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On Wed, 2007-07-04 at 11:52 +0100, James Fidell wrote: > http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/technology/6265976.stm > > NAO having problems with old data because of old file formats which are > no longer readable. Shame they don't say which ones. Why are they falling for the MS line? She was speaking at the launch of a partnership with Microsoft to ensure the Archives could read old formats. Microsoft's UK head Gordon Frazer warned of a looming "digital dark age". Natalie Ceeney, National Archives chief executive National Archives welcome program to read legacy formats Costly deal He added: "Unless more work is done to ensure legacy file formats can be read and edited in the future, we face a digital dark hole." And Mr Frazer said Microsoft had shifted its position on file formats. "Historically within the IT industry, the prevailing trend was for proprietary file formats. We have worked very hard to embrace open standards, specifically in the area of file formats." and Microsoft has developed a new document file format, called Open XML, which is used to save files from programs such Word, Excel and Powerpoint. Mr Frazer said: "It's an open international standard under independent control. These are no longer under control of Microsoft and are free for access by all." Really! These great British Institutions are jumping into bed with MS who praise themselves for being able to run Win 3.1 in Vista and read their old documents! I cannot see how a simple advert to fund local experts to reverse engineer or whatever, the file formats, would not work. So, why is MS wheeled in? Is anyone talking to them about what they are doing or are they so mesmerised by Microsoft that they think they are the only ones capable of assisting them? james kilty http://www.kilty.demon.co.uk -- The Mailing List for the Devon & Cornwall LUG http://mailman.dclug.org.uk/listinfo/list FAQ: http://www.dcglug.org.uk/linux_adm/list-faq.html