Linux Format forums

[Oyster]

Question : Should BBC link data in proprietary formats to their articles?

e.g. the Excel attachment here...

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/technology/8562801.stm

I have read in LXF about their excellent contribution to the Dirac codec. Should they go a step further and declare a policy of only dealing with open standards and formats for information?
What do you think?

[Rhakios]

It's Nielsen's data, what are the BBC supposed to do, ignore it, refuse to link to it, or convert it to a free format that will actually just confuse the majority of the BBC's users?
It is not the job of the BBC to promote Free Software any more than it's their job to promote Apple or Microsoft products (something which I wish they'd stop doing).

Edit: Parenthetically, apart from one bit you need to look quite hard for, I'm surprised to see that porn hardly exists on the internet.
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Bye, Rhakios

[droseraholic]

The XLS file opens fine in OpenOffice Calc anyway (and, like it or not, XLS is a much commoner format than the native OpenOffice ODS Spreadsheet format - as long as versions of proprietary formats used aren't the newest ones [e.g. XLSX - although I believe newer versions of OpenOffice can use these?] and can be opened by the likes of OpenOffice, there shouldn't be too much of a problem - if ODS for example were used, many people using older versions of MS Excel couldn't open the file).

It's a difficult balance to strike, but my general feeling is that using DOC or XLS files as attachments are ok as long as they will work in at least OpenOffice as well. Ideally, for information produced by government, BBC or other similar publically-funded organizations, they should test the files in various versions of MS Office and OpenOffice to ensure they are usable by as many people as possible.
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Kind regards,

Adam.

[towy71]

The thing that slays me is that the Open University demands that work is submitted in Microparp Orifice format
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still looking for that door into summer

[Rhakios]

[nordle]

I think the BBC should use its public funding to make content available in the format that meets the requirement of most of its consumers.

If the beebs audience where some sort of 60/40 split, then it would make sense to go with an open format.

But given that Linux accounts for 1% of users (something like that), it would seem a waste of money to re-train its users + provide new software to produce content in another format.

Equally if an Excel spreadsheet is produced using Gnumeric, thats great. But don't produce a .gnumeric file if only 1% of users have software already installed that will view it.

Having said that, it is license payers money that has essentially paid for that content, and it should be available for future users. Using an open format might best secure the future of the content.

mmm. I've just confused myself. Maybe the EU should step in and demand that ALL operating systems / Office software sold in the EU should have support for one particular open format included. Then there would not be an issue. Wouldn't matter how it was produced, and wouldn't matter on what platform it is viewed, nor would it matter how old content would be affected by changes in one companies policy.
That would actually be of use rather than this "pick a browser" thing the EU forced through, which cost millions to get done and will achieve....not much.
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I think, therefore I compile

[jjmac]

Howdy,


nordle wrote:

[sentient_one]

.xls pretty much defacto standard
But, on the whole, should move towards non-proprietary filetypes