Re: [xml-dev] The year is 2027, and we need to examine archived XMLdocum

[robert_weir@us.ibm.com]

> So, instead of fighting over ODF/OOXML which
can survive with or without 
> each other, perhaps ISO/W3C/OASIS/IETF etc should focus on a (possibly)
> XML based archive format for documents and data which preserves basic
> layout, links, binary objects (like jpg, avi, etc) as part of the
> format. Open Office and Microsoft can conform to Government requirements
> by having a "Save Archive" option.
> 
> All sorts of applications, not just office functions could target
the 
> archive format for long term storage and searching.
> 

There is probably something to be learned from ISO
PDF/A in this regard.   One idea I've given some thought to is whether
something like ODF/A, defined as a formal profile or restriction of ODF,
would have significantly greater usefulness for long-term archiving than
the full ODF.  ODF/A for example, could disallow scripts/macros, OLE
embeddings, image embeddings other than PNG and JPG format, etc.  

-Rob
___________________________

Rob Weir
Software Architect
Workplace, Portal and Collaboration Software
IBM Software Group

email: robert_weir@us.ibm.com
phone: 1-978-399-7122
blog: http://www.robweir.com/blog/