Office Open XML

In 2000, Microsoft released an initial version of an XML-based format for Microsoft Excel, which was incorporated in Office XP. In 2002, a new file format for Microsoft Word followed.{{cite web|author=Brian Jones|date=2007-01-25|title=History of office XML formats (1998–2006)|url=https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/archive/blogs/brian_jones/history-of-office-xml-formats-1998-2006|archive-url=|archive-date=|access-date=2020-12-31|website=|publisher=MSDN blogs}} The Excel and Word formats—known as the Microsoft Office XML formats—were later incorporated into the 2003 release of Microsoft Office.

Microsoft announced in November 2005 that it would co-sponsor standardization of the new version of their XML-based formats through Ecma International as "Office Open XML".{{cite web | url = https://news.microsoft.com/2005/11/21/qa-microsoft-co-sponsors-submission-of-office-open-xml-document-formats-to-ecma-international-for-standardization/ | title = Microsoft Co-Sponsors Submission of Office Open XML Document Formats to Ecma International for Standardization | publisher = Microsoft | date = 2005-11-21}}[https://ssrn.com/abstract=1656616 Casson and Ryan, Open Standards, Open Source Adoption in the Public Sector, and Their Relationship to Microsoft’s Market Dominance] The presentation was made to Ecma by Microsoft's Jean Paoli and Isabelle Valet-Harper.[https://www.cnet.com/news/microsoft-hands-over-office-xml-specs-to-ecma/ Microsoft hands over Office XML specs to Ecma]{{Cite web |url=http://www.ecma-international.org/activities/Office%20Open%20XML%20Formats/TC45_GA_Dez05.pdf/ |title=Slides presented by the TC45 committee to Ecma International |access-date=2011-06-08 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111021022009/http://www.ecma-international.org/activities/Office%20Open%20XML%20Formats/TC45_GA_Dez05.pdf/ |archive-date=2011-10-21 |url-status=dead }}

{{Main|Standardization of Office Open XML}}

Microsoft submitted initial material to Ecma International Technical Committee TC45, where it was standardized to become ECMA-376, approved in December 2006.{{cite web | url = http://www.ecma-international.org/news/PressReleases/PR_TC45_Dec2006.htm | title = Ecma International approves Office Open XML standard | publisher = Ecma International | date = 2006-12-07}}

This standard was then fast-tracked in the Joint Technical Committee 1 of ISO and IEC. After initially failing to pass, an amended version of the format received the necessary votes for approval as an ISO/IEC Standard as the result of a JTC 1 fast-tracking standardization process that concluded in April 2008.{{cite web | url = https://www.iso.org/news/2008/04/Ref1123.html | title = ISO/IEC DIS 29500 receives necessary votes for approval as an International Standard | date = 2008-04-02 | publisher = ISO}} The resulting four-part International Standard (designated ISO/IEC 29500:2008) was published in November 2008{{cite web | url = http://www.iso.org/iso/pressrelease.htm?refid=Ref1181 | title = Publication of ISO/IEC 29500:2008, Information technology—Office Open XML formats | date = 2008-11-18 | access-date = 2008-11-19 | publisher = ISO | author = ISO/IEC | archive-date = 2009-07-06 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20090706154539/http://www.iso.org/iso/pressrelease.htm?refid=Ref1181 | url-status = dead }} and can be downloaded from the ITTF.{{cite web | url = https://standards.iso.org/ittf/PubliclyAvailableStandards/index.html | title = Freely Available Standards | publisher = ITTF (ISO/IEC) | date = 2008-11-18 | access-date = 2023-09-26 }} A technically equivalent set of texts is published by Ecma as ECMA-376 Office Open XML File Formats—2nd edition (December 2008); they can be downloaded from their website.{{cite web | url = https://www.ecma-international.org/publications-and-standards/standards/ecma-376/ | title = Standard ECMA-376 | publisher = Ecma-international.org | access-date = 2009-05-19 }}

