a step in the right direction

users
#1

https://www.gov.uk/government/news/open-document-formats-selected-to-meet-user-needs

the link says it all. Let's hope this trend continues

#2

Even if it doesn't do anything else, at least it might force Microsoft into adding proper support for ODF into Office...
:wink:

#3

More people know what ODF is. They realise they don't have to buy microsoft office at home to do school work and on it goes...

#4

Hmm, "a huge public response" and "A rigorous process was undertaken
which included considering over 500 public comments and talking
directly to users." I'd hoped "huge" was much bigger than that. Oh
well, at least the message got across.

Mark Stanton
One small step for mankind...

#5

Two governments in less than a week's time. Very good news! :slight_smile:

Regards,
Jim

#6

Hi :slight_smile:
It is lack of government support for ODF that is one of the biggest
blockers to my company migrating to
LibreOffice/OpenOffice/Anything-other-than-MSOffice. It is going to be
interesting to see if anyone in government takes any notice of this
proposal.

I'd really kinda like to know what can be done if people carry on sending
documents in other formats after this is in place! Mainly because i would
like to follow whatever the procedure is when they carry on.

Regards from
Tom :slight_smile:

#7

Hi :slight_smile:
I have just forwarded this to the international translators co-ordination
mailing list as they were discussing the Kerala case, i've copied some of
the posting under this email
Regards from
Tom :slight_smile:

Anivar Araind said:

"The Kerala Legislative Assembly[1] (Kerala state , India) as of July 17,
2014 produces all its documentation, both printed and digital, on a Free
Software platform using Libreoffice . Hon. Speaker announced in
Legislative assembly yesterday . The point which makes this undertaking
unique is the fact that the complete documentation at the Niyamasabha is
done in Malayalam, a complex text indic scipt

The migration process is implimented with the support of Zyxware
Technologies[2] in association with ICFOSS[3], a govt centre to promote
foss and Swathanthra Malayalam Computing(SMC)[4] , a FOSS developer
community working on Indian Language support and localizations

See below poster .

https://www.facebook.com/SMC.Project/posts/751600641550557

Some media reports about the same is published in vernacular language press
and it is available here

http://www.madhyamam.com/news/298250/140716
http://www.eastcoastdaily.com/2014/07/16/free-software/

The migration was in the light of Government of Kerala's recent order
announced its intention to transition computers in the Departments,
institutions and PSUs under it to Free and Open Source platforms, in the
opportunity caused due to expiry of support period to Windows XP. [5]

International centre for free and open source software(ICFOSS) has brought
out a Handbook last month to support the process of migration [6]

Related Links

[1] http://www.niyamasabha.org/
[2] http://www.zyxware.com/
[3] http://icfoss.in
[4] http://smc.org.in
[5] http://icfoss.in/G.O.109.pdf
[6] http://icfoss.org/FS-Migration-Draft-Handbook.pdf
"

Then these links were added;

"
Some news links in English from today's coverage

http://www.newindianexpress.com/cities/thiruvananthapuram/Software-Migration-ICFOSS-Hails-State-Govt/2014/07/18/article2335680.ece
http://freepressjournal.in/kerala-assembly-migrates-to-free-software-platform/
http://www.mathrubhumi.com/english/news/kerala/kerala-assembly-migrates-to-free-software-platform-149244.html
http://www.newswala.com/India-National-News/Kerala-assembly-migrates-to-free-software-platform-for-its-business-68287.html
http://www.bgr.in/news/kerala-assembly-migrates-to-free-software-platform/
"

and from various people;

"
http://www.zyxware.com/articles/4358/zyxware-helps-kerala-state-legislative-assembly-move-to-free-software

http://www.thehindubusinessline.com/news/states/kerala-legislature-announces-smooth-transition-to-free-software/article6224551.ece

[1] https://wiki.documentfoundation.org/LOWN/3
"

#8

As I understand it this is now official government procedure, ie
"law". Isn't that the case? I also understand that not all government
necessarily wants to abide by its own laws, but this directive seems
to be binding. Or have I misunderstod the intention?

Mark Stanton
One small step for mankind...

#9

HI :slight_smile:
I don't think it's "law". I think it's suggested best-practice and general
guidelines. A bit like the Ferengi's "Rules of Acquisition" or the
pirate's code, hopefully. Plenty of people will argue against using it, or
make excuses or plead ignorance or just not do it = However it's still a
fantastic step forwards and one i never expected to see. I'm still kinda
in shock about it tbh.

Did anyone else here manage to make comments during the public consultation
phases? I made a 'few' at the first one but then the whole proposal
vanished from view so i thought it would "be the usual story". I think
maybe people at MS haven't realised what it means or they underestimated it
or something. I really don't understand why they didn't bulldoze it out of
the way or turn it upside down by bamboozling non-IT people in government.
Like i say i am pleasantly shocked and that makes me question about how
effective it's likely to be in getting people to use formats that can be
used by different programs on different platforms and on into the future.
Maybe i am just too old and cynical but it's a bit weird to see a
government doing the right thing!!
Regards from
Tom :slight_smile: