The New Office 2007 File Formats

[Zenicanin]

Why are they changing this. It was fine the way it was.

Just like how they changed vB. vB6 was fine and dandy, then when I downloaded vB express it was like a totally new program and most commands were changed too.

:(

[boogerjones]

MS will release free upgrade for Office 2003, to open new file formats.

That doesn't mean there won't be problems. Not everyone will update.

[nekrosoft13]

That doesn't mean there won't be problems. Not everyone will update.

ok, so lets just stop technology where it is right now, because so lazy people not gonna download a free update

[Sn1p3t]

I love how everyone starts being pessimistic without really understanding what's going on. Microsoft is changing their format from a propriatary binary stream to an open XML document. You know how hard it is to read an Office doc without their COM objects? This format makes things SO much easier.

They've got the backwards compatibility issue under control.

Why are they changing this. It was fine the way it was.

Just like how they changed vB. vB6 was fine and dandy, then when I downloaded vB express it was like a totally new program and most commands were changed too.

:(

Visual Basic .NET Express is for VB.net, not VB6. The differences are so vast you can't expect it to be perfectly backwards compatible. VB.net brings so much to VB it's not even funny. Look up the differences.

[dragon2611]

I am all for standards but here is a scenario...imagine MS using ODF as standard, now if Microsoft wants to add a feature, they can't unless whatever committee handling ODF approves it...and you know how fast they work :whistle: so if MS puts the "propreitory extension" and people blame them for destroying the standard!

so its better to have your own thing which you can augment, improve or do whatever.

When apple adds a new extension to HTML (canvas... I might be wrong on this), people applaud it and adapt it...but when MS does similar, they take out their swords and start choppin ! :laugh:

so screw ODF :rofl:

would be nice to be able to open and save ODF files in office.

im not saying they use it as the standard format or anything but it would be usefull if you could import / export to it. ;)

[Orange]

Why the hell for "docx" makes no sense what so ever, seems they upgrade the file names more then they do the software :rofl:

[macro]

Aren't they doing this so you know in advance if the document is macro enabled or not? I would think it's for security reasons because if you have a .docx you know there wont be any dangers in it most likely. Or am I completely wrong on this?

[ClintEastman]

Aren't they doing this so you know in advance if the document is macro enabled or not? I would think it's for security reasons because if you have a .docx you know there wont be any dangers in it most likely. Or am I completely wrong on this?

Nope, that's spot on.

[Echilon]

Umm...not quite true, what about .aspx in asp.net?

And .theme, .msstyles etc :p