AOO.Next IBM Priorities

2012-11-01 Thread robert_weir
A quick note, wearing my "IBM hat". 

We (IBM) have consulted with customers, internal users, other IBM product 
teams, on what our (IBM's) development priorities should be for the next 
AOO release.  Obviously, we're not the only ones with priorities or 
interests or opinions.  We don't make AOO decisions by ourselves.  But we 
want to be transparent about what our own priorities are, for our 
employees participating in the AOO community, and what they will be 
focusing on.   As we did with AOO 3.4.0 and 3.4.1, we'll be putting the 
details onto the wiki over the next couple of weeks.  You'll hear more at 
ApacheCon, but I wanted you to hear it hear first.

Our top priorities:

-- Improve the install and deployment experience, especially by supporting 
digital signatures on installs, and introducing a new incremental update 
feature, so users are not required to download and install a full image 
for just a minor update.

-- A major UI enhancement, a sidebar framework for the editors, ported 
over from Symphony, and including an API.  If you recall, Symphony won 
quite a lot of praise for its UI, and much of this was due to the sidebar 
panel.  I think we can make a good argument that this approach, say 
compared to the MS Office "ribbon" is a better use of screen real-estate, 
especially as we see more frequent use of wide screen displays.

-- Improved Table of Contents in Writer

-- Improved system integration on Windows and MacOS, including possible 
adoption of "gestures".

-- IAccessible2 bridge, ported over from Symphony, to improve 
accessibility.  This is a major effort, but very important.

-- Closer integration of clipart and template libraries with user 
experience.

-- Update branding and visual styling, contemporary and compelling, fresh 
and relevant.

-- Social integration, allow our users to quickly and easily share their 
thoughts in a way that compliment their commercial social behavior. 
Explore the integration of consumer service-specific capabilities as well 
as generic Share... actions. 

-- And many other smaller items

Obviously the release date for this cannot be pinned down so early, and 
releasing is PMC decision, not an IBM one.  But we think that this work 
could be completed and tested for a release in the March/April 2013 
time-frame.  And the scope of the release might be significant enough to 
warrant a "4.0" designation.

In any case, we'll soon set up a page on the wiki to collect these items. 
As always, I invite you to add your own priorities to the wiki, things 
that you would like to work on.  This could be a new feature.  Or, if one 
of the above items sound interesting to you, we always welcome help 
designing and implementing these features.

Regards,

-Rob





Re: AOO.Next IBM Priorities

2012-11-01 Thread jan iversen
Thanks for the note, however knowing IBM I had hoped that one of the
official goals was to help the development part of the community to get
stabilized.

I acknowledge that it is important for IBM to get an output of invested
energy/time/money, but I think IBM would benefit not only from features but
also from the soft points of helping the community.

that being said in response to your IBM HAT, but I do feel that you and
other IBM Fellows still do a great job in getting  the community to prosper.

Jan.

On 1 November 2012 17:45,  wrote:

> A quick note, wearing my "IBM hat".
>
> We (IBM) have consulted with customers, internal users, other IBM product
> teams, on what our (IBM's) development priorities should be for the next
> AOO release.  Obviously, we're not the only ones with priorities or
> interests or opinions.  We don't make AOO decisions by ourselves.  But we
> want to be transparent about what our own priorities are, for our
> employees participating in the AOO community, and what they will be
> focusing on.   As we did with AOO 3.4.0 and 3.4.1, we'll be putting the
> details onto the wiki over the next couple of weeks.  You'll hear more at
> ApacheCon, but I wanted you to hear it hear first.
>
> Our top priorities:
>
> -- Improve the install and deployment experience, especially by supporting
> digital signatures on installs, and introducing a new incremental update
> feature, so users are not required to download and install a full image
> for just a minor update.
>
> -- A major UI enhancement, a sidebar framework for the editors, ported
> over from Symphony, and including an API.  If you recall, Symphony won
> quite a lot of praise for its UI, and much of this was due to the sidebar
> panel.  I think we can make a good argument that this approach, say
> compared to the MS Office "ribbon" is a better use of screen real-estate,
> especially as we see more frequent use of wide screen displays.
>
> -- Improved Table of Contents in Writer
>
> -- Improved system integration on Windows and MacOS, including possible
> adoption of "gestures".
>
> -- IAccessible2 bridge, ported over from Symphony, to improve
> accessibility.  This is a major effort, but very important.
>
> -- Closer integration of clipart and template libraries with user
> experience.
>
> -- Update branding and visual styling, contemporary and compelling, fresh
> and relevant.
>
> -- Social integration, allow our users to quickly and easily share their
> thoughts in a way that compliment their commercial social behavior.
> Explore the integration of consumer service-specific capabilities as well
> as generic Share... actions.
>
> -- And many other smaller items
>
> Obviously the release date for this cannot be pinned down so early, and
> releasing is PMC decision, not an IBM one.  But we think that this work
> could be completed and tested for a release in the March/April 2013
> time-frame.  And the scope of the release might be significant enough to
> warrant a "4.0" designation.
>
> In any case, we'll soon set up a page on the wiki to collect these items.
> As always, I invite you to add your own priorities to the wiki, things
> that you would like to work on.  This could be a new feature.  Or, if one
> of the above items sound interesting to you, we always welcome help
> designing and implementing these features.
>
> Regards,
>
> -Rob
>
>
>
>


Re: AOO.Next IBM Priorities

2012-11-01 Thread Jürgen Schmidt
On 11/1/12 9:53 PM, jan iversen wrote:
> Thanks for the note, however knowing IBM I had hoped that one of the
> official goals was to help the development part of the community to get
> stabilized.
> 
> I acknowledge that it is important for IBM to get an output of invested
> energy/time/money, but I think IBM would benefit not only from features but
> also from the soft points of helping the community.
> 
> that being said in response to your IBM HAT, but I do feel that you and
> other IBM Fellows still do a great job in getting  the community to prosper.

I hope so and the priorities were focused on the product only and not on
the community aspects that are of course very important for us as well.

