Technical writers should all know about OpenDocument Format (ODF).  A new version, ODF 1.2, has recently been approved by the Organization for the Advancement of Structured Information Standards (OASIS).  OpenDocument Format is an XML-based way to create office documents that are independent of any proprietary application or software platform.  Documents created in this format will not become obsolete if and when your organization tries out new software.  This version, ODF 1.2,  includes improvements and support for digital signatures, semantic web technology, and the OpenFormula spreadsheet language.

What Software Currently Works with OpenOffice Format?

Users of OpenOffice.org are already familiar with files created in ODF.  Here is a list of the OpenOffice file type extensions, which are all based on the ODF format:

• ODT (text document)
• ODS (spreadsheet)
• ODP (presentation)
• ODG (graphics)
• ODF (math formulas)

These file types are merely ZIP folders.  You can unzip them and find open-source XML files to explore and examine.  When you unzip an ODT file, for example, the main file to look at is named manifest.xml and can be found in a folder named META-INF. The content.xml file holds the content of the document, the meta.xml file holds the meta data about the document, and the style.xml file defines how the style properties of how the content is laid out. The settings.xml file defines the preference settings of the document.

If you have OpenOffice installed on your computer, you can find the DTDs for OpenOffice are found in the software installation files in a subfolder BASIS >> SHARE >> DTD.

OpenDocument Format(ODF) has been adopted by the major players in I.T., including Google Docs, IBM, Microsoft Office, Nokia, WordPad,  and WordPerfect, among many others.  Making sure your organization’s documents are in this format is an important step to take to ensure a future that facilitates growth and interoperability with these companies.

• ODF on Wikipedia