The state’s Information Technology Division caused a ruckus last year when it mandated use of an open format that essentially left Microsoft Office documents out of the picture. Only one was around at the time, OpenDocument Format, or ODF, and Microsoft Office didn’t support it. Network World went so far as to name the person responsible, Peter Quinn, as one of the 50 Most Powerful People in 2006 for making the daring move. Unfortunately, our applause didn’t help the guy much. He was replaced by Louis Gutierrez in January.
But it appears that there has been a meeting of the minds between Microsoft and Gutierrez. While Microsoft has not adopted support of ODF, it has at least developed its own XML format, Open XML, and has been shopping it around standards bodies for acceptance. The latest policy document from Massachusetts has now been released and will be under review until July 20, reports CNet News. Not surprisingly, this draft includes support for Open XML, as well as ODF, PDF and other accepted formats. See also: Massachusetts puts Open XML out for consideration; State’s move to open formats not a mass migration
With Massachusetts backing down, should Microsoft add support for ODF to its software?