The ISO/IEC standardization of Office Open XML was controversial and embittered,{{cite news

| last=Kirk

| first=Jeremy

| title=ISO publishes Office Open XML specification

| newspaper=InfoWorld

| date=19 November 2008

| url=https://www.infoworld.com/article/2654142/iso-publishes-office-open-xml-specification.html

| access-date = 12 June 2010}} with much discussion both about the specification and about the standardization process.{{cite web |url=https://arstechnica.com/uncategorized/2008/10/norwegian-standards-body-implodes-over-ooxml-controversy/ |title=Norwegian standards body implodes over OOXML controversy |date=3 October 2008 |publisher=Ars Technica}} According to InfoWorld, "OOXML was opposed by many on grounds it was unneeded, as software makers could use OpenDocument Format (ODF), a less complicated office software format that was already an international standard." The same InfoWorld article reported that IBM (which supports the ODF format) threatened to leave standards bodies that it said allow dominant corporations like Microsoft to wield undue influence. The article further says that Microsoft was accused of co-opting the standardization process by leaning on countries to ensure that it got enough votes at the ISO/IEC for Office Open XML to pass, although it does not specify exactly who accused Microsoft.

Under the Ecma International code of conduct in patent matters,{{cite web | url = https://www.ecma-international.org/policies/by-ipr/code-of-conduct-in-patent-matters/ | title = Code of Conduct in Patent Matters | publisher = Ecma International}} participating and approving member organizations of ECMA are required to make their patent rights available on a reasonable and non-discriminatory (RAND) basis.

Holders of patents which concern ISO/IEC International Standards may agree to a standardized license governing the terms under which such patents may be licensed, in accord with the ISO/IEC/ITU common patent policy.{{cite web | url = https://isotc.iso.org/livelink/livelink/Open/6344764 | title = ISO/IEC/ITU common patent policy}}

Microsoft, the main contributor to the standard, provided a covenant not to sue{{cite web | url = https://xml.coverpages.org/ni2006-09-12-a.html | title = Microsoft's Open Specification Promise Eases Web Services Patent Concerns. | date = September 12, 2006 | access-date = 2015-04-18 }} for its patent licensing. The covenant received a mixed reception, with some like the Groklaw blog criticizing it,{{cite web |url=http://www.groklaw.net/article.php?story=20051202135844482 |title=2 Escape Hatches in MS's Covenant Not to Sue |date=December 4, 2005 |website=Groklaw |access-date=December 28, 2024 |archive-date=July 24, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240724061306/http://www.groklaw.net/article.php?story=20051202135844482 |url-status=bot: unknown }} and others such as Lawrence Rosen, (an attorney and lecturer at Stanford Law School), endorsing it.{{cite web | url = https://www.zdnet.com/article/top-open-source-lawyer-blesses-new-terms-on-microsofts-xml-file-format/ | title = Top open source lawyer blesses new terms on Microsoft's XML file format | first = David | last = Berlind | date = November 28, 2005 | access-date = 2007-01-27 | publisher = ZDNet }}

Microsoft has added the format to their Open Specification Promise{{cite web | title = Microsoft Open Specification Promise | url = https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/openspecs/dev_center/ms-devcentlp/1c24c7c8-28b0-4ce1-a47d-95fe1ff504bc | publisher = Microsoft | date = 2007-02-15 | access-date = 2015-04-18 }} in which

Microsoft irrevocably promises not to assert any Microsoft Necessary Claims against you for making, using, selling, offering for sale, importing or distributing any implementation to the extent it conforms to a Covered Specification [...]