Juergen


> 
> Jan.
> 
> On 1 November 2012 17:45,  wrote:
> 
>> A quick note, wearing my "IBM hat".
>>
>> We (IBM) have consulted with customers, internal users, other IBM product
>> teams, on what our (IBM's) development priorities should be for the next
>> AOO release.  Obviously, we're not the only ones with priorities or
>> interests or opinions.  We don't make AOO decisions by ourselves.  But we
>> want to be transparent about what our own priorities are, for our
>> employees participating in the AOO community, and what they will be
>> focusing on.   As we did with AOO 3.4.0 and 3.4.1, we'll be putting the
>> details onto the wiki over the next couple of weeks.  You'll hear more at
>> ApacheCon, but I wanted you to hear it hear first.
>>
>> Our top priorities:
>>
>> -- Improve the install and deployment experience, especially by supporting
>> digital signatures on installs, and introducing a new incremental update
>> feature, so users are not required to download and install a full image
>> for just a minor update.
>>
>> -- A major UI enhancement, a sidebar framework for the editors, ported
>> over from Symphony, and including an API.  If you recall, Symphony won
>> quite a lot of praise for its UI, and much of this was due to the sidebar
>> panel.  I think we can make a good argument that this approach, say
>> compared to the MS Office "ribbon" is a better use of screen real-estate,
>> especially as we see more frequent use of wide screen displays.
>>
>> -- Improved Table of Contents in Writer
>>
>> -- Improved system integration on Windows and MacOS, including possible
>> adoption of "gestures".
>>
>> -- IAccessible2 bridge, ported over from Symphony, to improve
>> accessibility.  This is a major effort, but very important.
>>
>> -- Closer integration of clipart and template libraries with user
>> experience.
>>
>> -- Update branding and visual styling, contemporary and compelling, fresh
>> and relevant.
>>
>> -- Social integration, allow our users to quickly and easily share their
>> thoughts in a way that compliment their commercial social behavior.
>> Explore the integration of consumer service-specific capabilities as well
>> as generic Share... actions.
>>
>> -- And many other smaller items
>>
>> Obviously the release date for this cannot be pinned down so early, and
>> releasing is PMC decision, not an IBM one.  But we think that this work
>> could be completed and tested for a release in the March/April 2013
>> time-frame.  And the scope of the release might be significant enough to
>> warrant a "4.0" designation.
>>
>> In any case, we'll soon set up a page on the wiki to collect these items.
>> As always, I invite you to add your own priorities to the wiki, things
>> that you would like to work on.  This could be a new feature.  Or, if one
>> of the above items sound interesting to you, we always welcome help
>> designing and implementing these features.
>>
>> Regards,
>>
>> -Rob
>>
>>
>>
>>
> 



Re: AOO.Next IBM Priorities

2012-11-01 Thread Alexandro Colorado
On Thu, Nov 1, 2012 at 2:53 PM, jan iversen  wrote:

> Thanks for the note, however knowing IBM I had hoped that one of the
> official goals was to help the development part of the community to get
> stabilized.
>

This is what their costumers asked for, not IBM itself. Costumers dont care
about development, most of the time. They think everyting is created with
Pixeldust.


>
> I acknowledge that it is important for IBM to get an output of invested
> energy/time/money, but I think IBM would benefit not only from features but
> also from the soft points of helping the community.
>

I was a bit disapointed they didnt asked for some more 'enterprise-ready'
features like integration with ERP systems, tivoli, and credential
management of profiles, improve Base and add bridge to DB2 or something in
those veins.


>
> that being said in response to your IBM HAT, but I do feel that you and
> other IBM Fellows still do a great job in getting  the community to
> prosper.
>
> Jan.
>
> On 1 November 2012 17:45,  wrote:
>
> > A quick note, wearing my "IBM hat".
> >
> > We (IBM) have consulted with customers, internal users, other IBM product
> > teams, on what our (IBM's) development priorities should be for the next
> > AOO release.  Obviously, we're not the only ones with priorities or
> > interests or opinions.  We don't make AOO decisions by ourselves.  But we
> > want to be transparent about what our own priorities are, for our
> > employees participating in the AOO community, and what they will be
> > focusing on.   As we did with AOO 3.4.0 and 3.4.1, we'll be putting the
> > details onto the wiki over the next couple of weeks.  You'll hear more at
> > ApacheCon, but I wanted you to hear it hear first.
> >
> > Our top priorities:
> >
> > -- Improve the install and deployment experience, especially by
> supporting
> > digital signatures on installs, and introducing a new incremental update
> > feature, so users are not required to download and install a full image
> > for just a minor update.
> >
> > -- A major UI enhancement, a sidebar framework for the editors, ported
> > over from Symphony, and including an API.  If you recall, Symphony won
> > quite a lot of praise for its UI, and much of this was due to the sidebar
> > panel.  I think we can make a good argument that this approach, say
> > compared to the MS Office "ribbon" is a better use of screen real-estate,
> > especially as we see more frequent use of wide screen displays.
>

I like what KOffice did with the management of tiles and panes, and I think
is a great UI study case. There were some of these ideas embedded in the UX
project. Personally I used to admire the UI from Macromedia projects which
had a nice use of toolbars, floating panes, and could add a series of
options in a clean icon-based intereface.


> >
> > -- Improved Table of Contents in Writer
> >
> > -- Improved system integration on Windows and MacOS, including possible
> > adoption of "gestures".
>

Is this like for tablets? Not sure what gestures means, Opear has some
gestures which are mouse keys combinations.


> >
> > -- IAccessible2 bridge, ported over from Symphony, to improve
> > accessibility.  This is a major effort, but very important.
> >
> > -- Closer integration of clipart and template libraries with user
> > experience.
>

I think there was always objections to bloat the office suite with too much
graphic intensive templates. Not sure if that opposition will be gone now.
Impress does need a major facelift with animations and transitions. GSOC
had integration bridge to OpenClipArt to import the clipart from the
website, this functionality is also present on Inkscape.



> >
> > -- Update branding and visual styling, contemporary and compelling, fresh
> > and relevant.
>

Funny enough, stale is the new fresh, taken from logos of Chrome and
Windows, is more an art-deco style.


> >
> > -- Social integration, allow our users to quickly and easily share their
> > thoughts in a way that compliment their commercial social behavior.
> > Explore the integration of consumer service-specific capabilities as well
> > as generic Share... actions.
>

eww I hate this and dont really understand why companies want to "share" a
document.


> >
> > -- And many other smaller items
> >
> > Obviously the release date for this cannot be pinned down so early, and
> > releasing is PMC decision, not an IBM one.  But we think that this work
> > could be completed and tested for a release in the March/April 2013
> > time-frame.  And the scope of the release might be significant enough to
> > warrant a "4.0" designation.
> >
> > In any case, we'll soon set up a page on the wiki to collect these items.
> > As always, I invite you to add your own priorities to the wiki, things
> > that you would like to work on.  This could be a new feature.  Or, if one
> > of the above items sound interesting to you, we always welcome help
> > designing and implementing these features.
> >
> > Regards,
> >
> > -Rob
> 

Re: AOO.Next IBM Priorities

2012-11-01 Thread Rob Weir
On Thu, Nov 1, 2012 at 4:53 PM, jan iversen  wrote:
> Thanks for the note, however knowing IBM I had hoped that one of the
> official goals was to help the development part of the community to get
> stabilized.
>

This was specifically product goals for the next release, as the
subject title suggests.

Community development are ongoing, not tied to any particular release.
 And not tied to any one company, either.

It be worth if we (the AOO project) set our own community development
goals and worked toward  them?  Priorities and goals are a good thing,
I think.  They keep us focused, help us avoid distractions.  Well,
good goals, at least...

