One more step closer to having ODF (the open standard used by OpenOffice) replace MS Office's file formats as the ubiquitous file format used. Groklaw reports that the OpenDocument Foundation has offered the State of Massachusetts an ODF plugin for MS Office. This would allow MS Office users to save and open ODF files in any version
of MS Office dating back to MS Office 97. The ODF Plugin installs on the file menu as a natural and transparent part of the open, save, and save as sequences. As far as end users and other application add-ons are concerned, ODF plugin renders ODF documents as if it were native to MS Office.
As far as I'm concerned, once this plugin is available, no one will be getting .doc files from me any more. If everyone can get used to having to download Flash plugins, Quicktime, and Adobe Reader, they can certainly be expected to use the non-proprietary file format standard.
more about ODF plugin
Linux-Watch has more about the ODF plugin: Coming soon:ODF for MS Office.
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Charlie | cyberdash
propagating use of the ODF plugin
I'm with you on that one. Especially now that it's an ISO standard file format, there isn't any reason why an organized institution of any kind shouldn't be capable of reading it. I'm wondering if there's been any discussion anywhere online of different ways users can help propagate use of the plugin-- perhaps by including a link for download along with any ODF file transmitted electronically, for instance.
discussion
I got the impression that this was kept under wraps until last week. The plugin is not even available.
But that's a good idea a plugin link. Good think to include in the email when sending an odf file or putting one up on the web, the same way that everyone use to do the same for Flash and Adobe Reader. Now, the browser just detects and people know anyway.
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Charlie | cyberdash
plugin not yet available
Yeah, the article I read made it sound like the plugin goes to the State of Massachussetts before it will be released publicly:
It might be interesting to try to build a Thunderbird extension that automatically detects ODF attachments in an email and attaches the plugin as well or a little link to it in the email sig. Distributing something like that could make it easier to send ODF docs without having to think about who can open them.
ODF Plugin news
Edwards tells me the following:
The OpenDocument Foundation has notified the Massachusetts ITD that we have completed testing on an ODF Plugin for all versions of MS Office dating back to MS Office 97. The ODF Plugin installs on the file menu as a natural and transparent part of the open, save, and save as sequences. As far as end users and other application add-ons are concerned, ODF plugin renders ODF documents as if it were native to MS Office.
Nobody gets to live life backward. Look ahead, that is where your future lies.
With your permission
i've never built an extension for Firefox or Thunderbird, but have always been looking for that great idea/reason to start. With your permission for the idea, i'd like to make that my first attempt: an extension to automatically attach the plugin installer when a user attaches an ODF document. Of course it won't be the actual plugin until that's publicly available, but it'll be aimed in that direction.
Can't say i'll be the first to bring such an extension to market but it might be worth a try.
Please email me with your thoughts. And thanks for the cool idea.
-Joe: thookerov-at-gmail-dot-com