openoffice.org/MS Office compatibility

mbegovic · 11-17-2003, 10:27 AM

Hey all,

I can save my OpenOffice text documents in MS Word format in principle, but the other night it refused to save one. I could only save it as the OpenOffice format. I'm assuming there are some formatting features of OpenOffice or something that's incompatible with Word. Does anyone know what some of these features are, so that I can avoid them? I really need my documents to be in MS Word format, for sharing purposes.

Thanks,

Milos.

Tinkster · 11-17-2003, 01:12 PM

Just a "philosophical" question ... why don't
you use something portable for sharing, like
HTML? Or RTF, if it needs to have fixed layout?

Cheers,
Tink

mbegovic · 11-17-2003, 02:08 PM

good question, dude, though not exactly a 'philosophical' one. reason: i edit a lot papers for other students, and i have gotten into a habit of having them email the stuff to me, and then commenting in-text. pretty much everyone is using Word.

this is not really a big deal, but i think these things would be nice to know, if someone has the knowledge to share. don't you?

milos

Tinkster · 11-17-2003, 02:29 PM

Hi Milos,

and the question remains :)

I mean, look at it that way. MS has changed (majorly!!)
the format of words douments. Since MS Word 1 for DOS
the format has been changed at least five times, with
major caveats in respect of downward compatibility
and so-so filters. Basically what MS is achieving is that
once someone started using a new version of Word,
others will have to upgrade because the user doesn't
even contemplate the possiblity ot use "Save As" rather
than "Save" :} ...

What I mean is: if you told people to "save as" RTF, for
example, you'd have no troubles editing and sending
back with OO, and they might be able to send their
files to people who lag a version or two of office behind :}

As for the "saving special features impossible thing": I
haven't come across that, but feel free to e-Mail me.
I will respond, and you can send one of the files in
question over for me to have a play ;)

Cheers,
Tink

Nimoy · 11-17-2003, 02:42 PM

Like I posted to NewsForge after hearing it on the news - Things may be about to change interoperability wise...

Microsoft Announces Availability of Open and Royalty-Free License For Office 2003 XML Reference Schemas Offering Brings New Level of Transparency, Interoperability, Document Portability And Ease of Communication -----> read rest on....

http://www.microsoft.com/presspass/p...hemaEMEAPR.asp

Is M$ on the right track at last? I surely hope so!

mbegovic · 11-17-2003, 03:23 PM

Tink,

Thanks for the tip. I have never used RTF before. It's always good to just work around a problem if possible. I don't want you to waste your time figuring out what's wrong with my file. I can do that myself when I have the time. If I find something, I'll let you all know.

milos.