Sun Releases ODF Plugin for MS Office

extra88 writes "Heise online is reporting that Sun has released their OpenDocument Format (ODF) plug-in for Microsoft Office 2000, XP and 2003. The plug-in allows Microsoft Office (for Windows) users to open ODF files and save their work in ODF formats used by OpenOffice, StarOffice, and other programs. According to the ReadMe, the plug-in adds "ODF Text Document (*.odt)" as a format to Word's Open and Save dialogs and adds Import and Export options to Excel and PowerPoint."

Doing MS's job for them

[mdsolar]

Wow, if this won't boost the usability of Word what will? I might even try it now.
--
Solar power that is easy to use: http://mdsolar.blogspot.com/2007/01/slashdot-users -selling-solar.html [blogspot.com]

Re:Doing MS's job for them

[mdsolar]

I gave up on Word a long time ago when I had a hard time writing ascii files that didn't have non-standard characters in them. There just didn't seem to be a smooth devolution to something that worked well with a text editor with better marco capabilities (emacs in my case). So the program just didn't seem all that useful. Also the symbols were hunt and peck off a drop down. Very slow. So, to me, this development means I might try out Word again since I've been using StarOffice for simpler things like letters and such. How much does Word cost?
--
Solar power with no installation fee: http://mdsolar.blogspot.com/2007/01/slashdot-users -selling-solar.html [blogspot.com]

Re:Doing MS's job for them

[HalifaxRage]

It looks like you're trying to be funny. Would you like some help?

Re:The Way It Should Be

[dgun]

how has the core of MS Office changed since Office 97?

The core? That would require adding real value to a system. Microsoft's strategy has always been to rearrange some menu items and add unwanted useless features like Word's "reading view" and call it an "Upgrade".

And I think things will eventually come full circle. Office 2012, the return of Clippy (and this time...it's personal).

Re:Doing MS's job for them

[Constantine XVI]

Depends. Anywhere from 100 to 500 (complete Office) USD for a boxed copy (I think), or a free copy with a chance to win a federally subsidized vacation :)

Im gonna wait for the bofh.

[pjr.cc]

While i'm quite happy that a 3rd party developed this, third party plugin's tend to be a bit of an admin nightmare... I can just imagine having a conversation with my boss after sending him an odf formatted document:

Boss comes running over: "what is and ODF? do I open it in photoshop?"
me: "no, its a document format, you have do download a plugin from sun that works with microsoft word"
Boss wanders off for 10 minutes, comes back and says "ok, i downloaded the plugin but it wont let me install it cause i dont have permissions".
I wander back to the bosses desk to find he's gone to son.com and downloaded 15 different forms of virus, 2 pieces of spyware, a keylogger and his bank is ringing him on the mobile about a "$100,000 debt that just rang up on his bank account".

I can't wait for the bofh to do a bit on this ;)

ODF documents, where are you?

[heffrey]

I'll install this when I get sent an ODF document. Maybe not for a while then.