[Libreoffice-bugs] [Bug 35419] New: Improve Microsoft Office compitability

[bugzilla-daemon at freedesktop.org]

https://bugs.freedesktop.org/show_bug.cgi?id=35419

           Summary: Improve Microsoft Office compitability
           Product: LibreOffice
           Version: LibO 3.3.2 RC1
          Platform: All
        OS/Version: All
            Status: NEW
          Severity: critical
          Priority: medium
         Component: Libreoffice
        AssignedTo: libreoffice-bugs at lists.freedesktop.org
        ReportedBy: osavill at uklinux.net


Something has GOT to be done about the dire state of Microsoft Office import
and export compatibility.

We, like many others, rolled out a trial of Linux on the desktop. We used SuSE,
Mandriva and Ubuntu. We've tried Open Office and Libre Office. The trial is
falling apart. Why? People love the Linux desktops, primarily KDE but some
Gnome, they love the way their PCs sprang back to life, became more responsive,
didn't grind to a halt every time the anti-virus kicked off. They loved the
vast number of apps on their PCs and they really got on with them. No, the
reason it's falling apart is because the Linux office packages just can't play
with MS Office. Even the simplest documents won't re-open in Word, loose
formatting, end up scrambled or even or several occasions just wiped, even
Libre / Open Office's backup file wiped as well. To give it its due Libre /
Open Office has never failed to read any of our documents, but usually they
look trashed and require re-laying out.

If Linux / Android / Whatever on whatever platform is ever going to truly
succeed then office compatibility has simply got to be addressed. After all,
you might end up developing the world's best office suite but if it can't
seamlessly read and write "the other" office suite's files then it's not going
to get anywhere and Windows remain the only option.

Almost a decade ago I posted large number of MS Office documents to the Open
Office project, including some huge 3GPP specs.For a while things improved
rapidly but after a while the progress appeared to stall and things haven't
improved a great deal, I would say, for many years. Minor tweaks, but nothing
substantial. I stopped evangelising Open Office some time ago because it simply
couldn't live up to expectations, I really hope Libre Office can.

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