News (195)

ODF finally defeats OOXML in document format war?

Microsoft will add native support to Office 2007 for the OpenDocument Format (ODF) instead of OOXML because of compatibility issues — but Microsoft refuses to admit that ODF has won the document format war. Read more »

OpenDocument format gathers steam

Big guns in the software industry are massing behind OpenDocument as government customers show more interest in open-source alternatives to Microsoft's desktop software. Read more »

Microsoft to standardise Office formats

Microsoft intends to submit file formats for its new Office 12 applications to the European standards body ECMA International. The company hopes this will allay concern about its level of control over document formats. Read more »

EC reluctant to back OpenDocument

The European Commission is reluctant to recommend the OpenDocument file format, even though the format has been endorsed by international standards groups. Read more »

Microsoft: OpenDocument is too slow

The OpenDocument Format has come under attack from Microsoft, which claims its Office Open XML format has significantly better performance. Read more »

Writely warms to OpenDocument

The company behind Web-based word processor Writely announced on Monday that it will handle documents saved in the OpenDocument format. Read more »

IBM, Sun to create 'OpenDocument Foundation'?

IBM and Sun Microsystems are considering forming a foundation to increase adoption of the OpenDocument format, which is emerging as a threat to Microsoft's dominant Office suite of software. Read more »

IBM backs OpenDocument in Lotus Notes

IBM has announced an upgrade to Lotus Notes that will include access to office productivity applications and support for the OpenDocument format. Read more »

Web business standard gets thumbs up

A Web standards body has published a series of definitions that could make it easier for big companies to share business documents. Read more »

Heed Microsoft's move, adopt OpenDocument: OSIA

Open Source Industry Australia Limited (OSIA) has welcomed Microsoft's move to create a "translator" that will allow people to use Office to open and save documents in the OpenDocument, or ODF, format. Read more »

Features (247)

XSL-FO makes XML documents flexible

XSL formatting objects (XSL-FO) can provide versatility in formatting for Web and print. Learn more about this emerging dialect. Read more »

Tools for securing your XML documents

The W3C offers two specifications for securing your XML documents, XML Signature and XML Encryption. Find out which tools can help create secure XML documents that adhere to these standards. Read more »

A better way to create XML documents in .NET

Creating XML documents in .NET isn't difficult, but it can be tedious. Here's what you need to know about .NET's streaming model for writing XML. Read more »

Use DOM to create data-driven HTML documents

The Document Object Model can be a powerful object-oriented tool for creating data-driven HTML documents. See how DOM can be used in conjunction with XML data islands to increase the efficiency of your Web applications. Read more »

Locate XML data with XQuery

Finding specific information contained in an XML document can be a challenge. However, XQuery can save you valuable time when searching XML documents. Review the essentials of this W3C specification in this introduction. Read more »

First Look: ActivePDF Toolkit

In this "First Look", we take a look at ActivePDF Toolkit, a flexible API-driven toolset that ASP and .NET developers can use to manipulate PDF files and forms. Read more »

Send XML documents online with SAAJ

SOAP with Attachments API for Java (SAAJ) provides a standard way to send XML documents over the Internet from the Java platform. SAAJ enables you to produce and consume messages conforming to the SOAP 1.1 and 1.2 specifications and SOAP with Attachments note. Read more »

Speeding up code documentation

Documentation is a crucial part of a software project. See how the Javadoc tool can help you to create and maintain in-sync developer documentation. Read more »

Write useful documentation with these tips

Most developers cringe at the idea of writing documentation. However, the process doesn't have to be a thoroughly time-consuming endeavour. Check out these handy tips on what you should include in your documentation and where to find tools that will assist you in this process. Read more »

Developing documentation without a tech writer

In a perfect world, every development team has one or more technical writers working alongside them to ensure quality documentation is available for their product. Read more »

Video (1)

Microsoft Office executive claims OOXML provides greater security than alternative document formats

Redmond-based group project manager of Microsoft Office, Gray Knowlton, told ZDNet Australia that OOXML provides higher levels of security. "One of the benefits we have with the OpenOffice XML formats is that we know when we read and write and document because we have an XML based representation of what's in that content -- we know what should and should not be there," he said. Read more »

Blog (10)

How to Lifestream with WordPress

Brendon Chase [blogs:codemonkeybusiness] -- Lifestreaming is the act of collecting and publishing all of your social networking activities in one stream. Here's the easy way to get started using your own install of WordPress. Read more »

Q&A with EditMe: A wiki for non-geeks

Brendon Chase [blogs:codemonkeybusiness] -- Finally, a wiki CMS solution that you can safely give to your clients to use. But sshhhh... don't call it a wiki... Read more »

Google Developer Day yet to fill

Chris Duckett [blogs:betaliving] -- Past experience would suggest that if Google restricts access then people will clamour for it -- remember GMail invites back in the day? It is therefore surprising that places for Google's Sydney Developer Day have not been snapped up. Read more »

CSS support in Opera 9.50 Beta 1

Staff [blogs:syslog] -- In our CSS compatibility tests article we didn't use a beta version of Opera. Now see the results for Opera 9.50 Beta 1. Read more »

All this matter and make up and déjá vu

Staff [blogs:syslog] -- There are some weeks when you could be mistaken for thinking that the record had skipped and the players involved were simply going through the motions -- this week was one of them. Read more »

Microsoft's two faces of SharePoint

Staff [blogs:syslog] -- One way or another, proprietary and open-source companies need an answer to SharePoint. Content is the center of the enterprise ecosystem, when all is said and done. SharePoint is Microsoft's answer for controlling the next decade of IT. Read more »

Newbie guide to Google's Android

Brendon Chase [blogs:codemonkeybusiness] -- Google's platform for mobile devices has been announced and ready for developers to get their hands dirty. Here's the basics of what it's all about and the core architecture overview. Read more »

Adobe's MAX Conference 2007, Day One Keynote

Andrew Muller [blogs:nouveauricheinternet] -- The big event of a Flex, Flash or ColdFusion developer's year is Adobe's annual conference held this year in Chicago. Builder AU's Andrew Muller attended this year and reports on the first day's opening. Read more »

Data dumps are the dumps

David McAmis [blogs:theneteffect] -- I have recently spend a considerable amount of time on a project replacing an old mainframe system with a new web-based application. Read more »

Must have apps for Mac

Brendon Chase [blogs:codemonkeybusiness] -- Here are some of essential apps for Mac OSX users. Read more »

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  • Staff Shadow chasing in browsers

    The punching and counterpunching continued in the ongoing web browser development bout. Each time one browser closes a feature gap, a new feature appears in one of the others -- how we ever put up with the years of browser stagnation, I'll never know. Read more »

    -- posted by Staff

  • Chris Duckett Safari gets Gears

    Since its release in May last year, Gears has supported only Internet Explorer and Firefox browsers. With the addition of Safari into the Gears fold, it closes the loop of major browsers to support Gears Read more »

    -- posted by Chris Duckett

  • Renai LeMay MyPerfect.com.au has potential

    Victorian Web start-up My Perfect has a strong story and rationale for why it will succeed. But it has to overcome some challenges and design flaws first. Read more »

    -- posted by Renai LeMay

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