This is limited to applications which do not deviate from the ISO/IEC 29500:2008 or Ecma-376 standard and to parties that do not "file, maintain or voluntarily participate in a patent infringement lawsuit against a Microsoft implementation of such Covered Specification".{{cite web | url = https://www.ecma-international.org/publications-and-standards/ | title = Ecma formal publications | publisher = Ecma International|quote=Ecma Standards and Technical Reports are made available to all interested persons or organizations, free of charge and licensing restrictions}}{{cite web | url = http://www.microsoft.com/Interop/osp/default.mspx | title = Microsoft Open Specification Promise | publisher = Microsoft.com}}

The Open Specification Promise was included in documents submitted to ISO/IEC in support of the ECMA-376 fast-track submission.{{cite web|url=https://www.jtc1sc34.org/repository/0810c.htm |title=Licensing conditions that Microsoft offers for Office Open XML |publisher=Jtc1sc34.org |date=2006-12-20 |access-date=2009-05-19}}

Ecma International asserted that, "The OSP enables both open source and commercial software to implement [the specification]".{{cite web | url = http://www.ecma-international.org/news/TC45_current_work/Ecma%20responses.pdf | title = Microsoft Word — Responses to Comments and Perceived Contradictions.doc | access-date = 2009-09-16}}

The Office Open XML specification exists in several versions.

The ECMA standard is structured in five parts to meet the needs of different audiences.

;

;Part 1. Fundamentals

:* Vocabulary, notational conventions and abbreviations

:* Summary of primary and supporting markup languages

:* Conformance conditions and interoperability guidelines

:* Constraints within the Open Packaging Conventions that apply to each document type

;

;Part 2. Open Packaging Conventions

:* The Open Packaging Conventions (OPC), for the package model and physical package, is defined and used by various document types in various applications from multiple vendors.

:* It defines core properties, thumbnails, digital signatures, and authorizations & encryption capabilities for parts or all of the contents in the package.

:* XML schemas for the OPC are declared as XML Schema Definitions (XSD) and (non-normatively) using RELAX NG (ISO/IEC 19757-2)

;

;Part 3. Primer

:* Informative (non-normative) introduction to WordprocessingML, SpreadsheetML, PresentationML, DrawingML, VML and Shared MLs, providing context and illustrating elements through examples and diagrams

:* Describes the custom XML data-storing facility within a package to support integration with business data

;

;Part 4. Markup Language Reference

:* Contains the reference material for WordprocessingML, SpreadsheetML, PresentationML, DrawingML, Shared MLs and Custom XML Schema, defining every element and attribute including the element hierarchy (parent/child relationships)

:* XML schemas for the markup languages are declared as XSD and (non-normatively) using RELAX NG

:* Defines the custom XML data-storing facility

;

;Part 5. Markup Compatibility and Extensibility

:* Describes extension facilities of OpenXML documents and specifies elements & attributes through which applications can operate across different extensions.

Later versions of the ECMA-376 standard are aligned and technically equivalent to the corresponding ISO standard.

The ISO/IEC standard is structured into four parts:{{cite web| url=https://www.iso.org/search.html?q=29500&hPP=10&idx=all_en&p=0&hFR%5Bcategory%5D%5B0%5D=standard| title=ISO search for "29500"| publisher=International Organization for Standardization| date=2009-06-05}} Parts 1, 2 and 3 are independent standards; for example, Part 2, specifying Open Packaging Conventions, is used by other file formats including XPS and Design Web Format. Part 4 is to be read as a modification to Part 1, which it requires.

A technically equivalent set of texts is also published by Ecma as ECMA-376 2nd edition (2008).

;

;Part 1. Fundamentals & Markup Language Reference

:Consisting of 5560 pages, this part contains:

:* Conformance definitions

:* Reference material for the XML document markup languages defined by the Standard

:* XML schemas for the document markup languages declared using XSD and (non-normatively) RELAX NG

:* Defines the foreign markup facilities

;

;Part 2. Open Packaging Conventions

: Consisting of 129 pages, this part contains:

:* A description of the Open Packaging Conventions (package model, physical package)

:* Core properties, thumbnails and digital signatures

:* XML schemas for the OPC are declared using XSD and (non-normatively) RELAX NG

;

;Part 3. Markup Compatibility and Extensibility

: Consisting of 40 pages, this part contains:

:* A description of extensions: elements & attributes which define mechanisms allowing applications to specify alternative means of negotiating content

:* Extensibility rules are expressed using NVDL

;

;Part 4. Transitional Migration Features

: Consisting of 1464 pages, this part contains:

:* Legacy material such as compatibility settings and the graphics markup language VML

:* A list of syntactic differences between this text and ECMA-376 1st Edition

The standard specifies two levels of document & application conformance, strict and transitional, for each of WordprocessingML, PresentationML and SpreadsheetML, and also specifies applications' descriptions of base and full.