-Rob

> I acknowledge that it is important for IBM to get an output of invested
> energy/time/money, but I think IBM would benefit not only from features but
> also from the soft points of helping the community.
>
> that being said in response to your IBM HAT, but I do feel that you and
> other IBM Fellows still do a great job in getting  the community to prosper.
>
> Jan.
>
> On 1 November 2012 17:45,  wrote:
>
>> A quick note, wearing my "IBM hat".
>>
>> We (IBM) have consulted with customers, internal users, other IBM product
>> teams, on what our (IBM's) development priorities should be for the next
>> AOO release.  Obviously, we're not the only ones with priorities or
>> interests or opinions.  We don't make AOO decisions by ourselves.  But we
>> want to be transparent about what our own priorities are, for our
>> employees participating in the AOO community, and what they will be
>> focusing on.   As we did with AOO 3.4.0 and 3.4.1, we'll be putting the
>> details onto the wiki over the next couple of weeks.  You'll hear more at
>> ApacheCon, but I wanted you to hear it hear first.
>>
>> Our top priorities:
>>
>> -- Improve the install and deployment experience, especially by supporting
>> digital signatures on installs, and introducing a new incremental update
>> feature, so users are not required to download and install a full image
>> for just a minor update.
>>
>> -- A major UI enhancement, a sidebar framework for the editors, ported
>> over from Symphony, and including an API.  If you recall, Symphony won
>> quite a lot of praise for its UI, and much of this was due to the sidebar
>> panel.  I think we can make a good argument that this approach, say
>> compared to the MS Office "ribbon" is a better use of screen real-estate,
>> especially as we see more frequent use of wide screen displays.
>>
>> -- Improved Table of Contents in Writer
>>
>> -- Improved system integration on Windows and MacOS, including possible
>> adoption of "gestures".
>>
>> -- IAccessible2 bridge, ported over from Symphony, to improve
>> accessibility.  This is a major effort, but very important.
>>
>> -- Closer integration of clipart and template libraries with user
>> experience.
>>
>> -- Update branding and visual styling, contemporary and compelling, fresh
>> and relevant.
>>
>> -- Social integration, allow our users to quickly and easily share their
>> thoughts in a way that compliment their commercial social behavior.
>> Explore the integration of consumer service-specific capabilities as well
>> as generic Share... actions.
>>
>> -- And many other smaller items
>>
>> Obviously the release date for this cannot be pinned down so early, and
>> releasing is PMC decision, not an IBM one.  But we think that this work
>> could be completed and tested for a release in the March/April 2013
>> time-frame.  And the scope of the release might be significant enough to
>> warrant a "4.0" designation.
>>
>> In any case, we'll soon set up a page on the wiki to collect these items.
>> As always, I invite you to add your own priorities to the wiki, things
>> that you would like to work on.  This could be a new feature.  Or, if one
>> of the above items sound interesting to you, we always welcome help
>> designing and implementing these features.
>>
>> Regards,
>>
>> -Rob
>>
>>
>>
>>


Re: AOO.Next IBM Priorities

2012-11-01 Thread Rob Weir
On Thu, Nov 1, 2012 at 5:10 PM, Alexandro Colorado  wrote:
> On Thu, Nov 1, 2012 at 2:53 PM, jan iversen  wrote:
>
>> Thanks for the note, however knowing IBM I had hoped that one of the
>> official goals was to help the development part of the community to get
>> stabilized.
>>
>
> This is what their costumers asked for, not IBM itself. Costumers dont care
> about development, most of the time. They think everyting is created with
> Pixeldust.
>
>
>>
>> I acknowledge that it is important for IBM to get an output of invested
>> energy/time/money, but I think IBM would benefit not only from features but
>> also from the soft points of helping the community.
>>
>
> I was a bit disapointed they didnt asked for some more 'enterprise-ready'
> features like integration with ERP systems, tivoli, and credential
> management of profiles, improve Base and add bridge to DB2 or something in
> those veins.
>

Some of these are being done, but as extensions.  And in some cases
they depend on proprietary code, so they lead to proprietary
extensions.  Personally, I'd recommend bring features like this into
the core only if they can be done in some open fashion, e.g.,
standards based or at least an open driver-based or other extensible
model which is open to all vendors.

>
>>
>> that being said in response to your IBM HAT, but I do feel that you and
>> other IBM Fellows still do a great job in getting  the community to
>> prosper.
>>
>> Jan.
>>
>> On 1 November 2012 17:45,  wrote:
>>
>> > A quick note, wearing my "IBM hat".
>> >
>> > We (IBM) have consulted with customers, internal users, other IBM product
>> > teams, on what our (IBM's) development priorities should be for the next
>> > AOO release.  Obviously, we're not the only ones with priorities or
>> > interests or opinions.  We don't make AOO decisions by ourselves.  But we
>> > want to be transparent about what our own priorities are, for our
>> > employees participating in the AOO community, and what they will be
>> > focusing on.   As we did with AOO 3.4.0 and 3.4.1, we'll be putting the
>> > details onto the wiki over the next couple of weeks.  You'll hear more at
>> > ApacheCon, but I wanted you to hear it hear first.
>> >
>> > Our top priorities:
>> >
>> > -- Improve the install and deployment experience, especially by
>> supporting
>> > digital signatures on installs, and introducing a new incremental update
>> > feature, so users are not required to download and install a full image
>> > for just a minor update.
>> >
>> > -- A major UI enhancement, a sidebar framework for the editors, ported
>> > over from Symphony, and including an API.  If you recall, Symphony won
>> > quite a lot of praise for its UI, and much of this was due to the sidebar
>> > panel.  I think we can make a good argument that this approach, say
>> > compared to the MS Office "ribbon" is a better use of screen real-estate,
>> > especially as we see more frequent use of wide screen displays.
>>
>
> I like what KOffice did with the management of tiles and panes, and I think
> is a great UI study case. There were some of these ideas embedded in the UX
> project. Personally I used to admire the UI from Macromedia projects which
> had a nice use of toolbars, floating panes, and could add a series of
> options in a clean icon-based intereface.
>
>
>> >
>> > -- Improved Table of Contents in Writer
>> >
>> > -- Improved system integration on Windows and MacOS, including possible
>> > adoption of "gestures".
>>
>
> Is this like for tablets? Not sure what gestures means, Opear has some
> gestures which are mouse keys combinations.
>

For example, MacOS "multi-touch" gestures.  See:
http://www.apple.com/osx/what-is/gestures.html

>
>> >
>> > -- IAccessible2 bridge, ported over from Symphony, to improve
>> > accessibility.  This is a major effort, but very important.
>> >
>> > -- Closer integration of clipart and template libraries with user
>> > experience.
>>
>
> I think there was always objections to bloat the office suite with too much
> graphic intensive templates. Not sure if that opposition will be gone now.
> Impress does need a major facelift with animations and transitions. GSOC
> had integration bridge to OpenClipArt to import the clipart from the
> website, this functionality is also present on Inkscape.
>

I think better integration with external repositories is key.  Look at
what MS Office 2013 does.

