Office Open XML

An XML-based file format developed by Microsoft and standardized by ECMA (ECMA 376). It is the default document format for saving applications in Microsoft Office starting with Office 2007. See Office file formats.

A Package of Folders and Files
An Office Open XML (OOXML) document is a zipped collection of folders, subfolders, XML files and other file types, which is a huge contrast from previous Microsoft Office and traditional business file formats. One advantage of the Office Open XML structure is that various parts of the document can be edited more easily because they reside in separate files.

For comparison, following are the file structures created in both the traditional Word format (Word 2003 and prior) and Word Open XML format (starting with Word 2007). The two examples depict a simple document with one picture saved with the name RESUME.

 #1 - TRADITIONAL WORD DOCUMENTresume.doc (one file)


 #2 - OFFICE OPEN XML WORD DOCUMENTresume.docx (one file, which is a
               zipped collection of the
               following folders & files)


 _rels FOLDER
     .rels (RELationshipS; pointers to
             app, core and document
             XML files)

 docProps FOLDER
     app.xml (page characteristics)
     core.xml (authorship, versions)

 word FOLDER
     document.xml (text content)
     fontTable.xml (fonts)
     settings.xml (spelling, grammar,
                    math, spacing)
     styles.xml (paragraph styles)
     webSettings.xml (browser attributes)

     _rels SUBFOLDER
         document.xml.rels (pointers to
                            other files)

     media SUBFOLDER
         image1.jpeg (embedded image)

     theme SUBFOLDER
         theme1.xml (foreign language
                       attributes)

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References in periodicals archive

Aspose.Words for JasperReports makes it possible exporting reports from JasperReports and JasperServer to Microsoft Word document (DOC), Office Open XML (OOXML, DOCX), Web page (HTML) and plain text (TXT) formats.

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Users can rapidly scan to various destinations and convert documents into a range of formats including Office Open XML PPT and Word.

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After an initial setback, Microsoft ended up obtaining ISO recognition and the establishment of an international standard for Office Open XML, in August 2008.

EUROPEAN STANDARDISATION : DEBATE ON SPECIAL RULES FOR ICT

According to the company, the new release introduces support for MS Word standard Office Open XML (DOCX).

The Imaging Source introduces TX Text Control v14.0

ISO/IEC DIS 29500 was originally developed as the Office Open XML Specification by Microsoft Corporation which submitted it to Ecma International, an information technology industry association, for transposing into an ECMA standard and subsequently published as ECMA standard 376.

Viewpoint--as OOXML gains approval to become an International Standard, XML is poised to take centre stage for the future of high value data content storage

Two organisations, OpenForum Europe (OFE), a leading organisation set up to advance the use of open standards, and ODF Alliance, a campaigning group promoting open document format, representing over 210 organisations in 30 countries, highlight that the new standard, Microsoft licensed Office Open XML, is being fast tracked to become a new European ISO/IEC standard.

IT standards hijack

"Microsoft's adoption of the new Office Open XML file formats will bring about a sea-change in how people share information.

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However, state officials said that if the forthcoming Microsoft Office Open XML meets Massachusetts' policy criteria, it could be acceptable under the mandate.

ODF gains standard status

"The goal of the Technical Committee is to produce a formal standard for office productivity applications within the Ecma International standards process, which is fully compatible with the Office Open XML Formats." Phipps calls this "a travesty of standardization."

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