The intent of the changes from ECMA-376 1st Edition to ISO/IEC 29500:2008 was that a valid ECMA-376 document would also be a valid ISO 29500 Transitional document;{{cite web| url=http://idippedut.dk/post/2009/06/23/Re-introducing-onoff-values-to-ST-OnOff-in-OOXML-Part-4.aspx| title=Re-introducing on/off-values to ST-OnOff in OOXML Part 4| access-date=2009-09-29| archive-date=2009-06-26| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090626065627/http://idippedut.dk/post/2009/06/23/Re-introducing-onoff-values-to-ST-OnOff-in-OOXML-Part-4.aspx| url-status=dead}} however, at least one change introduced at the BRM—refusing to allow further values for xsd:boolean—had the effect of breaking backwards-compatibility for most documents.{{cite web| url=http://www.adjb.net/post/OOXML-and-Office-2007-Conformance-a-Smoke-Test.aspx| title=OOXML and Office 2007 Conformance: a Smoke Test| access-date=2009-09-29| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100428091855/http://www.adjb.net/post/OOXML-and-Office-2007-Conformance-a-Smoke-Test.aspx| archive-date=2010-04-28| url-status=dead}} A fix for this had been suggested to ISO/IEC JTC 1/SC 34/WG 4, and was approved in June 2009 as a recommendation for the first revision to Office Open XML.{{cite web| url=http://kikaku.itscj.ipsj.or.jp/sc34/open/1239.pdf| title=Minutes of the Copenhagen Meeting of ISO/IEC JTC1/SC34/WG4| date=2009-06-22| access-date=2009-09-29| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140512224125/http://kikaku.itscj.ipsj.or.jp/sc34/open/1239.pdf| archive-date=2014-05-12| url-status=dead}} page 15

Applications capable of reading documents compliant to ECMA-376 Edition 1 would regard ISO/IEC 29500-4 Transitional documents containing ISO 8601 dates as corrupt.{{cite web |url=http://kikaku.itscj.ipsj.or.jp/sc34/wg4/archive/sc34-wg4-2011-0173.zip |format=PDF |title=ISO/IEC 29500-4:2008/Draft Amd2:2011 - Draft - Information technology — Document description and processing languages — Office Open XML File Formats — Part 4: Transitional Migration Features - AMENDMENT 2 |date=2011-03-02 |access-date=2011-04-04 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140512232105/http://kikaku.itscj.ipsj.or.jp/sc34/wg4/archive/sc34-wg4-2011-0173.zip |archive-date=2014-05-12 |url-status=dead }}

{{Main|List of software that supports Office Open XML}}

Some older versions of Microsoft Word and Microsoft Office are able to read and write .docx files after installation of the free compatibility pack provided by Microsoft,{{cite web|url=https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/download/details.aspx?id=32858|title=Microsoft Office Compatibility Pack for Word, Excel, and PowerPoint 2007 File Formats (Version 3)|publisher=Microsoft|date=2007-06-18|access-date=2018-06-23}} although some items, such as equations, are converted into images that cannot be edited.[http://office.microsoft.com/en-us/word-help/open-a-word-2007-document-in-an-earlier-version-of-word-HA010044473.aspx Open a Word 2007 document in an earlier version of Word - Word - Office.com]. Office.microsoft.com. Retrieved on 2013-07-17.

