Official press release from AFNOR :
(French) http://portailgroupe.afnor.fr/v3/espace-presse/communiques/2007/070903-OOXML.htm
Quick English translation :
Office formats : AFNOR proposes ISO convergence between ODF and OOXML in short term, and stabilize OOXML in long term.
Following deliberations of the meeting of the normalisation commission held on august 28 and 29, AFNOR does not close the door to ISO OfficeOpen XML. AFNOR suggests ISO to organize the convergence of ODF and OfficeOpen XML.
Thanks to numerous contributions, parties have shown the need for an quality OOXML format recognized by ISO. In the context where multiple specifications of document formats exist, French professionals who have been greatly involved in the expertise, have shown that a convergence between OOXML and ODF - already a norm - was possible, towards a unique document format norm, which can be revised.
On the grounds that this position was largely shared, and despite the lack of unanimous position on the subject at the end of those meetings in regards to the best solution for both short term and long term, AFNOR proposes ISO to :
- restructure the ECMA standard in 2 pieces, making a distinction between :
— on the one hand, a core of essential functionalities, easy to implement (OOXML-core)
— on the other hand, all annex functionalities necessary for compatibility reasons with the existing base of documents, grouped in a set called (OOXML-extensions)
- take in account a large set of technical comments that were provided to make OOXML an ISO document of the best technical quality and readability possible
- promote ISO/TS status ("technical specification") available 3 years for OOXML
- put in place a convergence process between ISO/IEC 26300 and the core of OOXML, and for that matter ensure from now on the maintenance and revisions of ISO/IEC 26300 and ISO/TS OOXML (if OOXML is adopted after said restructuration), to obtain once the convergence is achieved, a unique norm that is the most universal possible, where future evolutions are agreed upon at ISO and not at the level of such individual actors or groups.
In order to reach that goal, and allow the convergence process to succeed, AFNOR is therefore conducted to Not accept as is the proposed ECMA standard. Technically speaking, AFNOR votes negatively to the project as presented. This negative vote is however filed with comments that AFNOR wants to be taken into account in order to reconsider his position.
AFNOR is poised to promote this position internationally, forwards to the next step in February where comments from all countries will be gathered and studied.
On august 28 and 29, the normalisation commission AFNOR FDR (revisable document formats) has completed 5 intense months of work at AFNOR between all parties concerned by the emergence of norms in office document formats : software vendors, users, administrations, local collectivies.
AFNOR is the French member of ISO.
-Stephane Rodriguez
Anonymous (82.229.8.x) 03 Sep 2007 17:01