2009-01-04: Study Points To Need For Interoperability Between ODF and OOXML Implementations
We consider several implications of these results including the lack of perfect compatibility between implementations, the lack of good implementations outside of Windows, and the surprisingly good overall performance of OOXML implementations. The interoperability issues are troubling and suggest the need for improved interoperability testing for document formats. The results also highlight the importance of interoperability for open standards in general. Without interoperability, governments will be locked-in to the dominant implementations for either standard and in the process lose many of the benefits that might accrue from adopting an open standard in the first instance.
I would note that there aren't really many implementations of OOXML yet. Microsoft Office 2007, plus its conversion pack for Office 2003 and earlier are one implementation. WordPerfect would be a separate implementation. AbiWord would be still another implementation, and finally the implementation that Novell brought to OpenOffice.org, which is based on the ODF-OOXML conversion plugin project. While there isn't a list in this study abstract, it would three of the five mentioned are either Microsoft code or performed with Microsoft funding and technical assistance. I would like to see how well AbiWord, WordPerfect, and ThinkFree comply with the standard and how well they interoperate with other implementations including Microsoft's.
On the other hand, ODF implementers are fully aware that they have a long way to go. I personally utilize KOffice and OpenOffice, frequently noticing that they do things differently. I used to use AbiWord, but version 2.4.6 (the one I have) crashes so often that I cannot do any work with it.
The study (or at least the abstract that is available) does emphasize the need to have multiple, interoperable implementations--working code--for any open standard before we can expect many of the benefits of such a standard.
This paper suggests that governments seeking the benefits of open standards need to consider the role of interoperability. Without multiple interoperable implementations, i.e., "running code", users will not gain the advantages of competition and substitutability. To highlight the issues around interoperability, we examined the interoperability issues around ODF and OOXML.
Anyway, it is great to see that the academic world too is starting to take interest in openness--open standards, open source, open access. This is a growing trend that will eventually sweep away corporate-centrism and government cronyism. The days of the corporate-government alliance holding citizens at bay is ending! And while they'll fight like they are facing doom, they will be as happy as can be once there is no more ability to use abusive tactics to lock their hands in our wallets.
