Extended Call for Tender for Improvement of OOXML Support in LibreOffice / OpenOffice

Friday, 03 February 2012 18:04

Stuttgart, 3.2.12 – The call for tender by German and Swiss IT authorities regarding improvements of OOXML support in LibreOffice / OpenOffice has been prolonged until February 29, 2012. In addition to the German specification the coordinating OSB Alliance Working Group "Office Interoperability" has published the English version of the specification.

Until today the response to the Call for Tender for the project "Precise reproduction of OOXML documents in open source office applications" didn't meet the expectations of the Open Source Business Alliance Working Group "Office Interoperability". Therefore the Working Group decided to extend the deadline for handing in proposals another month until February 29, 2012.

The specification of the project is available in English and German. Matthias Stürmer, designated spokesperson of the "Office Interoperability" working group of the OSB Alliance, can be contacted to discuss the financing of the project and any other questions: This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it , Tel. +41 58 289 61 97

English specification
http://www.osb-alliance.com/images/stories/PDF_Files/specificationooxmlimprovements_en_v06.pdf

German specification
http://www.osb-alliance.com/images/stories/PDF_Files/spezifikationlayoutgetreuedarstellungvonooxmlv06_neu.pdf

The project "Precise reproduction of OOXML documents in open source office applications"
The planned improvements primarily embrace corrections and extensions to the OOXML filter of the current version of LibreOffice and OpenOffice. These improvements to the OOXML filter shall be able to be implemented as open source software in all open source office products. Apache License v2.0 has been selected as the licence for this purpose. To provide improved OOXML support, the Working Group has defined the five following work packages: formatting of frames and images in .docx, formatting of tables in .docx, formatting of lists in .docx, formatting of comments in .docx and .xlsx, embedding of fonts in OOXML and ODF. Test documents are being used to check that the specifications are met.

Initial press release in English
http://www.osb-alliance.com/index.php/de/home/5-lisog/622-authorities-publish-specification-for-better-support-of-ooxml-in-libreofficeopenofficeorg-new-qoffice-interoperabilityq-working-group-within-osb-alliance-to-coordinate-implementation

Initial press release in German
http://www.osb-alliance.com/index.php/de/home/5-lisog/619-behoerden-veroeffentlichen-spezifikation-fuer-bessere-unterstuetzung-von-ooxml-in-libreofficeopenofficeorg-neue-working-group-office-interoperability-der-osb-alliance-koordiniert-umsetzung

About the Open Source Business Alliance
With its 230 members, the Open Source Business Alliance (OSB Alliance) is Germany's largest network of companies and organisations that develop, build on or use Open Source software. The aim of the OSB Alliance is to promote the use of Open Source software and other forms of open collaboration. This is achieved through the dissemination of information, creating a positive environment for manufacturers and users, and by the active networking of manufacturers, customers and service providers. Interoperability both between various Open Source systems and with proprietary software plays a very important role in this respect. The OSB Alliance came into being in 2011 as a result of the amalgamation of the LIVE Linux Association and Linux Solutions Group (LiSoG). The Open Source Business Alliance has its head office in Stuttgart. Its chairperson is Peter H. Ganten.

Press enquiries
Bernd Hertl
Manager PR / Marketing project team
OSB Alliance
Open Source Business Alliance e.V.
Breitscheidstraße 4
D-70174 Stuttgart

Tel: + 49 711 90715 316
Fax: + 49 711 90715 350
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www.osb-alliance.com