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What is the OASIS Open Document Format for Office Applications
(OpenDocument)?
OASIS Open Document Format for Office Applications (OpenDocument)
is a standardized XML-based file format specification suitable for
office applications. It covers the features required by text,
spreadsheets, charts, and graphical documents
Where did OpenDocument come from?
OpenDocument has its roots in the OpenOffice.org XML file format.
In December 2003, Arbortext, Boeing, Corel, CSW Informatics, Drake
Certivo, National Archive of Australia, New York State Office of the
Attorney General, Society of Biblical Literature, Sony, Stellent and
Sun Microsystems founded the OASIS Open Office XML Format TC to
develop a standardized XML-based file format for office applications.
The basis for the TC's work was the OpenOffice.org XML file format
that had proved its value in real life already. The first committee
draft was approved in March 2003, a 2nd one in December 2004. In
January 2005, the Open Office XML Format TC renamed itself to OASIS
Open Document Format for Office Applications (OpenDocument) to
emphasize that the resulting specification is not only suitable for
OpenOffice.org, but for arbitrary office applications.
A third committee draft was approved in March 2005. OpenDocument
was approved as an OASIS standard in May 2005.
What is the current state of the specification?
The OASIS Open Document Format for Office Applications
(OpenDocument) 1.0 is an approved OASIS standard.
Who owns OpenDocument?
OpenDocument is owned by OASIS, a nonprofit organization dedicated
to the open development of public XML standards. OpenDocument is
maintained by an OASIS Technical Committee made up of XML, document
manager and office application experts.
How much will it cost to use OpenDocument?
OpenDocument is royalty-free. It can be used without charge by
anyone.
Who benefits from this work and how?
An open document format for office applications protects content,
whether it is a 800 page airplane specification or a legal contract,
from being locked into an application- or vendor-specific file
format. Additionally, it lets application users participate in the
benefits of XML file formats without having to change their habits
and without requiring additional knowledge or education.
Where do I find the OpenDocument specification and schemas?
The OpenDocument v1.0 specification is available in PDF format at
http://www.oasis-open.org/committees/download.php/12572/OpenDocument-v1.0-os.pdf
and in OpenOffice.org XML format at
http://www.oasis-open.org/committees/download.php/12573/OpenDocument-v1.0-os.sxw
.
The OpenDocument v1.0 Relax-NG schemas are available here:
OpenDocument v1.0 Relax-NG Schema
(extracted from chapter 1 to 16 of the specification):
http://www.oasis-open.org/committees/download.php/12571/OpenDocument-schema-v1.0-os.rng
OpenDocument v1.0 Manifest
Relax-NG Schema (extracted from chapter 17 of the specification):
http://www.oasis-open.org/committees/download.php/12570/OpenDocument-manifest-schema-v1.0-os.rng
OpenDocument v1.0 Strict Relax-NG Schema (extracted from
appendix A of the specification):
http://www.oasis-open.org/committees/download.php/12569/OpenDocument-strict-schema-v1.0-os.rng
How does this work compare to related efforts at other
standards organizations?
There are some standards that cover single features of office
applications, like SVG for graphic content or HTML and XSL-FO for
text content, but none of these standards covers all features of
office applications. The OASIS Open Document Format for Office
Applications (OpenDocument) covers the features required by text,
spreadsheets, charts, and graphical documents, but also 'borrow' from
similar, existing standards wherever possible and permitted.
How does this work compare to other office applications
schemas?
OpenDocument was developed in a completely open, publicly
visible, vendor-neutral, royalty-free standards process that allows
input from the entire user community
OpenDocument is one schema for text, spreadsheets, charts,
and graphical documents. There are no distinct schemas for the
different kind of office applications.
OpenDocument is highly interoperable by making use of
existing standards like HTML , SVG , XSL , SMIL , XLink , XForms ,
MathML or Dublin Core wherever possible.
OpenDocument has a package concept and can be used as default
file format for office applications without disadvantages in file
size or integrity.
Is the OpenDocument effort still open?
Yes. The OpenDocument TC will extend OpenDocument 1.0 to encompass
additional areas of applications or users, and also will adapt the
specification to recent developments in office applications. OASIS
members who are interested in participating in the further
development of OpenDocument are encouraged to join the OpenDocument
TC. For non-OASIS members, OASIS membership- is available at the
following URL:
http://www.oasis-open.org/join/
What kind of applications are covered by the specification?
OASIS Open Document Format for Office Applications (OpenDocument)
1.0 is suitable for text, spreadsheets, charts, and graphical
documents. Later versions of the specification will encompass
additional areas of applications or users.
I've sometimes read about and OASIS Open Office XML Format TC
and an Open Office specification. What is their relation to
OpenDocument?
OASIS Open Office and OASIS OpenDocument are the same. The
OpenDocument TC was originally named “OASIS Open Office XML
Format TC”, but renamed itself to “OASIS Open Document
Format for Office Applications (OpenDocument) TC ” in January
2005.
OpenDocument previously was called Open Office. What is the
relation to OpenOffice.org?
When the OASIS Open Document Format for Office Applications
(OpenDocument) TC was founded, it chose the OpenOffice.org XML file
format as the basis for its work, because the OpenOffice.org XML file
format had already proven its value in real life. The OpenDocument
format therefore is an advancement of the OpenOffice.org XML file
format. It us usable and used by OpenOffice.org, but also by other
office applications like KOffice.
The OpenDocument TC as an OASIS TC is not part of the
OpenOffice.org open source project, and only some of the TC members
have a relation to the OpenOffice.org project.
My question isn't listed here: where do I get more information?
If you do not find an answer to your question in this FAQ, please
do not hesitate to send it to the TC members using the "Send A
Comment" button at
http://www.oasis-open.org/committees/tc_home.php?wg_abbrev=office.
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