[myoss] [OT] Re: ODF as a Malaysian Standard

[Yoon Kit Yong]

SIRIM is still open to comments,
So please do not stop submitting.

Here are other issues which other people who want to comment
can pick on. Read the blogs out there which attack ODF.
the issues are being recycled in the oppostion to make ODF an MS.

So the following are points which can be highlighted in your comments,
if possible:

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1. Adoption of ODF as a Malaysian Standard does not discriminate
against other standards nor is it a single Malaysian standard.

2. Adoption of ODF as an MS does not bias procurement policies as ODF
is an open, unencumbered standard which can be implemented by any
technology provider or vendor. Standards are technology neutral.

3. ODF is already an ISO standard, and thus has gained acceptance by
the international community of technology providers, users and
nations. in line with global standards, we must adopt ISO 26300 as a
malaysian standard.

4. Formulas are supported and fully functional in ODF Spreadsheets. We
have been using it for many years now. Spreadsheets can do =SUM(A1:A5)
as easily as =NPV(A5, A6:A8)

5. The current problem of Backward compatibility stems from
proprietary and closed formats. If we had Open Formats in day one this
would be a non issue. ODF is necessary to ensure that we will not have
to face this problem again.

6. Backward compatibility support is not a feature of a Document
Format. It should be the feature of the Application. We should make a
format which is Future compatible, i.e. an a fully documented yet
evolving standard.

7. Accessibility features. Internationally Standardised File formats
do not "read" a document to a blind person. The Application software
that parses it requires an accessibility layer. Microsoft Office is an
accessible application, and Windows users will find that they can use
JAWS to get it to do text-to-speech for them, or connect it to a
Braille reader. JAWS can also be used (but its hacky) with
OpenOffice.org and the Java Accessibility layer.

8. If MS Office supports the open standard ODF, then these issues of
backward compatibility, accessibility, 'ease of use', migration and
purchased licenses would simply dissapear.

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e.g.

I am encouraged that SIRIM is taking the bold move in proposing to
have the ODF as a Malaysian Standard. We have been using ODF
Applications for many years now, and have always wished that this
format was more widely used. I have been spurred on to use ODF with
the Standardisation on an International level of the ODF by ISO. Now
that ODF will become a MS I can now proudly state that my documents
are endorsed by the Malaysian Government and should be supported
nationwide, as all the forward thinking Public Departments of the
world are doing.

However I have friends and clients who are more reluctant to move from
the currently well used Office productivity suite by Microsoft. If
Microsoft were to fully support ODF, then the issues with
interoperability, accessibility, familiarity of use, backward
compatibility and all the other issues which my clients are facing
would simply vanish. So I would fully support the Governments move to
Standardise on ODF, and ensure that all Office Suites support this
marvellous format too.

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Remember this is just an example email which combines points 3, 5,6,7,8.

Please pick and chose, and post your comments here in this thread as well.

Regards,

yk.