OOXML support for OpenOffice.org older versions compatible w/ Win98

[Steven W]

I was reading under the topic "Microsoft Office 2007 Compatibility Pack" and noted that a memer ,jds, is using the ODFConverter command line OpenXML/ODF translator tool. I got curious if anyone packaged that to work with OOo. Sure enough:

http://katana.oooninja.com/w/odf-converter-integrator

It has versions for Windows and Linux and goes beyond OOo:

odf-converter-integrator uses the high-quality odf-converter code (which converts between Office Open XML and OpenDocument) as packaged by Novell and integrates it into the operating system. That means when you click on a .docx/.xlsx/.pptx file on a web page, in an email attachment, or your desktop, odf-converter-integrator springs into action, converts the .docx/.xlsx/.pptx to an .odt/.ods/.odp, and then automatically opens the new document in OpenOffice.org, StarOffice, Abiword, KWord, Gnumeric, Microsoft Office 2003, or whatever is your default ODF editor.

I see in the package it has a file called "w9xpopen.exe" assuming it will work with win98/ME..would someone please confirm? ***Requires the dotnetframework 2.0***:

http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/details...dd-aab15c5e04f5

Edited June 13, 2009 by Steven W

[Steven W]

I have been testing this on my friend's XP computer. I downloaded the odf-converter-integrator and also got the latest command line tool:

http://sourceforge.net/project/showfiles.p...ckage_id=266170

I extracted the files from the command line tool to the ODF converter's installation folder.

This (combined with OOo 2.4.2) is actually doing a better job of rendering the Office 2007 files that I've tested than MS Office 2000 with the compatibility pack from MS!

Could someone let me/us know if this works on Win98?

[eidenk]

The ODF converter integrator requires KernelEx to run on 98/ME but I don't know how well it does as I don't have a file to feed him to convert.

[Sfor]

The Go-OO 2.4 OpenOffice release does support the Microsoft XML formats from the package, and it works in Windows 98 without the KernelEX.

[Steven W]

Trust me Sfor, Go-OO 2.4 does not support OOXML this well. I was sincerely hoping this would run natively on Win98. Oh for test documents...just google, some suggestions...

test.docx, resume.docx, presentation.pptx, or spreadsheet.xlsx and I usually add

+ "index of"

....make sure you're not getting a PDF, google is good for indicating that.

Thanks for the info.

Edited June 14, 2009 by Steven W

[Steven W]

Thought just occurred to me...maybe I'm asking the wrong question.

Does just the command line tool work in Win98. Simple test, just drag an office 2007 file on to it. See if it pops open and outputs a Opendocument file. Perhaps the glue that is the integrator could be written another way.

Link to to command line tool:

http://sourceforge.net/project/showfiles.p...ckage_id=266170

Edited June 14, 2009 by Steven W

[Steven W]

I did test the ODF Translator CommandLine Tool on my old Win98 Box. It seems to work okay. I could drag OOXML files (docx, pptx, xlsx, etc.) to the OdfConverter.exe and it would output OpenDocument files (odt, ods, odp, etc). They rendered fine even in the old version of OOo (2.0.4) that is installed on that machine. I don't have KernelEx installed on that machine. I'm assuming that it is natively compatible.

Could someone generate some code that works with the CommandLine Tool that would convert OOXML files to OpenDocument when the are double clicked and the open the outputted files in whatever the end user has associated with OpenDocument files? I think you'd have to know all the extensions for OOXML and templates. One thing I did notice about the integrator that works with XP is that it outputs files in the same directory as the file that it's converting. I think outputting the file in a temp directory would be better -- What happens when someone tries to double-click a file that's on a CD?

It may also worth noting that the CommandLine tool also works in reverse. It will convert OpenDocument files to OOXML. I doubt many would want that option as most Office suites can save in the old MS Office binary formats but, maybe??? I will try working on this myself but, I doubt that I have the skills.

[Steven W]

I hate that I keep replying to myself but, I've got some good news.

Version 0.2.0 of the integrator works natively in Win98. (Requires the DotNet Framework 2.0)

http://katana.oooninja.com/f/software/odf-...0-installer.exe

I also extracted the files from the latest command-line tool in the converter's install folder.

http://internap.dl.sourceforge.net/sourcef...ol.3.0.5246.zip.

Only a couple of minor gripes:

A blank command prompt pops open and stays blank until the converting is done and then closes.

Office 2007 templates are supported but, they don't get converted to ODF templates, I had a .dotx file converted to .odt (should have been .ott) -- I can't complain too much at least it opened and rendered properly.

[M()zart]

OpenXMLViewer can be used on Windows 98, though it requires KernelEx and Visual C++ 2008 runtime (which works on Windows 98 with KernelEx, just put all its libraries into Windows\System folder).

Does not require .NET framework. One of the smallest solutions (5.6 Mb after removing unnecessary Visual C++ 2008 runtime libraries - mfc, atl, etc.).

Installed their plugin for Opera.

[Steven W]

Thanks for the reply M()zart. I prefer the integrator because it opens thing directly in OpenOffice.org. BTW it's download is only around 3.26 MB, (of course the DotNet Framework is huge). I have been in touch with the author of the integrator. I believe that the entire reason the some versions did not work with 98/ME is because he moved from Python 2.5 to 2.6. He compiled the latest version of the integrator with Python 2.5, so it should work. Not near my 98 PC right now, could someone else test and let me know if it work without KernelEx?

http://katana.oooninja.com/f/software/odf-...3-installer.exe

I also feel obliged to explain, I have no aversion to KernelEx personally. I have an older friend with an old PC running 98SE. I don't won't to bother him with some of it's current quirks, like have to remove it to install certain software, etc. I'm sure as KernelEx progresses these issues will begin to vanish.

Edited July 1, 2009 by Steven W

[Steven W]

Version 0.2.3 works natively and the command prompt doesn't stay blank anymore. If anyone else cares.