Via Scoble, Microsoft has decided to make the Office 2003 format an ‘open standard’, and the XML Reference can now be downloaded from Microsoft.
There are a few very interesting bits in the XML Reference FAQ, especially about licensing issues and patents. Basically, Microsoft is trying to get a patent on the Office 2003 format, which they will probably get, but they will still allow anyone to use it, royalty-free. Doesn’t sound like Microsoft, I know, but that’s what the FAQ says.
This news will definitely help other Office packages, like OpenOffice.org to fully support the Office 2003 format. Hopefully we’ll see other interesting (open-source) programs using the Office format as well.
Oh christ, I really hope this brings some intercompatibility between open office and MS office (and I mean true compatibility).
I also will be hoping my college makes the upgrade so that I can use open office at home without having to worry about formatting trouble when I take my work back with me.
Is it too good to be true in any way?
Not as far as I can see. According to their FAQ, they won’t change the terms of the license, despite any patenting issues or anything else.
could someone please tell me how to print a word doc.in mirror image?
I Think Office 2003 still the best office suite ever had, because the speed of first time loading ada the feature, the only feature that office 2003 has miss is to make pdf file, but u can use dopdf. I try to make calculation between office 2003 and openoffice v3.2 and the speed still office 2003 fast.