"Milestone for digital sovereignty": 20 years of the Open Document Format (ODF)

On 1 May 2005, the Organization for the Advancement of Structured Information Standards (OASIS) recognized the Open Document Format (ODF) as the standard for an open source file format for office applications such as word processing. The Document Foundation, the non-profit organization behind the LibreOffice software package and thus also behind ODF, is celebrating the 20th anniversary as a "milestone" not only for open file formats, but also for the currently much-vaunted digital sovereignty.

ODF was originally developed as an XML-based format to enable universal access to documents across platforms and software from different providers, the Document Foundation writes . Meanwhile, it has "matured into a technological pillar for governments, educational institutions and organizations" that opt for open, vendor-independent formats. ODF is not just a technical specification, emphasizes Eliane Domingos, Chair of the Document Foundation. "It is a symbol of freedom of choice, support for interoperability and protection of users from the commercial strategies of Big Tech." In a world increasingly dominated by proprietary ecosystems, ODF guarantees users "complete control over their content".

The format with typical file extensions such as .odt or .ods was introduced across the board with the LibreOffice predecessor OpenOffice 2, StarOffice 8 and KOffice 1.4. ODF received its accolade when the International Organization for Standardization (ISO) established it as ISO/IEC 26300 in 2006. This led to many government departments and authorities around the world relying on ODF to ensure interoperability and open access to documents. In Germany, for example, the IT Planning Council has decided to make ODF the standard for document exchange in public administration by 2027. Many educational institutions, companies and private users also appreciate the associated flexibility, the avoidance of dependencies and the fact that it is free of charge.

Microsoft pushed OOXML through at the ISO

Microsoft took the lead with its Office Open XML (OOXML) specification and initially had it standardized by the European Computer Manufacturers Association (ECMA). Despite fierce resistance from some organizations and countries as well as reports of irregularities, the US company finally managed to have OOXML adopted as a standard by the ISO in 2008 (ISO/IEC 29500). This meant that the actual technical work for Microsoft had only just begun, but the symbolic success had been achieved. As Microsoft Office is by far the most widely used suite of office software, .docx, .xlsx, .pptx & Co. have established themselves as the de facto standard for many users.

Although both formats are based on XML, there are significant technical differences. These can still lead to problems with lossless conversion between OOXML and ODF. This prevents seamless interchangeability. Both formats will probably continue to exist in parallel. The decision to use one or the other often depends on specific needs, preferences and the requirements of the environment.

ODF will continue to support public procurement guidelines and ensure permanent and transparent access to content, the Document Foundation assures. It announced that it will publish a series of presentations and documents on its blog that trace the history from the development and standardization process. Through the activities of the Technical Committee for the submission of version 1.3 to ISO, to the standardization of version 1.3. 1.4.

(nie)