Apache OpenOffice (AOO) Bugzilla – Issue 54343
REQUEST: Open Document viewer plugin for web browser
Last modified: 2008-05-17 22:57:48 UTC
A browser plugin for Firefox and Internet Explorer should be created to enable the viewing of OASIS Open Document files (.odt, .ods, .odp). This would go far to establish the universal acceptance of the OASIS formats. Microsoft used a similar tactic to with its free viewers for Word, Excel and PowerPoint formats. As a result of the establishment of these formats, MS Office formats are the de facto standard world-wide. While the ability to handle MSO files correctly is important for any office suite it should be viewed as a transitory step towards a universal open standard. The viewer should display a link to the OpenOffice.org download page. There is the argument that documents can be converted to pdf for universal viewing but that is a dead end as far as getting OASIS formats widely accepted. If the OASIS standard is utilized widely and other events force the issue (i.e. the US state of Masachusetts requiring OASIS formats) then the path will be open for Office suites that utilize the OASIS formats can become widespread and more easily accepted as alternatives to MS Office. I feel the importance of this plugin cannot be overstated and should be available as close to the release of OOo 2.0 as possible. IF a browser plugin is problematic then my second choice would be for a standalone unified viewer for .odt, .ods, and .odp formats. Jim
isn't there a browser-plugin for windows already available?
That plugin is for Mozilla only and requires OOo 2.0 to be installed. My issue refers to a browser plugin that does not require a copy of 2.0. Perhaps plugin is the wrong term as it would be more of a read-only viewer component that uses the browser functionality to display Open Document formats. The converter/viewer would need to incorporate unzip and formatting for the documents I would assume. The viewer would have a version for IE because that is still the predominent browser in Windows. There would also be a Firefox version and probably should have a Safari version for Mac. The purpose of the converter/viewer is to introduce the Open Document formats to a wider base: users who do not have OOo installed but receive Open Doc formatted files. Should these users install OOo? Yes, but they may not be able to or may be initially reticent to install a new office suite or may simply be unaware of Open Doc/Open Office. The viewer would allow OOo users to send a native file format with confidence that the file file can be opened at the other end, similar to someone who send an Adobe Acrobat pdf to someone who does not have Adobe Acrobat installed... but will have the reader. Granted OOo is free, but as I mentioned there may be other reasons why OOo is not installed on the receiving computer. A link to the OOo download page will at least help those who are simply unaware of OOo to obtain and install a copy.
-> RFE
assigning to 'requirements'
Issue is a duplicate of Issue 8483. There are two votes on this Issue. Please vote again for 8483. *** This issue has been marked as a duplicate of 8483 ***
The Issue you raised has been marked as 'Resolved' and not updated within the last 1 year+. I am therefore setting this issue to 'Verified' as the first step towards Closing it. If you feel this is incorrect, please re-open the issue and add any comments. Many thanks, Andrew Cleaning-up and Closing old Issues ~ The Grand Bug Squash, pre v3 ~ http://marketing.openoffice.org/3.0/announcementbeta.html
As per previous posting: Verified -> Closed. A Closed Issue is a Happy Issue (TM). Regards, Andrew