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French Government IT Directorate Supports ODF, Rejects OOXML

Posted by timothy on from the but-open-office-xml-sounds-so-nice dept.

jrepin writes: The final draft version of the RGI (general interoperability framework), still awaiting final validation, maintains ODF as the recommended format for office documents within French administrations. This new version of the RGI provides substantiated criticism of the OOXML Microsoft format. April thanks the DISIC (French Inter-ministerial IT directorate) for not giving in to pressure and acting in the long-term interest of all French citizens and their administrations. As Wikpedia notes, OOXML (Office Open XML) is not to be confused with OpenOffice.org XML. (Also on the open-source office-document format front, OpenSource.com has taken a look at five open alternatives to Google Docs.)

7 of 75 comments (clear)

  1. OOXML is a joke ... by gstoddart · · Score: 5, Insightful

    Calling OOXML a "standard" was always a bad joke.

    Way too much crap of "must work like this proprietary project", and too many uses of other proprietary things.

    How the hell ISO allowed it to ever be identified as a standard still perplexes me.

    Which means it's good when people see OOXML for what it is -- a proprietary format, which is inadequately documented, and has things which limit other people from using it.

    Even Microsoft doesn't adhere to any standard interpretation of OOXML, because there isn't one.

    --
    Lost at C:>. Found at C.
    1. Re:OOXML is a joke ... by MightyMartian · · Score: 4, Insightful

      It was identified as a "standard" because Redmond gamed the system through its "business partners".

      Has Microsoft even fully implemented it yet?

      --
      The world's burning. Moped Jesus spotted on I50. Details at 11.
  2. Re:French government is for cows. by chipschap · · Score: 3, Insightful

    Mais, chose surprennante, ils ont pris le choix juste. Quele miracle!

  3. Re:Sacre bleu! by mlts · · Score: 3, Insightful

    The ironic thing is that moving to the ODF format would require very little in way of workflow changes. Word already supports .ODT, Excel supports .ODS, not sure about Access/Base, but I wouldn't be surprised if it did.

    Microsoft formats have more document tools available, but I'm sure they will appear for ODF if it starts gaining steam as a nationwide standard.

  4. Confusion by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 2, Insightful

    As Wikpedia notes, OOXML (Office Open XML) is not to be confused with OpenOffice.org XML.

    ...although that was probably Microsoft's intent.

    1. Re:Confusion by Dr_Barnowl · · Score: 5, Insightful

      This is why I refer to it as MOO-XML, keeps it in mind that it belongs to Microsoft.

  5. Re:Sacre bleu! by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 3, Insightful

    Different interpretation: Microsoft pulled out all the stops in corrupting the ISO process and they won. Greasing palms was Microsoft's modus operandi years after the ruling, probably still is. It's tough fighting for non-proprietary standards when there's an 800 lb gorilla doling out cash like it's candy.

    To answer the AC's question, no, I don't think it's possible to break the stranglehold completely.