Mocrosoft And Free Open Source Tools?

Microsoft to offer new free open source tools

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Open source work is producing many good programmes for use by the Internet community.
However such creations are held back when owners of commercial software refuse to make theirs interoperable, so files can be exchanged between formats. It was a victory of sorts for open source this month when Microsoft backed down on its proprietary stance over its Office suite of programmes. Microsoft announced it would offer new free open source tools that will allow Office to handle the OpenDocument format.
OpenDocument format (ODF) is a file format for saving and exchanging office documents such as memos, reports, books, spreadsheets, databases, charts, and presentations. The standard was developed by an industry consortium and based upon a format originally created by OpenOffice.org. It can be used as an open source creation or a closed proprietary product without royalties.
Microsoft has posted a prototype version of the first translator for OpenDocument formats to be added to Word 2007. It is posted for open source software development. Anyone can submit bugs and feedback or contribute to the project.
The complete version of the Word translation tool is expected to be available free from the download site by the end of 2006, with add-ins for Excel and PowerPoint expected in 2007…Full story