>
>
>> >
>> > -- Update branding and visual styling, contemporary and compelling, fresh
>> > and relevant.
>>
>
> Funny enough, stale is the new fresh, taken from logos of Chrome and
> Windows, is more an art-deco style.
>

Maybe if we wait long enough what we have now will come back in fashion? ;-)

>
>> >
>> > -- Social integration, allow our users to quickly and easily share their
>> > thoughts in a way that compliment their commercial social behavior.
>> > Explore the integration of consumer service-specific capabilities as well
>> > as generic Share... actions.
>>
>
> eww I hate thi

Re: AOO.Next IBM Priorities

2012-11-01 Thread Kay Schenk



On 11/01/2012 09:45 AM, robert_w...@us.ibm.com wrote:

A quick note, wearing my "IBM hat".

We (IBM) have consulted with customers, internal users, other IBM product
teams, on what our (IBM's) development priorities should be for the next
AOO release.  Obviously, we're not the only ones with priorities or
interests or opinions.  We don't make AOO decisions by ourselves.  But we
want to be transparent about what our own priorities are, for our
employees participating in the AOO community, and what they will be
focusing on.   As we did with AOO 3.4.0 and 3.4.1, we'll be putting the
details onto the wiki over the next couple of weeks.  You'll hear more at
ApacheCon, but I wanted you to hear it hear first.


Thanks for sharing this, and could you re-post the (IBM) wiki link. It's 
been a while since we looked at anything related to this, and I didn't 
save it.


Thanks.



Our top priorities:

-- Improve the install and deployment experience, especially by supporting
digital signatures on installs, and introducing a new incremental update
feature, so users are not required to download and install a full image
for just a minor update.

-- A major UI enhancement, a sidebar framework for the editors, ported
over from Symphony, and including an API.  If you recall, Symphony won
quite a lot of praise for its UI, and much of this was due to the sidebar
panel.  I think we can make a good argument that this approach, say
compared to the MS Office "ribbon" is a better use of screen real-estate,
especially as we see more frequent use of wide screen displays.

-- Improved Table of Contents in Writer

-- Improved system integration on Windows and MacOS, including possible
adoption of "gestures".

-- IAccessible2 bridge, ported over from Symphony, to improve
accessibility.  This is a major effort, but very important.

-- Closer integration of clipart and template libraries with user
experience.

-- Update branding and visual styling, contemporary and compelling, fresh
and relevant.

-- Social integration, allow our users to quickly and easily share their
thoughts in a way that compliment their commercial social behavior.
Explore the integration of consumer service-specific capabilities as well
as generic Share... actions.

-- And many other smaller items

Obviously the release date for this cannot be pinned down so early, and
releasing is PMC decision, not an IBM one.  But we think that this work
could be completed and tested for a release in the March/April 2013
time-frame.  And the scope of the release might be significant enough to
warrant a "4.0" designation.

In any case, we'll soon set up a page on the wiki to collect these items.
As always, I invite you to add your own priorities to the wiki, things
that you would like to work on.  This could be a new feature.  Or, if one
of the above items sound interesting to you, we always welcome help
designing and implementing these features.

Regards,

-Rob






--

MzK

"Anyone who considers protocol unimportant has never
 dealt with a cat."
   -- Robert Heinlein


Re: AOO.Next IBM Priorities

2012-11-01 Thread Peter Junge

Great! Thanks for sharing.

Peter

On 11/2/2012 12:45 AM, robert_w...@us.ibm.com wrote:

A quick note, wearing my "IBM hat".

We (IBM) have consulted with customers, internal users, other IBM product
teams, on what our (IBM's) development priorities should be for the next
AOO release.  Obviously, we're not the only ones with priorities or
interests or opinions.  We don't make AOO decisions by ourselves.  But we
want to be transparent about what our own priorities are, for our
employees participating in the AOO community, and what they will be
focusing on.   As we did with AOO 3.4.0 and 3.4.1, we'll be putting the
details onto the wiki over the next couple of weeks.  You'll hear more at
ApacheCon, but I wanted you to hear it hear first.

Our top priorities:

-- Improve the install and deployment experience, especially by supporting
digital signatures on installs, and introducing a new incremental update
feature, so users are not required to download and install a full image
for just a minor update.

-- A major UI enhancement, a sidebar framework for the editors, ported
over from Symphony, and including an API.  If you recall, Symphony won
quite a lot of praise for its UI, and much of this was due to the sidebar
panel.  I think we can make a good argument that this approach, say
compared to the MS Office "ribbon" is a better use of screen real-estate,
especially as we see more frequent use of wide screen displays.

-- Improved Table of Contents in Writer

-- Improved system integration on Windows and MacOS, including possible
adoption of "gestures".

-- IAccessible2 bridge, ported over from Symphony, to improve
accessibility.  This is a major effort, but very important.

-- Closer integration of clipart and template libraries with user
experience.

-- Update branding and visual styling, contemporary and compelling, fresh
and relevant.

-- Social integration, allow our users to quickly and easily share their
thoughts in a way that compliment their commercial social behavior.
Explore the integration of consumer service-specific capabilities as well
as generic Share... actions.

-- And many other smaller items

Obviously the release date for this cannot be pinned down so early, and
releasing is PMC decision, not an IBM one.  But we think that this work
could be completed and tested for a release in the March/April 2013
time-frame.  And the scope of the release might be significant enough to
warrant a "4.0" designation.

In any case, we'll soon set up a page on the wiki to collect these items.
As always, I invite you to add your own priorities to the wiki, things
that you would like to work on.  This could be a new feature.  Or, if one
of the above items sound interesting to you, we always welcome help
designing and implementing these features.

Regards,

-Rob






Re: AOO.Next IBM Priorities

2012-11-01 Thread Jorg Schmidt

> -- A major UI enhancement, a sidebar framework for the editors, ported 
> over from Symphony, and including an API.

 
I hope I understand correctly that you mean the right side in the picture
http://www.file-extensions.org/imgs/app-picture/4561/ibm-lotus-symphony.gif (OK,
this picture is symphony but the same in AOO). In the picture namend "Text and
CellProperties". 

In this case, my question is:

Is there already a compiled test version for Windows?

(I do not necessarily mean a formal trial rather a snapshot, my personal problem
is only that I could not compile and therefore need a compiled version.)


Greetings,
Jorg



Re: AOO.Next IBM Priorities

2012-11-01 Thread Lei Wang
No, this is property panel in the sidebar, not the sidebar framework.

