ARN

Office 2007 SP2 supports ODF

Microsoft rolled out the service pack, which includes support for the OpenDocument Format

As expected, Microsoft on Tuesday began letting users of Office 2007 download Service Pack 2, marking a milestone in the company's document format battles with governments and other vendors.

Office 2007 SP2 includes support for the OpenDocument Format, an open standard backed by many companies including IBM and Sun Microsystems but initially resisted by Microsoft.

Customers who download the service pack will be able to save documents in ODF and Adobe Systems' PDF, just like they would any current supported file format in Office. They can also set ODF as the default file format.

Previously, people could use ODF through a separate plug-in that translates Office documents to ODF and vice versa.

Soon after ODF was approved as a standard in 2006, Microsoft created its own competitive file format, Office Open XML, for Office 2007.

OOXML was later ratified by a standards organization. But the creation of a separate, competitive standard angered ODF supporters.

Microsoft's lack of native support for ODF may have also been behind fines from the European Commission, which pushed Microsoft to support interoperability with other companies' products.

Office 2007 SP2 will also natively support PDF. Adobe initially opposed Microsoft's decision to add PDF to Office, but has since made PDF an open standard.

Microsoft won't support the standardized version of its own OOXML until Office 14, expected to be released next year.

Come socialise with us! Facebook | LinkedIn

More about: Adobe, Adobe Systems, AMP, European Commission, IBM, Microsoft, Milestone, Sun Microsystems
References show all

Comments

Post new comment

The content of this field is kept private and will not be shown publicly.
Users posting comments agree to the ARN comments policy.
Login or register to link comments to your user profile, or you may also post a comment without being logged in.
Related Coverage
Related Whitepapers
Latest Stories
Community Comments
Tags: Microsoft, microsoft office, odf, Office 2007, ooxml, openoffice
ARN Directory | Distributors relevant to this article
ACA Pacific , Alloys , Anixter , ASI Solutions , Australasian PC Distributors (APCD) , Australian IT Spares , Avnet Technology Solutions , Banksia Software , Bluechip Infotech , Compucon Computers , Dicker Data , Express Data , Express Online , Impact Systems Technology , Ingram Micro Australia , Lan 1 , Leader Computers , Leading Pacific Australia , MPA Systems , NewLease , POS POS , Scholastic , Simms International (For Simms International please see Express Online) , Synnex Australia , Topstar Computer International , Westan , XiT Distribution , Xpress I.T.
ARN Directory | Vendors relevant to this article
Adobe Systems
rhs_login_lockGet exclusive access to ARN's news, research and invitation only events.
ARN Distributor Directory
Find distributors by name | vendor | location
Channel Deals
/deals/aca-pacific/415_bonus-500-gift-card-with-every-sgi-is5000-sp-s
ACA Pacific

Bonus $500 Gift Card with Every SGI IS5000-SP Storage Subsystem. Ends February 28, 2012.

More details »
ARN Vendor Directory
Find vendors by name | category

iAsset is a channel management ecosystem that automates all major aspects of the entire sales,marketing and service process, including data tracking, integrated learning, knowledge management and product lifecycle management.