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ExtensibleMarkupLanguage


Extensible Markup Language, (aka XML), is a hot new technology that will be a great aid to computer users? around the world.


So how long has it been around?

Well Tim Berners-Lee? specified HTML in SGML when he was working at CERN (got all those acronyms straight? :)

HTML is an okay language, but one major flaw is that it isn't extensible?. Now SGML is a powerful bad-ass language? and is extensible, but most computer scientists couldn't think of letting mere mortals? unleash its brutal power?.

Actually, the real problem with SGML is that it's really complicated and would be hard for average people? to use. So a "high-powered team of muckety-mucks from the SGML world"1 including Jon Bosak? got "blessed" by the W3C? to make a version of SGML for the web.

In 1997, Jon Bosak? release a paper on what was (and is still) XML. So even though we think it's a hot new technology?, XML has been around for many years.


Tell me more about XML!

There's so much to know, I think that you should go off and look elsewhere!


Microsoft Office Documents are in XML form

Just because Microsoft Office documents will be stored in an XML format does not mean that they will be using open file formats.

Although Microsoft is touting the advantages of the open XML format and the ability to transfer data between Office applications and to web publishing? software, etc... there is much skepticism that Redmond will release its stranglehold on the proprietary formats? of the MS office? product.

MS enjoys its control of the Word, Excel, and PowerPoint? file formats because the prevalence of those documents in society today nearly requires that business, students, and even individuals at home have a copy of MS Office? to use computers.

Open Office and others have reverse engineered? many of the file formats?, but this is small consolation as Microsoft continues to change the schemas in a hope to exclude competition. With advanced DRM technology in Office 11, Microsoft may finally achieve its goal.

Here are some notes from a News.com story2 :

"Basically, Microsoft using XML for Office is a PR trick--it lets them spin a story that they're using an open format, without actually taking the risks of being truly open," said John Stracke, a software engineer in Bedford, Mass. "If Microsoft believes customers are getting worried about format lock-in, then using XML is a way to assuage their fears without losing their lock-in," Stracke said.

Just bloody great, I say!

Here's more:

"Ultimately, Microsoft has no incentive to support an open XML approach to office productivity software and has many good reasons to prevent such a move, said analysts.

"Microsoft would lose a lot of money," Rischel said. "Right now, Microsoft can set the price of Office products based on knowing their large clients don't have an alternative." Open formats "would create a market for other products" and competitive pricing.

Anyhow, please lobby to get your company, school, etc.... to ask Microsoft to agree to open standards? in their office products. I know that it might take a little time to get used to them, but if the other products can serve your needs adequately, write to Microsoft and give them an ultimatum: Either they use open formats? in the Office products or you'll switch to Open Office, Abiword?, Gnumeric, etc...

Banding together, we can make Redmond listen to us.



References



RobinsonTryon - 11 Mar 2003