[wlug] Re: Open Document Format Turns 20

On Wed, 7 May 2025 09:31:34 +1200, Peter Reutemann quoted:

' ... Microsoft Office's proprietary formats remain the de facto standard.'

Ah, but which *version* of Microsoft Office’s proprietary formats are the actual “de facto standard”? Consider that the spec, ISO 29500, contains both “transitional” and “strict” options. Here we are, about 20 years later, and hardly anyone uses the “strict” version, for fear of breaking compatibility with Microsoft Office. <https://www.loc.gov/preservation/digital/formats/fdd/fdd000400.shtml> By comparison, ODF (ISO 26300) is a model of simplicity and clarity. And much easier to maintain compatibility with.