WordprocessingML - Definition and Overview

WordprocessingML (aka WordML aka Office 2003 XML Reference Schemas) is the Microsoft Office XML Reference Schemas. Microsoft said it has opened it's schemas, and made it possible to create a program for reading and creating them under an Open source license in part to comply with the Commonwealth of Massachusetts decision to mandate the use of open documents format.

A controversial subject

This is a controversial subject as many people think the license is not compatible with the GPL license because of the obligation to include the Microsoft copyright notice in the program. Others think that WordprocessingML specs are a work in progress and many important aspects are still undocumented and defined in a binary form only. Although Microsoft has pledged to complete the specs, some people fear this will never fully happen given Microsoft track record in revealing their internal information.

There is a risk to see a replay of the RTF scenario, which remained ambiguous in many areas, this has made it useless as a universal text exchange format, while Microsoft claiming their Schemas are open.

See also

• OpenDocument office Open Document Format for Office Applications published by OASIS and based on the OpenOffice document format

External links

• WordprocessinML home page (http://www.microsoft.com/office/xml/default.mspx)
• A slashdot dicussion about the announce (http://slashdot.org/article.pl?sid=05/01/30/1433226&tid=109&tid=1)
• Microsoft Office Formats Not Really Being Opened (http://slashdot.org/article.pl?sid=05/02/01/024208&tid=109&tid=1) another Slashdot discussion