{Microsoft} Word works with open file styles (BBC)

[eppur_se_muova]

Microsoft has released tools that should make it much easier for users to share and save text-based files.

Working with three partners Microsoft has released a translation program that converts Word documents into more "open" formats.

Specifically, it lets users save Word documents in the ODF format favoured by the free Open Office application.

More translation add-ons for other applications in Microsoft's Office package of programs will follow.
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The add-on program for Word can already be downloaded from the SourceForge project page and will soon be available via Microsoft's website. The add-on works with Word 2003 and 2007.
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more: http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/technology/6323575.stm

http://sourceforge.net/projects/odf-converter

[ChairmanAgnostic]

1. I use Open Office on me mac.

a Word (mac) file runs 150K in memory.
ODF runs 1/3 of that. AND I prefer open office for other reasons, except for the envelopes issue. Then again, Macs have a dashboard element that works better than word's.

Open Office ROCKS and I support it with $$$$