Starting with Microsoft Office 2007, the Office Open XML file formats have become the default file format{{cite web | url = http://www.microsoft.com/Presspass/press/2008/may08/05-21ExpandedFormatsPR.mspx?rss_fdn=Press%20Releases | title = Microsoft Expands List of Formats Supported in Microsoft Office | publisher = Microsoft | access-date = 2008-05-21 }} of Microsoft Office.{{cite web | url = http://www.courierpress.com/news/2008/oct/24/microsofts-future-lies-somewhere-beyond-the/ | title = Microsoft's future lies somewhere beyond the Vista by Evansville Courier & Press | publisher = Courierpress.com | access-date = 2009-05-19 | archive-date = 2014-07-10 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20140710192710/http://www.courierpress.com/news/2008/oct/24/microsofts-future-lies-somewhere-beyond-the/ | url-status = dead }}{{cite web | url = http://knowledge.wharton.upenn.edu/article.cfm?articleid=1795 | title = Rivals Set Their Sights on Microsoft Office: Can They Topple the Giant? - Knowledge@Wharton | publisher = Knowledge.wharton.upenn.edu | access-date = 2009-05-19}} However, due to the changes introduced in the Office Open XML standard, Office 2007 is not wholly in compliance with ISO/IEC 29500:2008.{{cite web | author = Andy Updegrove | url = http://consortiuminfo.org/standardsblog/article.php?story=20080521092930864 | title = Microsoft Office 2007 to Support ODF — and not OOXML | date = 21 May 2008 | publisher = ConsortiumInfo.org | access-date = 2009-05-19 | archive-date = 2008-05-23 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20080523233233/http://www.consortiuminfo.org/standardsblog/article.php?story=20080521092930864 | url-status = dead }}

Office 2010 includes support for opening documents of the ISO/IEC 29500:2008-compliant version of Office Open XML, but it can only save documents conforming to the transitional, not the strict, schemas of the specification.{{cite web |url=https://arstechnica.com/microsoft/news/2010/04/iso-ooxml-convener-microsofts-format-heading-for-failure.ars |title=ISO OOXML convener: Microsoft's format "heading for failure" |date=2 April 2010 |publisher=Ars Technica}}{{cite web

|url=http://www.adjb.net/post/Microsoft-Fails-the-Standards-Test

|title=Microsoft Fails the Standards Test

|work=Where is an end of it?

|last=Brown

|first=Alex

|publisher=Alex Brown's weblog

|date=31 March 2010

|access-date=23 June 2018

}} Note that the intent of the ISO/IEC is to allow the removal of the transitional variant from the ISO/IEC 29500 standard. Microsoft Office 2013 and later fully support ISO/IEC 29500 Strict, but do not use it as the default file format because of backwards compatibility concerns.

The ability to read and write Office Open XML format is, however, not limited to Microsoft Office; other office products are also able to read & write this format:

• Apache OpenOffice is able to import OOXML files, but defaults to the OpenDocument file format.
• Calligra Suite is able to import OOXML files, but defaults to the OpenDocument file format.
• Collabora Online Online, Mobile and Desktop editors are compatible with OOXML, but defaults to the OpenDocument file format.{{Cite web|last=|first=|date=2 November 2020|title=Collabora Online 6.4.0-released|url=https://www.collaboraoffice.com/press-releases/collabora-online-6-4-0-released/}}
• Google Docs, is able to read and write OOXML and OpenDocument files.
• LibreOffice Desktop editors are compatible with OOXML, but defaults to the OpenDocument file format.{{cite web|url = http://wiki.documentfoundation.org/LibreOffice_OOXML|title = LibreOffice OOXML|access-date = 22 March 2012}}

Other office products that offer import support to various levels of compatibility include:

• Abiword is able to read and write OOXML and OpenDocument files.
• Gnumeric is able to read and write OOXML and OpenDocument files
• Go-oo, discontinued in 2010, could import and save to OOXML, but defaulted to the OpenDocument file format.
• iWork is able to read and write OOXML and OpenDocument files.
• KOffice, discontinued in 2011, could import and save to OOXML.
• NeoOffice, discontinued in 2024, could import and save to OOXML, but defaulted to the OpenDocument file format.
• OnlyOffice, Online and Desktop editors are compatible with OOXML and OpenDocument files.
• SoftMaker FreeOffice and SoftMaker Office are able to read and write OOXML and OpenDocument files (word processor only).
• TextEdit (included with macOS)
• WordPerfect, is able to read and write OOXML and OpenDocument files.
• WPS Office, is able to read and write OOXML files.

