Open Document Format
Open Document Format (ODF), short name for OASIS Open Document Format for Office Applications (OpenDocument). ODF is an open document file format that can be used for creating various document types like text documents, spreadsheets, presentations, databases, charts, tables and formulas. It was initially developed by Openoffice.org and later on developed by OASIS International Consortium.
By open document file format, I mean the XML-based format specifications are accessible by everyone and anyone can implement it freely to create editable office documents. As ODF is based upon XML, it defines a schema for representing all types of data. The complete specifications are available online.
It provides an alternative solution to vendor-specific (Microsoft Office, being the single major one) proprietary formats, so that organizations and individuals may adopt an open format and can use other software in case they don’t want to depend on a proprietary format & software and want to remain flexible.
ODF Specifications
An OpenDocument file can be either a single XML file, or as a collection of several subdocuments within a package (ZIP archive mainly) each of which represents part of the complete document. The latter is used almost exclusively, for it can embed binary content and tends to be significantly smaller. In OpenDocument format, each structural component is represented by an element with associated attributes. It applies to all document types, so there is no difference between a text document, a spreadsheet or a presentation, apart from content.
There are four types of subdocuments, each with different root elements. Additionally, the single XML document has its own root element. The root elements are given below:
| Root Element | Subdocument Content | Name in Package |
| <office:document> | Complete document in a single XML Document. | n/a |
| <office:document-content> | Document content & automatic style used in the content. | content.xml |
| <office:document-styles> | Styles used in document content & automatic style used in the styles. | styles.xml |
| <office:document-meta> | Document meta information, like author name, last time of save action. | meta.xml |
| <office:document-settings> | Application-specific settings such as zoom factor, cursor position etc. | settings.xml |
OpenDocument format is also supported for the Accessibility features. Specification of OpenDocument is going through an extensive review, and many sub-components of ODF have gone through W3C’s Web Accessibility Initiative processes. ODF is supported as it’s got an advantage over proprietary formats, which generally don’t undergo peer reviews for accessibility issues. Open specifications of OpenDocument allows anyone to create software for those suffering from disabilities unlike proprietary formats which cannot be implemented easily by everyone.
Microsoft Office Open XML
Microsoft Open XML format is again Microsoft-specific file format to be implemented in upcoming Microsoft Office 2007 release of Office Suite. It’s the only competitor considered to the Open Document Format. Now, the difference between the two is ODF is an open format, but Microsoft’s Open XML has licensing requirements and it prevent some competitors from using it.
Now, we need to know what it means when Microsoft has created a separate format for itself. Certain software companies have criticized this move as Microsoft’s plan to counter attack the ODF standard, as currently Microsoft enjoys almost complete monopoly in the Office-suite market. So, if ODF becomes a popular, de-facto standard for creating, exchanging office documents, that means Microsoft loses its monopoly over the market.
But Microsoft maintains its stand for a different XML format so as to allow for backwards compatibility for existing documents and full support of all the features available, which are not supported by ODF, according to Microsoft. So, that is Microsoft’s decision.
But the good point is, Industry is slowly progressing from conventional binary formats (.ppt, .doc etc.) to open XML based formats which would open many other options for users to create office documents. The new format allows for smaller sized documents and allows for lower level of content manipulations for document recovery, modular structure by separating content, layout, styles & better accessibility to all types of users.