Open XML
Why Open XML?
1. Open XML is an established standard in the international standards ensemble.
It is common for multiple technology standards to exist in the international standards ensemble. While some of these standards may overlap, all address distinct user needs and have substantially benefited organizations and end-users. Examples include image formats (such as JPEG and TIFF); digital video formats (such as MPEG-2 and H.264); and document formats (such as HTML, ODF, and PDF/A), Open XML (or IS 29500).
2. Open XML is platform independent and easily coexists with other document file formats, including Open Document Format (ODF).
While Microsoft initially developed the early predecessor to Open XML (just as IBM and Sun Microsystems initially developed ODF), industry participants, including Microsoft competitors, as well as members of national standards bodies around the world helped ensure that the final standard was fully open and vendor neutral. Because Open XML is platform neutral, information and documents created by applications on one platform can be used by applications on other platforms. Indeed, Apple's iWorks application suite, Novell's OpenOffice, and Corel's WordPerfect all support Open XML.
3. Open XML has important features supporting long-term document retention, preservation, and accessibility.
Open XML has been designed to be backward compatible with the content and functionality in billions of existing documents. This enhances archiving capabilities, which is one of the key reasons the U.S. Library of Congress and The British Library participated in Ecma International in the creation of the Open XML standard. Under Microsoft's Open Specification Promise (OSP), any required Microsoft patent rights are freely available to all developers to implement Open XML in either open source software or proprietary software.
4. Open XML is an important choice for users, developers, and policy makers.
Open XML is one of many options in the ecosystem, which collectively provide a range of options to address the diverse needs of the global community.
For users, Open XML is a choice that assures maximum compatibility with existing documents. Those who need high-fidelity conversion of legacy documents to a modern, standardized, XML-based format have found that Open XML is a great choice.
For developers, Open XML is a choice that can be implemented on any platform, using common XML tools and techniques. Those who want to automate business processes and add value to existing processes in heterogenous environments have found that Open XML is a great choice.
For policy makers, Open XML is a choice that provides the known long-term benefits of a standards-based approach, assuring freedom from dependence on specific applications, vendors, or platforms. Those concerned with archival requirements, access by assistive technologies, and standards compliance have found that Open XML is a great choice.
