Open Document Format (ODF) for Office Applications (OpenDocument)

Level: Intermediate

Contributors: OASIS

06 Feb 2007
Updated 14 Jan 2008

Learn about Open Document Format (ODF) for Office Applications (OpenDocument), an XML application that allows you to represent the information and formatting for office suite applications. It covers word processors, spreadsheets, basic drawings, presentation formats, and more.

The OpenOffice.org office application suite was developed to use an XML saved file format that would be suitable for general use, even in competing products. This idea became the seed for the Open Document Format for Office Applications (OpenDocument) [OASIS Standard], sometimes called ODF. This set of XML schemata (in RELAX NG) is suitable for representing word processor, spreadsheet, and presentation documents. Version 1.0 has been standardized and is enjoying solid adoption, and Version 1.1 is in development.

Resources

• Learn the basics of ODF in Thinking XML: The open office file format by Uche Ogbuji (developerWorks, January 2003).
  
  
• Check out the learning resources for various aspects of the format on the OpenDocument community site.
  
  
• Read about other XML standards: Index of XML standards.
  
  
• Participate in any of several XML-centered forums: XML zone discussion forums.
  
  
• Get involved in the developerWorks community: developerWorks blogs
  
  
• Find out how you can become an IBM-Certified Developer in XML and related technologies at IBM XML certification.
  
  
• See the developerWorks XML Zone for a wide range of technical articles and tips, tutorials, standards, and IBM Redbooks at XML technical library.
  
  
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