DOC, XLS and PPT Binary File Format Specifications Released (plus WMF, Windows Compound File [aka OLE 2.0 Structured Storage] and Ink Serialized Format Specifications and Translator to XML news)

Brian Jones: Open XML Formats - Binary Documentation (.doc, .xls, .ppt) and Translator Project Site are now live

"As promised last month, the binary documentation (.doc, .xls, .ppt) is now live. In addition to this, the project to create an open source translator (binary -> Open XML) has now been formed on sourceforge, and the development roadmap has been published. ...

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Office Binary (doc, xls, ppt) Translator to Open XML

The "Office Binary (doc, xls, ppt) Translator to Open XML" project is now live on sourceforge: http://b2xtranslator.sourceforge.net/

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While the project is still in its infancy, you can see what the planned project roadmap is, as well as an early draft of a mapping table between the Word binary format (.doc) and the Open XML format (.docx).

Microsoft Office Binary (doc, xls, ppt) File Formats

The binary documentation itself is available up here: http://www.microsoft.com/interop/docs/OfficeBinaryFormats.mspx

• Word 97-2007 Binary File Format (.doc) Specification PDF | XPS
• PowerPoint 97-2007 Binary File Format (.ppt) Specification PDF | XPS
• Excel 97-2007 Binary File Format (.xls) Specification PDF | XPS
• Office Drawing 97-2007 Binary Format Specification PDF | XPS

It's all covered under the Open Specification Promise.

Another great surprise in all of this is that we've made the documentation for a few other supporting technologies available as it may be of use to folks implementing the binary formats: http://www.microsoft.com/interop/docs/supportingtechnologies.mspx

The technologies included are:

• Windows Compound Binary File Format Specification PDF | XPS
• Windows Metafile Format (.wmf) Specification PDF | XPS
• Ink Serialized Format (ISF) Specification PDF | XPS

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I think this was a good move by Microsoft. Now what would be cool is to see them release more older file format specifications because they want to, not because they "have" too.

 

Related Past Post XRef:
Microsoft Office Binary File Format Specifications Coming to a Download Near You...