The sidebar framework looks like:
http://wiki.openoffice.org/wiki/AOO_UX_Design_Exploration_-_Docked_Task_Pane_Container_-_Tab_User_Interface_Design

On Fri, Nov 2, 2012 at 10:29 AM, Jorg Schmidt  wrote:

>
> > -- A major UI enhancement, a sidebar framework for the editors, ported
> > over from Symphony, and including an API.
>
>
> I hope I understand correctly that you mean the right side in the picture
> http://www.file-extensions.org/imgs/app-picture/4561/ibm-lotus-symphony.gif(OK,
> this picture is symphony but the same in AOO). In the picture namend "Text
> and
> CellProperties".
>
> In this case, my question is:
>
> Is there already a compiled test version for Windows?
>
> (I do not necessarily mean a formal trial rather a snapshot, my personal
> problem
> is only that I could not compile and therefore need a compiled version.)
>
>
> Greetings,
> Jorg
>
>


Re: AOO.Next IBM Priorities

2012-11-01 Thread Graham Lauder
If I didn't know better I'd swear you had been spying on my wishlist. If
IBM brought nothing else to the project it's customer focus is hugely
valuable.  Many thanks Rob, one marketing guy very happy.
On 2/11/2012 8:52 AM,  wrote:

> A quick note, wearing my "IBM hat".
>
> We (IBM) have consulted with customers, internal users, other IBM product
> teams, on what our (IBM's) development priorities should be for the next
> AOO release.  Obviously, we're not the only ones with priorities or
> interests or opinions.  We don't make AOO decisions by ourselves.  But we
> want to be transparent about what our own priorities are, for our
> employees participating in the AOO community, and what they will be
> focusing on.   As we did with AOO 3.4.0 and 3.4.1, we'll be putting the
> details onto the wiki over the next couple of weeks.  You'll hear more at
> ApacheCon, but I wanted you to hear it hear first.
>
> Our top priorities:
>
> -- Improve the install and deployment experience, especially by supporting
> digital signatures on installs, and introducing a new incremental update
> feature, so users are not required to download and install a full image
> for just a minor update.
>
> -- A major UI enhancement, a sidebar framework for the editors, ported
> over from Symphony, and including an API.  If you recall, Symphony won
> quite a lot of praise for its UI, and much of this was due to the sidebar
> panel.  I think we can make a good argument that this approach, say
> compared to the MS Office "ribbon" is a better use of screen real-estate,
> especially as we see more frequent use of wide screen displays.
>
> -- Improved Table of Contents in Writer
>
> -- Improved system integration on Windows and MacOS, including possible
> adoption of "gestures".
>
> -- IAccessible2 bridge, ported over from Symphony, to improve
> accessibility.  This is a major effort, but very important.
>
> -- Closer integration of clipart and template libraries with user
> experience.
>
> -- Update branding and visual styling, contemporary and compelling, fresh
> and relevant.
>
> -- Social integration, allow our users to quickly and easily share their
> thoughts in a way that compliment their commercial social behavior.
> Explore the integration of consumer service-specific capabilities as well
> as generic Share... actions.
>
> -- And many other smaller items
>
> Obviously the release date for this cannot be pinned down so early, and
> releasing is PMC decision, not an IBM one.  But we think that this work
> could be completed and tested for a release in the March/April 2013
> time-frame.  And the scope of the release might be significant enough to
> warrant a "4.0" designation.
>
> In any case, we'll soon set up a page on the wiki to collect these items.
> As always, I invite you to add your own priorities to the wiki, things
> that you would like to work on.  This could be a new feature.  Or, if one
> of the above items sound interesting to you, we always welcome help
> designing and implementing these features.
>
> Regards,
>
> -Rob
>
>
>
>


Re: AOO.Next IBM Priorities

2012-11-01 Thread Kevin Grignon
KG01 - see comment inline

On Fri, Nov 2, 2012 at 5:28 AM, Rob Weir  wrote:

> On Thu, Nov 1, 2012 at 5:10 PM, Alexandro Colorado  wrote:
> > On Thu, Nov 1, 2012 at 2:53 PM, jan iversen 
> wrote:
> >
> >> Thanks for the note, however knowing IBM I had hoped that one of the
> >> official goals was to help the development part of the community to get
> >> stabilized.
> >>
> >
> > This is what their costumers asked for, not IBM itself. Costumers dont
> care
> > about development, most of the time. They think everyting is created with
> > Pixeldust.
> >
> >
> >>
> >> I acknowledge that it is important for IBM to get an output of invested
> >> energy/time/money, but I think IBM would benefit not only from features
> but
> >> also from the soft points of helping the community.
> >>
> >
> > I was a bit disapointed they didnt asked for some more 'enterprise-ready'
> > features like integration with ERP systems, tivoli, and credential
> > management of profiles, improve Base and add bridge to DB2 or something
> in
> > those veins.
> >
>
> Some of these are being done, but as extensions.  And in some cases
> they depend on proprietary code, so they lead to proprietary
> extensions.  Personally, I'd recommend bring features like this into
> the core only if they can be done in some open fashion, e.g.,
> standards based or at least an open driver-based or other extensible
> model which is open to all vendors.
>
> >
> >>
> >> that being said in response to your IBM HAT, but I do feel that you and
> >> other IBM Fellows still do a great job in getting  the community to
> >> prosper.
> >>
> >> Jan.
> >>
> >> On 1 November 2012 17:45,  wrote:
> >>
> >> > A quick note, wearing my "IBM hat".
> >> >
> >> > We (IBM) have consulted with customers, internal users, other IBM
> product
> >> > teams, on what our (IBM's) development priorities should be for the
> next
> >> > AOO release.  Obviously, we're not the only ones with priorities or
> >> > interests or opinions.  We don't make AOO decisions by ourselves.
>  But we
> >> > want to be transparent about what our own priorities are, for our
> >> > employees participating in the AOO community, and what they will be
> >> > focusing on.   As we did with AOO 3.4.0 and 3.4.1, we'll be putting
> the
> >> > details onto the wiki over the next couple of weeks.  You'll hear
> more at
> >> > ApacheCon, but I wanted you to hear it hear first.
> >> >
> >> > Our top priorities:
> >> >
> >> > -- Improve the install and deployment experience, especially by
> >> supporting
> >> > digital signatures on installs, and introducing a new incremental
> update
> >> > feature, so users are not required to download and install a full
> image
> >> > for just a minor update.
> >> >
> >> > -- A major UI enhancement, a sidebar framework for the editors, ported
> >> > over from Symphony, and including an API.  If you recall, Symphony won
> >> > quite a lot of praise for its UI, and much of this was due to the
> sidebar
> >> > panel.  I think we can make a good argument that this approach, say
> >> > compared to the MS Office "ribbon" is a better use of screen
> real-estate,
> >> > especially as we see more frequent use of wide screen displays.
> >>
> >
> > I like what KOffice did with the management of tiles and panes, and I
> think
> > is a great UI study case. There were some of these ideas embedded in the
> UX
> > project. Personally I used to admire the UI from Macromedia projects
> which
> > had a nice use of toolbars, floating panes, and could add a series of
> > options in a clean icon-based intereface.
> >
> >
> >> >
> >> > -- Improved Table of Contents in Writer
> >> >
> >> > -- Improved system integration on Windows and MacOS, including
> possible
> >> > adoption of "gestures".
> >>
> >
> > Is this like for tablets? Not sure what gestures means, Opear has some
> > gestures which are mouse keys combinations.
> >
>
> For example, MacOS "multi-touch" gestures.  See:
> http://www.apple.com/osx/what-is/gestures.html
>
> >
> >> >
> >> > -- IAccessible2 bridge, ported over from Symphony, to improve
> >> > accessibility.  This is a major effort, but very important.
> >> >
> >> > -- Closer integration of clipart and template libraries with user
> >> > experience.
> >>
> >
> > I think there was always objections to bloat the office suite with too
> much
> > graphic intensive templates. Not sure if that opposition will be gone
> now.
> > Impress does need a major facelift with animations and transitions. GSOC
> > had integration bridge to OpenClipArt to import the clipart from the
> > website, this functionality is also present on Inkscape.
> >
>
> I think better integration with external repositories is key.  Look at
> what MS Office 2013 does.
>
> >
> >
> >> >
> >> > -- Update branding and visual styling, contemporary and compelling,
> fresh
> >> > and relevant.
> >>
> >
> > Funny enough, stale is the new fresh, taken from logos of Chrome and
> > Windows, is more an art-deco style.
> >
>
> Maybe if we wait

