Uniform Office Format

Infobox file format
name = Uniform Office Format
icon =



caption =
extension =
mime =
type code =
uniform type =
magic =
owner =
released =
latest release version =
latest release date =
genre = Document file format
container for =
contained by =
extended from = XML, SVG
extended to =
standard =
url =

Uniform Office Format (UOF) is a Chinese developed open standard for 'office' applications. It includes word processing, presentation, and spreadsheet modules, and is made up of GUI, API, and format specifications. The document format described uses XML contained in a compressed file container, similar to ISO/IEC 26300:2006 OpenDocument and ISO/IEC DIS 29500 (Previously ECMA-376) Office Open XML (OOXML).

The working group that has produced the standard was founded in January 2002, and the first draft of the specification was produced in December 2005. The group producing the standard is open, with 'open-door' meetings, equitable voting by ballots, and the standard document is free.

Converter

ODF to UOF

Software is available to convert from ODF to UOF and "vice versa". [ [http://odf-to-uof.sourceforge.net/index.html odf-to-uof.sourceforge.net] ] The software was developed between November 2005 and October 2006 by the "Open Standard Lab" of Peking University. [ [http://odf-to-uof.sourceforge.net/overview.html ODF-UOF Converter Overview] ]

OOXML to UOF

Software is being developed at ACT (The Institute of Advanced Computing Technology) at Beihang University to convert from OOXML to UOF and "vice versa". [ [http://uof-translator.sourceforge.net/ UOF Add-in for Microsoft Word] ]

Possibility of merging UOF and ODF

At the "WTO IPRs Issues in Standardization" conference in Beijing (April 2007), convened by the Chinese Ministry of Commerce, the China State Intellectual Property Office (SIPO) and Sun Microsystems, Scott McNealy, the Chairman of Sun Microsystems called for a merger of OASIS/ISO's ODF and China's UOF. [ [http://www.thebolingroup.com/collaborativeadvantage/index2.html Building Economic Strength and Social Benefit] ] While both formats are open, there are significant technical challenges in achieving a merger, as the two formats have made different fundamental choices in how to describe documents. [ [http://www.betanews.com/article/Suns_McNealy_Proposes_Merging_ODF_with_Chinese_Counterpart/1176923845 Betanews] ] [ [http://www.ip-watch.org/weblog/index.php?p=597&res=1024_ff&print=0 IP-Watch] ]

A comparison document between ODF and UOF is available. [ [https://sourceforge.net/project/downloading.php?group_id=182680&use_mirror=osdn&filename=ODF-UOF-comparison-doc.zip&20832893 Sourceforge] ]

References

External links

* [http://www.consortiuminfo.org/standardsblog/article.php?story=2006110806164573 Another Open Document Format – From China]
* [http://www.consortiuminfo.org/standardsblog/article.php?story=20061122040402230 More on China's Uniform Office Format (and much more)]
* [http://www.w3c.org.hk/www2006/presentations/zhigang.pdf E-Government Standarization Status In China (presentation)]
* [http://blogs.sun.com/dennisding/resource/Chinese%20Office%20Software%20Standards%20and%20Inter-operation%20of%20Office%20Software-WuZhigang(English).pdf Chinese Office Software Standards and Inter-operation of Office Software (presentation)]
* [http://www.cesi.cn/datumview.aspx?sort=1&id=4505 Documents promulgated by the end of the Chinese National Standard] (Chinese) – CESI is the China Electronic Standardization Institute
* [http://www.cesi.cn/datumview.aspx?sort=1&id=4350 "Superscript text links," the country is expected to become the standard file format rules] (Chinese) – CESI is the China Electronic Standardization Institute
* [http://marketing.openoffice.org/ooocon2006/presentations/tuesday_g6bis.pdf RedOffice/OpenOffice in China (slide 35)]
* [http://www.openmalaysiablog.com/2007/01/uof_and_odf_com.html UOF and ODF comparison. Which should we choose?] – Open Malaysia site, details some of the history and context of UOF