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List:       koffice-devel
Subject:    Re: a common document file format and variable fields
From:       Seth Kurtzberg <seth () cql ! com>
Date:       2002-07-18 17:14:09
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Printing to a file doesn't use paper.  It is just a different file format.  
And, the format is not related to the number base used in the machine.  Of 
course the representation of the characters happens to be binary, but that 
reflects the encoding of the file on the media, not the format of the file 
itself.

Computers using number bases other than 2 have been "coming soon" for well 
over 25 years.  I suppose it is possible that it will happen, but all the 
work, even the esoteric stuff like quantum computing, is implicitly base 2 
technology.

On Thursday 18 July 2002 05:15 am, Nicolas Goutte wrote:
> How do you get the computed values back in the computer in 60 years?
> (Whatever a computer might be or look like in 60 years.)
>
> Be careful that in 60 years the computers will perhaps not work on base 2
> anymore and that the floating point specifications will perhaps have
> changed too. So if you calculate the values back, you will have other
> rounding errors. I think that this behaviour is not acceptable for at least
> some kinds of documents.
>
> And I suppose that using paper is not acceptable. If the Federal Republic
> of Germany is pushing forward common document formats, I think that it is
> also to lessen the use of paper and microfiches for archiving.
>
> Have a nice day/evening/night!
>
> On Donnerstag, 18. Juli 2002 11:08, Seth Kurtzberg wrote:
> > Martin,
> >
> > Here I think you are proposing too much complexity, when there is a much
> > simpler solution.  If it is desirable to same the computed data, print to
> > a file and save the source file and the print file.
> >
> > On Wednesday 17 July 2002 05:26 pm, Martin Konold wrote:
> > > Hi,
> > >
> > > when considering variable date fields or a spread sheet table I am
> > > wondering if it is a good idea to always not only store the formulas
> > > but also the visible contents at the time of saving the document.
> > >
> > > Such a feature, while increasing the file size can have multiple
> > > benefits inkl. readability in 60 years without the need to reemplement
> > > all the functionality of the spreadsheet etc.
> > >
> > > Opinions welcome!
> > >
> > > Yours,
> > > --martin
>
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-- 
Seth Kurtzberg
MIS Corp.
Office:  (480) 661-1849
Fax: (480) 614-8909
email:  seth@cql.com
pager:  888-605-9296 or email 6059296@skytel.com
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