, the Complex Document Format (CDF).

Hey, if that's what it takes to get a nice, common file format, I'm happy to wait for CDF to take hold.

Posted by Doug Barney on November 05, 2007


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