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Subject: Proposal for updated OpenDocument FAQ


Dear TC members,

attached is a proposal for an updated OpenDocument FAQ. Please provide 
me your feedback and/or extensions of the FAQ until the end of this 
week, so that our web pages can be updated with the new FAQ before May, 
the 18th.

Thanks in advance

Michael

What is the OASIS Open Document Format for Office Applications (OpenDocument)?

OASIS Open Document Format for Office Applications (OpenDocument) is a standardized XML-based file format specification suitable for office applications. It covers the features required by text, spreadsheets, charts, and graphical documents

Where did OpenDocument come from?

OpenDocument has its roots in the OpenOffice.org XML file format. In December 2003, Arbortext, Boeing, Corel, CSW Informatics, Drake Certivo, National Archive of Australia, New York State Office of the Attorney General, Society of Biblical Literature, Sony, Stellent and Sun Microsystems founded the OASIS Open Office XML Format TC to develop a standardized XML-based file format for office applications. The basis for the TC's work was the OpenOffice.org XML file format that had proved its value in real life already. The first committee draft was approved in March 2003, a 2nd one in December 2004. In January 2005, the Open Office XML Format TC renamed itself to OASIS Open Document Format for Office Applications (OpenDocument) to emphasize that the resulting specification is not only suitable for OpenOffice.org, but for arbitrary office applications.

A third committee draft was approved in March 2005. OpenDocument was approved as an OASIS standard in May 2005.

What is the current state of the specification?

The OASIS Open Document Format for Office Applications (OpenDocument) 1.0 is an approved OASIS standard.

Who owns OpenDocument?

OpenDocument is owned by OASIS, a nonprofit organization dedicated to the open development of public XML standards. OpenDocument is maintained by an OASIS Technical Committee made up of XML, document manager and office application experts.

How much will it cost to use OpenDocument?

OpenDocument is royalty-free. It can be used without charge by anyone.

Who benefits from this work and how?

An open document format for office applications protects content, whether it is a 800 page airplane specification or a legal contract, from being locked into an application- or vendor-specific file format. Additionally, it lets application users participate in the benefits of XML file formats without having to change their habits and without requiring additional knowledge or education.

Where do I find the OpenDocument specification and schemas?

The OpenDocument v1.0 specification is available in PDF format at

http://www.oasis-open.org/committees/download.php/12572/OpenDocument-v1.0-os.pdf

and in OpenOffice.org XML format at

http://www.oasis-open.org/committees/download.php/12573/OpenDocument-v1.0-os.sxw .

The OpenDocument v1.0 Relax-NG schemas are available here:

  1. OpenDocument v1.0 Relax-NG Schema (extracted from chapter 1 to 16 of the specification):
    http://www.oasis-open.org/committees/download.php/12571/OpenDocument-schema-v1.0-os.rng

  2. OpenDocument v1.0 Manifest Relax-NG Schema (extracted from chapter 17 of the specification):
    http://www.oasis-open.org/committees/download.php/12570/OpenDocument-manifest-schema-v1.0-os.rng

  3. OpenDocument v1.0 Strict Relax-NG Schema (extracted from appendix A of the specification):
    http://www.oasis-open.org/committees/download.php/12569/OpenDocument-strict-schema-v1.0-os.rng

How does this work compare to related efforts at other standards organizations?

There are some standards that cover single features of office applications, like SVG for graphic content or HTML and XSL-FO for text content, but none of these standards covers all features of office applications. The OASIS Open Document Format for Office Applications (OpenDocument) covers the features required by text, spreadsheets, charts, and graphical documents, but also 'borrow' from similar, existing standards wherever possible and permitted.

How does this work compare to other office applications schemas?

  • OpenDocument was developed in a completely open, publicly visible, vendor-neutral, royalty-free standards process that allows input from the entire user community

  • OpenDocument is one schema for text, spreadsheets, charts, and graphical documents. There are no distinct schemas for the different kind of office applications.

  • OpenDocument is highly interoperable by making use of existing standards like HTML , SVG , XSL , SMIL , XLink , XForms , MathML or Dublin Core wherever possible.

  • OpenDocument has a package concept and can be used as default file format for office applications without disadvantages in file size or integrity.

Is the OpenDocument effort still open?

Yes. The OpenDocument TC will extend OpenDocument 1.0 to encompass additional areas of applications or users, and also will adapt the specification to recent developments in office applications. OASIS members who are interested in participating in the further development of OpenDocument are encouraged to join the OpenDocument TC. For non-OASIS members, OASIS membership- is available at the following URL:

http://www.oasis-open.org/join/

What kind of applications are covered by the specification?

OASIS Open Document Format for Office Applications (OpenDocument) 1.0 is suitable for text, spreadsheets, charts, and graphical documents. Later versions of the specification will encompass additional areas of applications or users.

I've sometimes read about and OASIS Open Office XML Format TC and an Open Office specification. What is their relation to OpenDocument?

OASIS Open Office and OASIS OpenDocument are the same. The OpenDocument TC was originally named “OASIS Open Office XML Format TC”, but renamed itself to “OASIS Open Document Format for Office Applications (OpenDocument) TC ” in January 2005.

OpenDocument previously was called Open Office. What is the relation to OpenOffice.org?

When the OASIS Open Document Format for Office Applications (OpenDocument) TC was founded, it chose the OpenOffice.org XML file format as the basis for its work, because the OpenOffice.org XML file format had already proven its value in real life. The OpenDocument format therefore is an advancement of the OpenOffice.org XML file format. It us usable and used by OpenOffice.org, but also by other office applications like KOffice.

The OpenDocument TC as an OASIS TC is not part of the OpenOffice.org open source project, and only some of the TC members have a relation to the OpenOffice.org project.

My question isn't listed here: where do I get more information?

If you do not find an answer to your question in this FAQ, please do not hesitate to send it to the TC members using the "Send A Comment" button at http://www.oasis-open.org/committees/tc_home.php?wg_abbrev=office.



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