OpenDocument Proposal

OpenDocument is a proposed standard office-type document format for use in the EU etc.; see http://www.groklaw.net/article.php?story=20050130002908154 for more detail.

Currently it has its own custom format for graphics elements, similar to OpenOffice.org's Draw format, and also somewhat similar to SVG in some areas.

Clearly it would be good both for SVG, Inkscape, and the success of the OpenDocument standard, if OpenDocument were to use SVG to the extent possible, such that any SVG-compliant renderer could render the <svg> parts of the document.

(See also the inkscape-devel mailing list, subject "filter for inkscape and OpenDocument".)

The current OpenDocument specification is available at http://www.oasis-open.org/committees/tc_home.php?wg_abbrev=office .

The discussion list for committee members is office@lists.oasis-open.org, though I don't yet know how to see archives of this list.

To send comments, either click the "Send a comment" button on the above-referenced web-page, or use the office-comment@lists.oasis-open.org mailing list. Subscribe by sending the word "subscribe" in the body of mail to office-comment-request@lists.oasis-open.org.

From Daniel Carrera:

It is very important to get representation in the OASIS TC from multiple interested parties. The goal is to make a format acceptable to everyone, and that can only be done if people participate in the discussion.

Also, right now they wer working on the next version of the format. The one that'll meet all of the EU's requirements. And they are in the official "request for public comentary" period until Friday. So, the best time to raise a concern is right now. Send them a comment.