I can't help but observe the "discussion" underway with respect to spreadsheet interoperability that Rob Weir has started . Essentially Rob is complaining that Microsoft didn't implement the formula namespace of OpenOffice. For the chair of the committee to post vitriol like this about the implementation...

I wanted to discuss a specific coverage area for Office 2007 SP2. I was recently directed toward the Acrobat Team blog , which is pointing out some of the differences between Adobe Acrobat 9 and Office 2007 SP2. As explained in the post, Adobe has worked hard to add value to the Office platform with...

Just keeping tabs on the state of matters for document format standards. I thought I'd share some of those interesting data points and connect some dots along the way. Ouch . Rich Jelliffe discusses some of the dynamics of the OASIS ODF TC. Rick says: "It seems that OASIS rules actually ban Technical...

Ooh.. (should I say Ouch!): http://www.oreillynet.com/xml/blog/2008/03/how_many_defects_remain_answer.html . Once again Rob Weir is defeated (handily). "One of the constant themes over the last year has been the theme of panic. QUICK: You only have one month to find contradictions. QUICK: You only...

I've seen a few comments this week quoting my comments in PC World, and claiming that I have somehow recommended a "no" vote on Open XML. "If individual governments mandate the use of ODF instead of Open XML, Microsoft would adapt. The company would then implement the missing functionality that ODF...

A great way to wind down for the weekend. This is a wonderful site. Happy Friday!

I could make a full time job of tearing down the "say anything we possibly can" approach to Open XML opposition. Seems like we're seeing a new level of arm-flailing and finger pointing, now that we are weeks away from the close of the post BRM period. I wanted to offer some comments about the SFLC's...

I can keep this post nice and short. Patrick Durusau has responded to some pretty harsh accusations from Rob Weir . (I guess I got the answer to my question about the disconnect within the ODF TC .) I guess Nick Tsilas should feel vindicated , at least a little bit. Ouch: "If you need further proof...

Patrick Durusau has picked up on a thread that I regard as somewhat important (and underplayed) in the Open XML and ODF discussion. Supporting ODF does (should) not require opposing Open XML. There is a growing middle ground of consensus building around supporting multiple standards, despite any end...

I was pointed at a document created by the ODF alliance (with a creation date of Feb 6 th ) that discusses the recent dust-up on supported file types in Office 2003 Service Pack 3. While this was not one of our shining moments as a product, I was disappointed to see the amount of gross factual error...

Rob Weir is apparently offended that someone would suggest that ODF is controlled by a single vendor, going so far as to accuse Burton Group of some influence over the Open XML ISO voting process. He says: "Waiting until after February, after the DIS 29500 process concludes, to make corrections is...

I saw Bob Sutor's post last week titled " There is humor in the OOXML morass ." This is where he calls out comments from Nick Tsilas as worthy of "a good laugh." I interpreted Bob's post as an attempt by IBM to deny that they are leading the charge against Open XML. I like a good laugh too, so I had...