The growing problem of accessing old digital file formats is a "ticking time bomb", the chief executive of the UK National Archives has warned.

Natalie Ceeney said society faced the possibility of "losing years of critical knowledge" because modern PCs could not always open old file formats.

She was speaking at the launch of a partnership with Microsoft to ensure the Archives could read old formats.

Apparently, the fact that files are stored on 5.25", 360KB floppy discs is not a problem. We'll always be able to read those. But proprietary file formats? Big problem.

There's no need to worry, though, because Microsoft has come to the rescue with two vital technologies, virtualisation and an open document format (NB: small o d f), called OpenXML, which is said to be "free for access by all". (1)

With Virtual PC^TM, we can run DOS or Windows 3.11 and hence also run all those old apps with the naughty, proprietary file formats such as Microsoft Word Wordstar.

And with the new OpenXML^TM file format, we have "an open international standard under independent control". (2)

What a relief!

Without Virtual PC^TM, where would we be?

And without OpenXML^TM, we'd be stuck with this, an altogether inferior specification (which is also the only ratified ISO standard for electronic documents).

To be fair, the BBC attempts a degree of balance in that it actually mentions ODF.

Some critics question Microsoft's approach and ask why the firm has created its own new standard, rather than adopting a rival system, called the Open Document Format.

Instead, Microsoft has released a tool which can translate between the two formats.

Ben Laurie, director of the Open Rights Group, said: "This is a well-known, standard Microsoft move.

"Microsoft likes lock-ins. Typically what happens is that you end up with two or three standards."

The balance of the piece overall, though, seems to suggest that philanthropy rather than self interest on the part of Microsoft is at the heart of the matter.

And, changing the subject ever so slightly, we can now embed video from the BBC in pages such as this. Move over, YouTube.

The clip below illustrates the use of Virtual PC^TM to run old versions of Windows and related applications in order to read those old document formats.

1. A well chosen phrase, but what does it mean?
   
2. Objection!

Category: Software
Technorati: Microsoft ODF Virtual+PC OpenXML National+Archives

1. Jan-Piet Mens04/07/2007 13:46:42
Homepage: http://blog.fupps.com

Both media and file formats are a problem. Media get corrupt, unusuable (do you still have a 5.25" floppy drive? I don't ) or even lost, whereas file formats, as you correctly point out, become incompatible with future software. I know. My client is moving away from Lotus Smartsuite (Wordpro, 123, remember?) and has over two million documents that nobody is able to convert. Obviously. The only reason I sleep soundly at night is because I told them. Ten years ago, when I first got there...

Virtualization is only a temporary solution: customers postpone the problem until it gets completely out of hand. Will future virtualization products allow someone to run Windows 3.11 ? Perhaps, although I wouldn't count on it...

Anything "Text" (i.e. plain ASCII or parseable XML) has a chance of surviving. Anything else is a waste of time and many people are going to suffer big time. Soon. Vowe always writes "DRM is bad for the customer"; for me it is "Proprietary File Formats are bad for the customer" (Hey, I might register that abbreviation. PFF. Sounds good too... )

Apart from that, OpenXML was completely unnecessary.

2. Nathan T. Freeman04/07/2007 15:15:36
Homepage: http://nathan.lotus911.com

@1 - First, you missed the sense of irony with which Chris was mentioning the storage media.

Second, virtualization products do, in fact, allow you to run DOS5/Win3.11 in a virtual environment.

Third, I think you'd find that Chris and just about all his readers already agree that Office Open XML (it's OOXML in MS's documentation -- don't let 'em trick ya with that "Vista" manuveur again) is a giant smoke screen. His coverage is, again, ironic.

Fourth, have you tried opening those SmartSuite docs in the Notes 8 productivity editors? I'm able to open .123 sheets just fine. Converting them to ODF is a matter of scripting in either Java or with Notes 8.0.1, COM.

3. Kerr04/07/2007 16:18:59

I checked out the BSI site on OOXML the other day. It's encouraging to see their take on how unsuitable OOXML is in it's current state. Given they are the people that will vote on this for the UK, I don't think we have to worry too much.

http://www.xmlopen.org/ooxml-wiki/index.php/Main_Page

4. Jan-Piet Mens04/07/2007 16:25:22
Homepage: http://blog.fupps.com

@Nathan: First, I didn't miss the irony.

Second, I know they allow running older OSes. My question was: will they also in the future?

Third, I know it is ironic. It is a trick.

Fourth: Yes: some work, some don't.

Fifth: sorry I didn't make my point clear.

5. Nathan T. Freeman05/07/2007 03:42:38
Homepage: http://nathan.lotus911.com

@5 - Fair enough. If you need some help in addressing those SmartSuite -> ODF issues, you let me know.

Unable to post a comment? Please read this for a possible explanation...