Re: AOO.Next IBM Priorities

2012-11-02 Thread Andre Fischer

On 01.11.2012 17:45, robert_w...@us.ibm.com wrote:

A quick note, wearing my "IBM hat".

We (IBM) have consulted with customers, internal users, other IBM product
teams, on what our (IBM's) development priorities should be for the next
AOO release.  Obviously, we're not the only ones with priorities or
interests or opinions.  We don't make AOO decisions by ourselves.  But we
want to be transparent about what our own priorities are, for our
employees participating in the AOO community, and what they will be
focusing on.   As we did with AOO 3.4.0 and 3.4.1, we'll be putting the
details onto the wiki over the next couple of weeks.  You'll hear more at
ApacheCon, but I wanted you to hear it hear first.

Our top priorities:

-- Improve the install and deployment experience, especially by supporting
digital signatures on installs, and introducing a new incremental update
feature, so users are not required to download and install a full image
for just a minor update.

-- A major UI enhancement, a sidebar framework for the editors, ported
over from Symphony, and including an API.  If you recall, Symphony won
quite a lot of praise for its UI, and much of this was due to the sidebar
panel.  I think we can make a good argument that this approach, say
compared to the MS Office "ribbon" is a better use of screen real-estate,
especially as we see more frequent use of wide screen displays.

-- Improved Table of Contents in Writer

-- Improved system integration on Windows and MacOS, including possible
adoption of "gestures".

-- IAccessible2 bridge, ported over from Symphony, to improve
accessibility.  This is a major effort, but very important.


I will be talking about IAccessible2 as stand in for Steve Yin at the 
ApacheCon.

Please meet me there at 11:45am on Nov 6 (Level 1 Left).

-Andre



-- Closer integration of clipart and template libraries with user
experience.

-- Update branding and visual styling, contemporary and compelling, fresh
and relevant.

-- Social integration, allow our users to quickly and easily share their
thoughts in a way that compliment their commercial social behavior.
Explore the integration of consumer service-specific capabilities as well
as generic Share... actions.

-- And many other smaller items

Obviously the release date for this cannot be pinned down so early, and
releasing is PMC decision, not an IBM one.  But we think that this work
could be completed and tested for a release in the March/April 2013
time-frame.  And the scope of the release might be significant enough to
warrant a "4.0" designation.

In any case, we'll soon set up a page on the wiki to collect these items.
As always, I invite you to add your own priorities to the wiki, things
that you would like to work on.  This could be a new feature.  Or, if one
of the above items sound interesting to you, we always welcome help
designing and implementing these features.

Regards,

-Rob








Re: AOO.Next IBM Priorities

2012-11-02 Thread Andre Fischer

On 02.11.2012 03:29, Jorg Schmidt wrote:

-- A major UI enhancement, a sidebar framework for the editors, ported
over from Symphony, and including an API.
  
I hope I understand correctly that you mean the right side in the picture

http://www.file-extensions.org/imgs/app-picture/4561/ibm-lotus-symphony.gif (OK,
this picture is symphony but the same in AOO). In the picture namend "Text and
CellProperties".

In this case, my question is:

Is there already a compiled test version for Windows?


No, we are still in the planning and evaluation phase.  With "we" I mean 
the AOO community.  Please see mail thread  [1],  here on ooo-dev, for 
an invitation to participate.  Expect more in the week after the 
ApacheCon.  I will be working on the framework aspect of the sidebar but 
am currently busy with preparing may talks.


-Andre

[1] 
http://mail-archives.apache.org/mod_mbox/incubator-ooo-dev/201211.mbox/ajax/%3CCAO4%2BhqNH6ukOHtWfcWxGTL14Pytu_awyeOyQfC1_F-a0nJb7ow%40mail.gmail.com%3E


(I do not necessarily mean a formal trial rather a snapshot, my personal problem
is only that I could not compile and therefore need a compiled version.)


Greetings,
Jorg





Re: AOO.Next IBM Priorities

2012-11-02 Thread Andrea Pescetti

On 01/11/2012 robert_weir wrote:

We (IBM) have consulted with customers, internal users, other IBM product
teams, on what our (IBM's) development priorities should be for the next
AOO release.  Obviously, we're not the only ones with priorities or
interests or opinions.  We don't make AOO decisions by ourselves.  But we
want to be transparent about what our own priorities are


Thank you for sharing. They are all good and needed contributions and 
they cover many of the main results from the Google Moderator user survey.


There are still missing things that I've seen requested and that I would 
personally like to see in the product (a non-exhaustive list would 
include: better OOXML support, full or enhanced ODF 1.2 support, better 
defaults, better integration with the Extensions and Templates sites or 
in general better visibility for the additional resources, a refreshed 
visual identity not only in the interface...), and indeed it will be 
good to start collecting priorities on the wiki and assess feasibility 
of the underlying development.


And then of course there's the community side: we are now able to engage 
localization volunteers but there is still work to do to be able to 
engage unaffiliated developers, so we might take that into consideration 
when discussing the new features.



releasing is PMC decision, not an IBM one.  But we think that this work
could be completed and tested for a release in the March/April 2013
time-frame.  And the scope of the release might be significant enough to
warrant a "4.0" designation.


Seems like this would be a good plan. Let's make it real!

Regards,
  Andrea.


