Microsoft tackles document interoperability

January 5, 2009: Microsoft has laid out its strategy for future interoperability among office productivity applications at a new dedicated Web site, dubbed the Document Interoperability Initiative (DII).

Here it details its implementation of OASIS Open Document Format (ODF) version 1.1 support in Microsoft Office 2007 Service Pack 2, currently in beta and scheduled for release this year. Similarly detailed notes about the company’s implementation of Open XML (Ecma 376 Edition 1) in Office will follow in the coming weeks.

These implementation notes offer a comprehensive guide on how Microsoft is implementing ODF and Open XML within its Microsoft Office suite. The notes, available at no charge, are designed to offer information useful to developers seeking to enhance the interoperability of their solutions with Microsoft products.

“By publishing notes on how we are implementing file format standards in Microsoft Office, we are providing detail that others can use as a reference point for their own applications,” said DougMahugh , senior project manager for Office interoperability. “We encourage other companies to take similar steps to help achieve greater interoperability across the industry.”

Microsoft’s implementation notes include the following:

Further information about the ODF implementers notes is available at the DII site, http://www.documentinteropinitiative.org

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