• Comparison of document markup languages
• List of document markup languages
• Microsoft Office password protection
• Standardization of Office Open XML

{{Reflist|colwidth=30em}}

{{Refbegin|colwidth=30em}}

• {{cite web

|url = https://www.ecma-international.org/publications-and-standards/standards/ecma-376/

|title = Standard ECMA-376: Office Open XML File Formats; 1st edition (December 2006) and 2nd edition (December 2008)

|work = ECMA Standards

|publisher = Ecma International

|access-date = 21 October 2010

}}

• {{cite web

|url = https://www.iso.org/committee/45374/x/catalogue/

|title = JTC 1/SC 34 - Document description and processing languages

|work = ISO Standards

|publisher = International Organization for Standardization

|access-date = 21 October 2010

}}

• {{cite web

|url = https://www.iso.org/iso/faqs_isoiec29500

|title = FAQs on ISO/IEC 29500

|work = ISO News and Media

|publisher = International Organization for Standardization

|access-date = 21 October 2010

}}

• {{cite web

|url=http://www.adjb.net/post/Microsoft-Fails-the-Standards-Test

|title=Microsoft Fails the Standards Test

|work=Where is an end of it?

|last=Brown

|first=Alex

|publisher=Alex Brown's weblog

|date=31 March 2010

|access-date=23 June 2018

}}

• {{cite book

|title = Office 2003 XML: Integrating Office with the Rest of the World

|chapter = Chapter 2: The WordprocessingML Vocabulary

|chapter-url = http://oreilly.com/catalog/officexml/chapter/ch02.pdf

|first1 = Evan

|last1 = Lenz

|first2 = Mary

|last2 = McRae

|first3 = Simon

|last3 = St.Laurent

|publisher = O'Reilly Media

|date = May 2004

|isbn = 978-0-596-00538-2

|url-access = registration

|url = https://archive.org/details/office2003xml00simo

}}

• {{cite web

|url = https://wiki.openoffice.org/w/index.php?title=Documentation/FAQ/General/How_do_I_open_Microsoft_Office_2007_files%3F

|title = How do I open Microsoft Office 2007 files?

|work = OpenOffice.org Wiki

|publisher = Oracle

|date = 7 September 2009

|access-date = 21 October 2010

}}

• {{cite web

|url = http://katana.oooninja.com/w/reference_sample_documents

|title = Reference and sample documents

|work = OpenOffice.org Ninja

|date = 8 December 2008

|access-date = 21 October 2010

|archive-date = 24 October 2010

|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20101024174349/http://katana.oooninja.com/w/reference_sample_documents

|url-status = dead

}}

• {{cite journal

|url = https://papers.ssrn.com/sol3/papers.cfm?abstract_id=1201708

|ssrn = 1201708

|title = Lost in Translation: Interoperability Issues for Open Standards - ODF and OOXML as Examples

|journal = Social Science Research Network

|publisher = Social Science Electronic Publishing, Inc

|date = September 2008

|last1 = Shah

|first1 = Rajiv C.

|last2 = Kesan

|first2 = Jay P.

}}

{{Refend}}

{{Commons category|OOXML}}

• [https://standards.iso.org/ittf/PubliclyAvailableStandards/index.html ISO/IEC 29500 standards]

{{ISO standards}}

{{Ecma International Standards}}

{{Microsoft Office}}

{{Office document file formats}}

{{Document markup languages}}

{{Authority control}}

Category:Computer file formats

Category:Document-centric XML-based standards

Category:Ecma standards

Category:ISO/IEC 29500

Category:Markup languages

Category:Microsoft Office

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