Document Interchange in a Heterogeneous Environment

Document Interchange
Overview

Document Interchange in a
Heterogeneous Environment

What is the Problem?

Windows, Mac, Linux, Solaris, Unix... all different.
Until recently, no common document format between them
Workarounds:
- Plain Text ("ASCII"): functional, but loses style, panache
- PostScript: hard to generate from Windows
- PDF: not always easy to generate from Linux, Unix; $$$ needed on windows
- HTML: fine for online, but:
  - Issues with browser-specific extensions (micro$oft at it again with IE)
  - No control over printout details (pagination, etc.)
Document conversion DOES NOT WORK. WordPerfect to Word, .doc to OpenOffice, etc. loses details, formatting, and more. Functionality at 90% level isn't enough.

Document Interchange in a Heterogeneous Environment
Pat Murphy