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List:       koffice
Subject:    Re: [discuss] RE: import/export filter library
From:       Nicolas Goutte <nicog () snafu ! de>
Date:       2001-10-12 20:29:30
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On Friday, 12. October 2001 13:06, Lukas Smith wrote:
> Just one question from the more experienced folks:
> Such a library would probably be easiest to extend if we create an
> "ueberformat" and then make sure we can transform all files to and from
> this format. Is this the way you people would want to do it?

I would be very careful with "over-formats".

I have learned the hard way with KWord that it is is not as simple as it 
might sound at first. (KWord first saves to a file in native format and then 
use an export filter to read this file in native format and to save it back 
to another file in the desired "foreign" format.)

>
> So I guess this project would have to first define this "ueberformat" by
> looking at what different formats will need and offer. Is there anyone
> that is working on such an "ueberformat"? I assume each office suite
> would try to make a case for their current format?

As this thread seems to be primarily about word processors, I would suggest 
that you would use XHTML Modular with CSS2 (Cascaded Style Sheets Level 2.) 
(both at http://www.w3c.org .) Sure you would need to create some private 
modules like for AbiWord's list of ignored words or how to store images and 
objects inline in the file (like AbiWord?)

The big drawback is that no ibrary supporting full XHTML + CSS2 does exist, 
as libxml2 does not touch CSS2 at all (if I remember well) and as (today's) 
KHtml is missing major parts of the CSS DOM (some interfaces exist but are 
not implemented.)

Another problem is that columns are only defined in draft CSS3.

The advantage would that you will have a sort of preview in most browsers and 
that both specifications have been done by many people manipulating 
documents, so you can inherit their experience.

>
> Lukas

Just my 0.02 EUR!

Have a nice day/evening/night!

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