Re: AOO.Next IBM Priorities

2012-11-02 Thread Ian Lynch
On 2 November 2012 08:40, Andrea Pescetti  wrote:

> On 01/11/2012 robert_weir wrote:
>
>> We (IBM) have consulted with customers, internal users, other IBM product
>> teams, on what our (IBM's) development priorities should be for the next
>> AOO release.  Obviously, we're not the only ones with priorities or
>> interests or opinions.  We don't make AOO decisions by ourselves.  But we
>> want to be transparent about what our own priorities are
>>
>
> Thank you for sharing. They are all good and needed contributions and they
> cover many of the main results from the Google Moderator user survey.
>
> There are still missing things that I've seen requested and that I would
> personally like to see in the product (a non-exhaustive list would include:
> better OOXML support, full or enhanced ODF 1.2 support,


I think the best filters possible are the highest priority. It is difficult
to use AOO with government documents because mostly they have complex table
structures for gathering data in docx format. This more than anything will
prevent take up.

better defaults, better integration with the Extensions and Templates sites
> or in general better visibility for the additional resources, a refreshed
> visual identity not only in the interface...), and indeed it will be good
> to start collecting priorities on the wiki and assess feasibility of the
> underlying development.
>
> And then of course there's the community side: we are now able to engage
> localization volunteers but there is still work to do to be able to engage
> unaffiliated developers, so we might take that into consideration when
> discussing the new features.
>
>  releasing is PMC decision, not an IBM one.  But we think that this work
>> could be completed and tested for a release in the March/April 2013
>> time-frame.  And the scope of the release might be significant enough to
>> warrant a "4.0" designation.
>>
>
> Seems like this would be a good plan. Let's make it real!
>

On that timescale we really need to get going if we are to have a
competition for branding for 4.0.


>
> Regards,
>   Andrea.
>

-- 
Ian

Ofqual Accredited IT Qualifications (The Schools ITQ)

www.theINGOTs.org +44 (0)1827 305940

The Learning Machine Limited, Reg Office, 36 Ashby Road, Tamworth,
Staffordshire, B79 8AQ. Reg No: 05560797, Registered in England and
Wales.


Re: AOO.Next IBM Priorities

2012-11-02 Thread Jörg Schmidt
Hello,
 
> From: Lei Wang [mailto:lei.wang.l...@gmail.com] 

> No, this is property panel in the sidebar, not the sidebar framework.
> 
> The sidebar framework looks like:
> http://wiki.openoffice.org/wiki/AOO_UX_Design_Exploration_-_Do
> cked_Task_Pane_Container_-_Tab_User_Interface_Design

Unfortunately I am not a developer and do not understand exactly the difference.


Let me ask because Rob wrote something of API:

Is it possible to program via StarBasic later controls on the empty tab area?


Greetings,
Jörg



Re: AOO.Next IBM Priorities

2012-11-02 Thread Alexandro Colorado
On 11/2/12, Ian Lynch  wrote:
> On 2 November 2012 08:40, Andrea Pescetti  wrote:
>
>> On 01/11/2012 robert_weir wrote:
>>
>>> We (IBM) have consulted with customers, internal users, other IBM
>>> product
>>> teams, on what our (IBM's) development priorities should be for the next
>>> AOO release.  Obviously, we're not the only ones with priorities or
>>> interests or opinions.  We don't make AOO decisions by ourselves.  But
>>> we
>>> want to be transparent about what our own priorities are
>>>
>>
>> Thank you for sharing. They are all good and needed contributions and
>> they
>> cover many of the main results from the Google Moderator user survey.
>>
>> There are still missing things that I've seen requested and that I would
>> personally like to see in the product (a non-exhaustive list would
>> include:
>> better OOXML support, full or enhanced ODF 1.2 support,
>
>
> I think the best filters possible are the highest priority. It is difficult
> to use AOO with government documents because mostly they have complex table
> structures for gathering data in docx format. This more than anything will
> prevent take up.

This problem is more on the design and paper paradigm. Having a
digitalization of a paper-form forms, we use tables to design as
opposed as to hold tabular data.

A document design should be done with a DTP program something that
Writer is not the optimal software for it. Frame-based software is the
ideal for design documents.

One simple example is the lack of 'rotate' an image in Writer, while
Draw has it.

Here we have two scenarios:
1) Import such features into writer.
2) Improve the integration of draw and writer. Draw layers could
easily be taken as a "template" for writer to fill in around Draw
designs.

>
> better defaults, better integration with the Extensions and Templates sites
>> or in general better visibility for the additional resources, a refreshed
>> visual identity not only in the interface...), and indeed it will be good
>> to start collecting priorities on the wiki and assess feasibility of the
>> underlying development.
>>
>> And then of course there's the community side: we are now able to engage
>> localization volunteers but there is still work to do to be able to
>> engage
>> unaffiliated developers, so we might take that into consideration when
>> discussing the new features.
>>
>>  releasing is PMC decision, not an IBM one.  But we think that this work
>>> could be completed and tested for a release in the March/April 2013
>>> time-frame.  And the scope of the release might be significant enough to
>>> warrant a "4.0" designation.
>>>
>>
>> Seems like this would be a good plan. Let's make it real!
>>
>
> On that timescale we really need to get going if we are to have a
> competition for branding for 4.0.
>
>
>>
>> Regards,
>>   Andrea.
>>
>
> --
> Ian
>
> Ofqual Accredited IT Qualifications (The Schools ITQ)
>
> www.theINGOTs.org +44 (0)1827 305940
>
> The Learning Machine Limited, Reg Office, 36 Ashby Road, Tamworth,
> Staffordshire, B79 8AQ. Reg No: 05560797, Registered in England and
> Wales.
>


-- 
Alexandro Colorado
PPMC Apache OpenOffice
http://es.openoffice.org


Re: AOO.Next IBM Priorities

2012-11-02 Thread Fernando Cassia
On Thu, Nov 1, 2012 at 1:45 PM,  wrote:

>  If you recall, Symphony won
> quite a lot of praise for its UI, and much of this was due to the sidebar
> panel.  I think we can make a good argument that this approach, say
> compared to the MS Office "ribbon" is a better use of screen real-estate,
> especially as we see more frequent use of wide screen displays.
>

+1 anything but ribbon, please!. CUA exists for a reason...

http://news.techeye.net/software/software-gui-design-going-to-hell-in-a-basket

FC

-- 
During times of Universal Deceit, telling the truth becomes a revolutionary
act
Durante épocas de Engaño Universal, decir la verdad se convierte en un Acto
Revolucionario
- George Orwell


Re: AOO.Next IBM Priorities

2012-11-03 Thread Ian Lynch
On 2 November 2012 20:34, Alexandro Colorado  wrote:

