[Info-vax] OT: Rob Short: Operating System Evolution

[Bill Gunshannon]

In article <00A96FDF.8A41CBA5 at sendspamhere.org>,
	VAXman-  @SendSpamHere.ORG writes:
> In article <4b40a5e2$0$280$14726298 at news.sunsite.dk>, =?ISO-8859-1?Q?Arne_Vajh=F8j?= <arne at vajhoej.dk> writes:
>>On 02-01-2010 23:22, JF Mezei wrote:
>>> Arne Vajhøj wrote:
>>>
>>>> But but but - did you unzip the container before
>>>> looking at it??
>>>
>>> If it was a zipped XML file, why was its extention not ".ZIP" ????
>>>
>>> How the<4 letter word that begins with H and ends with ELL>  is one
>>> supposed to know that some proprietary Microsoft format is a zip archive ?
>>>
>>> And if it was so easy to just unzip it, why was I told I needed a
>>> proprioetary micsrosoft application to convert that format to a .DOC or
>>> XML format readable by some other application ?
>>
>>A .docx file is a zip file containing XML files.
>>
>>If you rename it to .zip and look into it then you will
>>see a bunch of xml files. I believe document.xml is the
>>one you will want.
>>
>>The extension is not .zip because then double clicking on it
>>would open a zip utility/filebrowser instead of the intended
>>Word.
>>
>>It is not a proprietary format but standardized format. Only
>>around 10000 pages of specification.  :-)
>>
>>To read it then I would also have suggested an office
>>application. It is not that easy to read that XML. MS Office
>>is obvious, but I believe that OpenOffice should be able
>>to read it as well.
> 
> You're saying that a .DOC is XML?  I thought it was proprietary M$ W(ei)RD.
> 

The new format is .docx, which is xml.  I am always amazed at how
many people who always bitched about MS proprietary formats bitch
just as lound about their use of XML.

And, if you hate the idea of someone taking a standard format and
adding proprietary junk to it, take a look at XFDL.  And you can't
blame Gatwes for that one.

bill

-- 
Bill Gunshannon          |  de-moc-ra-cy (di mok' ra see) n.  Three wolves
billg999 at cs.scranton.edu |  and a sheep voting on what's for dinner.
University of Scranton   |
Scranton, Pennsylvania   |         #include <std.disclaimer.h>