Re: RTF - proprietary or open?
On Mon, 25 Jun 2007 18:35:27 +0300
David Baron <d_baron@012.net.il> wrote:
> > I'm using Abiword, which recommends using RTF for document exchange
> > with non-Abi users. I'm trying to understand whether RTF is an open
> > standard. Wikipedia [0] claims that it's proprietary. This article
> > [1] points out that it has the same status as PDF. I can't imagine
> > that Abi would recommend a non-open standard, and even prefer it to ODF
> > (OASIS / XML) [2]. What does it even mean for a file format to be
> > open? That the creator can't restrict its use? That the spec has been
> > published?
> >
> > [0] http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rich_Text_Format
> > [1] http://www.tkachenko.com/blog/archives/000657.html
> > [2] http://www.abisource.com/mailinglists/abiword-dev/2003/Apr/0167.html
>
> As I have said, RTF is Microsoft's language and maintaining RTF readers is
> chasing a moving target. However, there is a document published specifying
> the language and sticking to that should work. Problem is all the proprietary
> stuff that gets added in my Microsoft (and others).
>
> RTF can go in and out of Word, Abiword, Kword, Openoffice. Each has its
> problems but it can be done. RTF was the intermediary for most all of the
> Dagesh/Accent filters as well.
>
> Microsoft does not restrict its use to my knowledge.
>
> Note: SQL is also theirs so their initiating a standard (even if they fudge it
> all the time) does not make it unacceptable!
Thanks. This confirms what I had begun to conclude.
Celejar
--
mailmin.sourceforge.net - remote access via secure (OpenPGP) email
ssuds.sourceforge.net - A Simple Sudoku Solver and Generator
Reply to: