MS Office is 'charming' with OpenDocument

A group of software developers has succeeded in creating a program that allows Microsoft Office to handle OpenDocument format files.

This is considered a new move on the way to shorten the compatibility gap between workstation software applications.

Developers have begun conducting research and development programs over a year ago. The initial testing process of the program has just finished.

Gary Edwards - a software engineer at the OpenOffice.org project and founder of OpenDocument Foundation - said the new software was designed to allow Microsoft Office to store files in OpenDocument format ( ODF).

'Add-on program ODF will install on Microsoft Office File menu similar to' Open, Save, Save As ' functions with the ability to store documents in standard ODF format such as saving files in MS format Office , 'Edwards said.

If the software comes on the market, this will be a big deal in Microsoft's struggle with OpenDocument supporters as the OpenOffice format is now receiving a lot of user support.

Microsoft will not support the OpenDocument format in Office 2007 version. The reason, according to Microsoft's leadership officials, is that users' needs are not enough to launch this support feature and OpenDocument does not exist. Many features like MS Office.

Analyst Stephen O'Grady said that the emergence of a third application that allows Microsoft Office to support the OpenDocument format would be a new driving force for OpenDocument.

In other words, additional applications that allow MS Office to support OpenDocument will be good news for those who regularly use software made by Microsoft competitors.

Alan Yates, Microsoft's director of business information, said Microsoft did not cooperate with the developers of the new application. But Yates also said he was not surprised by the appearance of such software.

" We always want third parties to create tools that allow conversion from one format to another ," Yates said.

' But we have not seen any tools like this before. But now available and it can be seen as a proof that technology solutions can help solve the software compatibility needs from users . '

Hoang Dung