ECMA approves Microsoft document format

Certification marks a year of work for a technical committee set up to standardise Office Open XML

A vote to make Microsoft Office document formats an international standard was approved last Thursday, according to a Microsoft representative.

At the general assembly of ECMA International in Zurich, Switzerland, Microsoft's Office Open XML -- a set of specifications detailing the document formats in Microsoft's office -- was certified as a standard.

In addition, the membership-based standards organisation voted to propose Office Open XML to the larger International Organisation for Standardisation (known as ISO) for standards approval through its fast-track process, a Microsoft representative confirmed.

The vote to accept Microsoft's submission as a standard was expected. The ISO standardisation process typically takes about nine months, according to experts.

IBM, which has been a vocal advocate of another standard called open document, or ODF, voted against making Open XML a standard. ODF was passed earlier this month as an ISO standard.

The certification from ECMA -- formerly known as the European Computer Manufacturers Association -- marks about a year of work for a technical committee set up to standardise Office Open XML.

These document formats are the default for Office 2007, an upgrade to Microsoft's productivity suite that was released to businesses late last month and expected to be available to consumers next January.

Novell, which participated in the ECMA technical committee, intends to support Office Open XML in its distribution of the OpenOffice open source productivity suite. Corel, which makes the WordPerfect Office suite, intends to support both Office Open XML and OpenDocument.

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Talkback 6 comments

    M$ Corruption unhindered, paid its way again. ricardo -- 11/12/06

    When will the corruption at the hands of M$ ever stop?
    Corrupt public officials getting bought in plain daylight by M$!!

    I cannot believe it.

    You are misinformed Anonymous -- 12/12/06 (in reply to #320072133)

    Its funny that the story i read was that all vendors (not public officials ) except IBM voted in favour of adoption. MS does not bribe corrupt officials adn comment like yours are just wild speculation and not the actual truth

    yes well ... ricardo -- 12/12/06

    explain to me the independence of a standards body who M$ has infiltrated & become a member of?? It's like getting a wolf to look after the flock.

    I mean, what alternate universe are you living in? Gates lovers.. their all the same.
    Pass some of that stuff your smokin this way, it must be good.

    Whinge whinge whinge Anonymous -- 13/12/06

    MS bashing is getting a little dull.. If you don't like it, don't use it. Get over it.

    ok,........ ricardo -- 13/12/06 (in reply to #320072192)

    I don't use M$, all my PCs run Linux!
    And Yes, I repair & fix window PCs everyday, & even though I make profits from all the weaknesses in Windows, I would rather encourage users to move to linux or Mac.
    But most would rather stay with M$ out of fear of trying something better.

    It's incredible the amount of ignorance I witness on a daily basis from most windows users , especially regarding digital civil rights of consumers.
    You sound like one more. sorry. no offence meant.

    Moved from whinging to whining Anonymous -- 14/12/06 (in reply to #320072198)

    ..now there's progress

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