Re: [Inkscape-user] Inkscape and Uniconvertor
On 8/26/14 5:27 PM, Jon A. Cruz wrote:
On Tue, Aug 26, 2014, at 04:02 PM, Ken Springer wrote:
> Being an open source program, I'm not surprised there's no problem
> importing Inkscape drawings. Just like you rarely have problems
> importing MS files into MS software. From the outside looking in, it
> seems there's a lot of cooperation in this area.
Actually...
:-)
One of the big problems Microsoft has is in importing older versions of
files. In general Libre Office is much better at importing older MS Word
docs than current MS Word is. This comes up in governmental and
educational use fairly regularly. Part of the problem is poor design of
the internals and tying them to the file formats. Part comes from MS's
monetary incentive to push people to move to later versions of things.
It seems
their latest gig for their monetary incentive is to force
everyone to use their software on the web, and pay a subscription fee.
And they could shut off access to any older web based version leaving
you with no choice but to upgrade, and keep on paying the subscription
fee. I wonder if that will drive any customers away.
Last I knew, LO was still having problems with the "x" versions of the
files. I stopped following them long ago.
Regardless of the causes, compatibility and being able to import
older
versions of Word (and other) docs is something that often pushes people
into using open source in the first place.
I would add cost to that list. That is
one reason I gave open source
software a huge try when I bought this Mac. But I've been too
disappointed in many of the more sophisticated products. So, have gone
back to careful shopping and will buy what does the job the first time,
with the fewest workarounds.
I've also worked places where the MS site licensing allowed execs
and
architects to use versions of various MS software that would create
files the majority of the companies' employees could not open (at least
not without resorting to piracy). Word, Visio, Excell... there are fun
combinations of things that just would not work, all within MS products
themselves.
Somehow, I'm not surprised. Look at all the lawsuits they've
lost.