OpenDocument Format (ODF) 2006-06-12 Data ODF is an open XML-based document file format for saving and exchanging editable office documents, spreadsheets, charts, and presentations. ODF was developed as an application-independent file format by a vendor-neutral standards developing organization OASIS, with the participation of multiple office application vendors and was approved by ISO in May 2006. ODF is the only XML standard for editable office documents that has been vetted by an independent recognized standards body, has been implemented by multiple vendors, and can be implemented by any supplier. Using open standards like ODF ensures that a users’ information is accessible across platforms and applications, even as technologies change. Governments that store their data in an open format avoid being locked-in to a single software vendor, leaving them free to switch software if their current vendor goes out of business, raises its prices, changes its software, or changes its licensing terms to something less favorable for the user. Adoption of open standards is particularly important for governmental applications because it can effectively ensure that a government document saved today will not be technologically locked tomorrow. Document Management Service Interface and Integration Interoperability Data Format / Classification eXtensible Markup Language (XML) ODF Alliance http://www.odfalliance.org David P LeDuc dleduc@siia.net 1090 Vermont Avenue, 6th Floor Washington DC UNITED STATES 20005