> On 11/2/12, Ian Lynch  wrote:
> > On 2 November 2012 08:40, Andrea Pescetti  wrote:
> >
> >> On 01/11/2012 robert_weir wrote:
> >>
> >>> We (IBM) have consulted with customers, internal users, other IBM
> >>> product
> >>> teams, on what our (IBM's) development priorities should be for the
> next
> >>> AOO release.  Obviously, we're not the only ones with priorities or
> >>> interests or opinions.  We don't make AOO decisions by ourselves.  But
> >>> we
> >>> want to be transparent about what our own priorities are
> >>>
> >>
> >> Thank you for sharing. They are all good and needed contributions and
> >> they
> >> cover many of the main results from the Google Moderator user survey.
> >>
> >> There are still missing things that I've seen requested and that I would
> >> personally like to see in the product (a non-exhaustive list would
> >> include:
> >> better OOXML support, full or enhanced ODF 1.2 support,
> >
> >
> > I think the best filters possible are the highest priority. It is
> difficult
> > to use AOO with government documents because mostly they have complex
> table
> > structures for gathering data in docx format. This more than anything
> will
> > prevent take up.
>
> This problem is more on the design and paper paradigm. Having a
> digitalization of a paper-form forms, we use tables to design as
> opposed as to hold tabular data.
>
> A document design should be done with a DTP program something that
> Writer is not the optimal software for it. Frame-based software is the
> ideal for design documents.
>

Government should not be collecting data in word processing documents but
they do. It's no good telling customers what they must do, we have to deal
with the situation as it is and unreliable  import of documents is a key
problem in getting take up.

-- 
Ian

Ofqual Accredited IT Qualifications (The Schools ITQ)

www.theINGOTs.org +44 (0)1827 305940

The Learning Machine Limited, Reg Office, 36 Ashby Road, Tamworth,
Staffordshire, B79 8AQ. Reg No: 05560797, Registered in England and
Wales.


Re: AOO.Next IBM Priorities

2012-11-03 Thread Dave Fisher

On Nov 2, 2012, at 1:40 AM, Andrea Pescetti wrote:

> On 01/11/2012 robert_weir wrote:
>> We (IBM) have consulted with customers, internal users, other IBM product
>> teams, on what our (IBM's) development priorities should be for the next
>> AOO release.  Obviously, we're not the only ones with priorities or
>> interests or opinions.  We don't make AOO decisions by ourselves.  But we
>> want to be transparent about what our own priorities are
> 
> Thank you for sharing. They are all good and needed contributions and they 
> cover many of the main results from the Google Moderator user survey.
> 
> There are still missing things that I've seen requested and that I would 
> personally like to see in the product (a non-exhaustive list would include: 
> better OOXML support,

If a Java library is not a barrier then Apache POI might be helpful. Talk to 
Nick Burch or Yegor Kozlov at Apachecon EU.

> full or enhanced ODF 1.2 support,

Again if Java is not a barrier the Apache ODFToolkit (incubating) might be a 
reasonable tool - What do you think Rob?

Regards,
Dave

> better defaults, better integration with the Extensions and Templates sites 
> or in general better visibility for the additional resources, a refreshed 
> visual identity not only in the interface...), and indeed it will be good to 
> start collecting priorities on the wiki and assess feasibility of the 
> underlying development.
> 
> And then of course there's the community side: we are now able to engage 
> localization volunteers but there is still work to do to be able to engage 
> unaffiliated developers, so we might take that into consideration when 
> discussing the new features.
> 
>> releasing is PMC decision, not an IBM one.  But we think that this work
>> could be completed and tested for a release in the March/April 2013
>> time-frame.  And the scope of the release might be significant enough to
>> warrant a "4.0" designation.
> 
> Seems like this would be a good plan. Let's make it real!
> 
> Regards,
>  Andrea.



Re: AOO.Next IBM Priorities

2012-11-03 Thread Rob Weir
On Sat, Nov 3, 2012 at 2:55 PM, Dave Fisher  wrote:
>
> On Nov 2, 2012, at 1:40 AM, Andrea Pescetti wrote:
>
>> On 01/11/2012 robert_weir wrote:
>>> We (IBM) have consulted with customers, internal users, other IBM product
>>> teams, on what our (IBM's) development priorities should be for the next
>>> AOO release.  Obviously, we're not the only ones with priorities or
>>> interests or opinions.  We don't make AOO decisions by ourselves.  But we
>>> want to be transparent about what our own priorities are
>>
>> Thank you for sharing. They are all good and needed contributions and they 
>> cover many of the main results from the Google Moderator user survey.
>>
>> There are still missing things that I've seen requested and that I would 
>> personally like to see in the product (a non-exhaustive list would include: 
>> better OOXML support,
>
> If a Java library is not a barrier then Apache POI might be helpful. Talk to 
> Nick Burch or Yegor Kozlov at Apachecon EU.
>
>> full or enhanced ODF 1.2 support,
>
> Again if Java is not a barrier the Apache ODFToolkit (incubating) might be a 
> reasonable tool - What do you think Rob?
>

>From what I've seen the issue is not in parsing the file format, or
operations at that level.  The issues are in the fine points of layout
and rendering, and even then it is often a disconnect between the
document model implied by Microsoft Word's formats and those used
internally by OpenOffice.  For example, different models for dealing
with nested lists.

ISO did a report on how ODF and OOXML correspond, and what was
possible via direct translation.  Unfortunately it is behind a
paywall:  
http://www.iso.org/iso/iso_catalogue/catalogue_tc/catalogue_detail.htm?csnumber=45245

There is also a related whitepaper by Fraunhofer FOCUS:
http://www.fokus.fraunhofer.de/en/elan/publikationen/infomaterial/white_paper/documentinteroperability/index.html
  (Microsoft sponsored, but still some good background info on the
issues).

In any case, to the question of priorities:  If you check the trunk,
you'll see that we have actually checked in quite a few MS interop
related fixes.  Our team in Beijing was focused on that while the rest
of us were focused on the 3.4.1 branch.  So AOO 4.0 will have some
noticeable improvements in this area, even if we work on other items
now.

Regards,

-Rob

> Regards,
> Dave
>
>> better defaults, better integration with the Extensions and Templates sites 
>> or in general better visibility for the additional resources, a refreshed 
>> visual identity not only in the interface...), and indeed it will be good to 
>> start collecting priorities on the wiki and assess feasibility of the 
>> underlying development.
>>
>> And then of course there's the community side: we are now able to engage 
>> localization volunteers but there is still work to do to be able to engage 
>> unaffiliated developers, so we might take that into consideration when 
>> discussing the new features.
>>
>>> releasing is PMC decision, not an IBM one.  But we think that this work
>>> could be completed and tested for a release in the March/April 2013
>>> time-frame.  And the scope of the release might be significant enough to
>>> warrant a "4.0" designation.
>>
>> Seems like this would be a good plan. Let's make it real!
>>
>> Regards,
>>  Andrea.
>