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Ask Slashdot: What Is the Best Open Document Format?

Posted by timothy on from the when-plaintext-just-won't-do dept.

kramer2718 writes: I am working on a project that requires uploading and storing of documents. Although the application will need to allow uploading of .docx, doc, .pdf, etc, I'd like to store the documents in a standard open format that will allow easy search, compression, rendering, etc. Which open document format is the best? Since "best" can be highly driven by circumstances, please explain your reasoning, too. Have a question for Slashdot's readers? Take a look at other recent questions first to see if someone else has had a similar question. And if not, ask away! The more details and context you include, the more likely your question will be selected.

5 of 200 comments (clear)

  1. Oldes are the bestes by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Funny

    Word Perfect Document, because it's been consistent for nearly 20 years. it has a simple underlying format, it's more finely granular than HTML and because I just like obsolete things.

    1. Re:Oldes are the bestes by Megane · · Score: 3, Funny

      I think WordStar has problems with Unicode support. But then again, so does Slashdot.

      --
      #naabhaprzrag, #sverubfr-000, #agi-fcbafberq, negvpyr[pynff*=' negvpyr-ary-'] { qvfcynl: abar !vzcbegnag; }
  2. Docbook? by Enry · · Score: 3, Funny

    Docbook allows you to separate out the content from the presentation. You write in XML and define paragraphs, chapters, images, etc. and then leave it to the various stylesheets to drive how it looks like when it comes out the other end - PDF, HTML, Word, whatever, and the stylesheet makes sure that if some features are supported (hyperlinking from the table of contents to the chapter) it'll be included in there. Since the content is in plain 'ol XML you can use any kind of XML processor to go through it..

  3. LaTeX CoNDoM by tepples · · Score: 3, Funny

    LaTeX is the CoNDoM that protects you from Microsoft Office ViRuSeS.

  4. Burning Bush by Etherwalk · · Score: 4, Funny

    ...you can't beat bamboo strips. The oldest original versions of Lao Tzu's Tao Te Ching are written on rolls of bamboo strips. Not sure how they scan electronically, and you will have to keep your pet pandas away from them, but for document durability, you can't beat that format...

    Chisel it into stone tablets, then find an ignorant local. Set up a natural gas line to a nearby bush and hide behind a rock. Cub your hands to add a slight reverb effect and tell him to preach the chiselled word, then break the tablets and hide them in a box and trick nazis into looking at them.