- Microsoft’s XML format makes some files ‘clunky’ and others unreadable, LibreOffice claims
- He says users need formats like ODF that are open and not managed by a single vendor.
- Sovereignty is about choosing, not blocking certain companies
The Document Foundation, responsible for the LibreOffice software suite, has said that Microsoft’s Office file formats are creating unnecessary dependency on vendors by making it difficult for users and workers to switch vendors.
The organization’s blog post specifically mentions XML-based formats, such as DOCX and XLSX, which were introduced in 2007 as successors to the more open DOC and XLS formats.
The author of the post, Italo Vignoli, argued that these formats act as more or less proprietary formats in practical terms because files opened by other programs, such as LibreOffice, do not behave the same and may have formatting problems.
Microsoft cares about the format of its XML documents
The Document Foundation states that while Microsoft has avoided potential lock-in accusations by allowing other software to fully access XML documents, its functionality may be drastically reduced. Fonts, bullets, headings, tables, and other formatting can be prone to changing, depending on the tools used, resulting in inaccessible and inconsistent documents.
Vignoli described the problem as “a silent, persistent friction that makes any work outside of the Microsoft ecosystem seem a little out of place, a little unreliable, a little unprofessional,” rather than any kind of technical barrier.
He noted that while the result may be a mere “inconvenience” for consumers, it could create significant problems for law firms and hospitals that want to move away from Microsoft.
The publication also warns that the evolution of document formats could cause problems in the future. With only a handful of companies properly implementing certain formats, and those formats being retired, some documents could be illegible within a decade or two, a major regulatory and compliance issue.
As demands for digital sovereignty develop globally, with many European companies and agencies looking to adopt more local or open source alternatives, Vignoli highlighted the role that an open standard such as the Open Document Format (ODF) can play.
The “ODF specifications are published, freely implemented, and administered by a body independent of any vendor.”
Vignoli’s conclusion is that digital sovereignty is not about being against Microsoft or in favor of LibreOffice. It’s about giving businesses and consumers the choice and free will to use the software they prefer without unnecessary obstacles or barriers holding them back.
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