Hi -
Given that Microsoft plans to fix this bug in August which is before
the planned date for 3.5-FINAL, we should reconsider our quick "MS-
Compatible" as default decision. See intermixed comments below.
On Jul 30, 2009, at 6:57 AM, Yegor Kozlov wrote:
I've dropped a line on compatibility with MS Office 2008 on
http://poi.apache.org/spreadsheet/index.html
This clearly describes the fix and how to remove it.
P.S. the .html will be available in a hour or two, after the next
rsync cycle.
I don't see it yet. Perhaps more will need to be explained. See below:
On Jul 29, 2009, at 11:37 AM, Blair Neumann wrote:
Hello Dave Fisher and other POI contributors.
Pat McMillan forwarded email from Dave Fisher describing the Apache
POI project’s concerns about an issue in Office 2008 for Mac SP2,
concerns that we share. This email is a response to Dave Fisher's
earlier correspondence.
We are aware of a serious bug in Office 2008 for Mac SP2 version
12.2.0 causing some Open XML files to fail to open in Office 2008
SP2. This bug is affecting Open XML files from a variety of sources
including Office for Windows, Office for Mac, and the Apache POI
project. We understand the problem and are working to release a
version 12.2.1 of Office 2008 that addresses this issue in August.
This is before we plan to release POI-3.5-FINAL. I believe the target
date for 3.5-FINAL is before October 1. Am I correct? I think someone
should start a thread to make sure that we cover everything and can
all work towards that schedule.
A few points from Dave Fisher's mail should be addressed.
the Apache POI project has adjusted code to produce "MS-compatible
OOXML by adding docProps/app.xml with "Microsoft Excel". We've
done similar for DOCX files. This will allow users of future
versions of Apache POI to produce OOXML documents that will work
with Office 2008 for Mac SP2.
This is not the best long-term solution, though we understand that
it may be an effective short-term response to a bug in Office 2008
for Mac version 12.2.0. This isn't about producing "MS-compatible"
Open XML but is rather a workaround for a short-term bug. Rather
than asserting that Apache POI files are written by Microsoft, we
hope that your long-term guidance will be to recommend that affected
Office 2008 for Mac users use version 12.2.1 or later (or version
12.1.9 or earlier) with files written by Apache POI.
Given that the issue will not be long term I agree that we should back
off our quick solution. New workbooks should not create docProps/
apps.xml that pretend to be from "Microsoft Excel" or "Microsoft
Office Word". Does anyone disagree?
As suggested we should advise that users avoid Office 2008 for Mac SP2
version 12.2.0 and wait for 12.2.1. If they must use 12.2.0 then we
advise them how to apply the fix, and suggest that they remove such
markings as possible.
Our guidance for removing the fix will depend on whether we decide to
always mark new XSSF workbooks as coming from "Apache POI"
In our understanding of the standard docProps/app.xml is optional.
Our understanding also. An extended properties part (such as
app.xml, which happens to be what we call it) is indeed optional as
stated in ECMA-376, Part 4, Section 7.2, "If all extended property
elements are omitted then the extended properties part may be
excluded from a document."
If this [the Application tag] were required by the standard then
we think this would mean that the proper value for Apache POI
created documents would to be "Apache POI" and not "Microsoft Excel"
Our understanding also. Related to my discussion above, we believe
that an Application value "Apache POI" is appropriate.
As a project we should decide if -
(a) It is safe to make the Application setting "Apache POI". A test
would be to successfully open an XSSF file with consumers other than
Excel 12.2.0. This includes OpenOffice 3.0.
(b) If it is safe then I propose that we set the Application to
"Apache POI" and the AppVersion to the poi version - eg. "3.5-
beta7-20090731"
This is worth a discussion. Please respond if you have an opinion.
we expect that Microsoft will return to compliance with ISO
standard 29500 as promised.
To be clear, Office 2008 for Mac conforms to ECMA-376 and does not
yet conform to ISO/IEC 29500. The current situation is a bug in our
ECMA-376 implementation and will be remedied as soon as possible.
You are correct. Sorry about the misunderstanding. I do wonder about
Microsoft's plans for ISO/IEC 29500 compliance.
Regards,
Dave
Warm regards.
-Blair.
Blair Neumann
Program Manager, Macintosh Business Unit
[email protected]
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