From 1ae0306a3cf2ea27f60b2d205789994d260c2cce Mon Sep 17 00:00:00 2001 From: Christian Grothoff Date: Sun, 11 Oct 2020 13:29:45 +0200 Subject: add i18n FSFS --- talermerchantdemos/blog/articles/scrap1_38.html | 319 ------------------------ 1 file changed, 319 deletions(-) delete mode 100644 talermerchantdemos/blog/articles/scrap1_38.html (limited to 'talermerchantdemos/blog/articles/scrap1_38.html') diff --git a/talermerchantdemos/blog/articles/scrap1_38.html b/talermerchantdemos/blog/articles/scrap1_38.html deleted file mode 100644 index 3b5d3ab..0000000 --- a/talermerchantdemos/blog/articles/scrap1_38.html +++ /dev/null @@ -1,319 +0,0 @@ - - - - - -

- 38. We Can Put an End to Word Attachments -

- - - - - - -

- Don’t you just hate receiving Word documents in email messages? Word -attachments are annoying, but, worse than that, they impede people from -switching to free software. Maybe we can stop this practice with a -simple collective effort. All we have to do is ask each person who -sends us a Word file to reconsider that way of doing things. -

-

- Most computer users use Microsoft Word. That is unfortunate for them, -since Word is proprietary software, denying its users the freedom to -study, change, copy, and redistribute it. And because Microsoft -changes the Word file format with each release, its users are locked -into a system that compels them to buy each upgrade whether they want -a change or not. They may even find, several years from now, that the -Word documents they are writing this year can no longer be read with -the version of Word they use then. -

-

- But it hurts us, too, when they assume we use Word and send us (or -demand that we send them) documents in Word format. Some people -publish or post documents in Word format. Some organizations will -only accept files in Word format: I heard from someone that he was -unable to apply for a job because resumes had to be Word files. Even -governments sometimes impose Word format on the public, which is truly -outrageous. -

-

- For us users of free operating systems, receiving Word documents is an -inconvenience or an obstacle. But the worst impact of sending Word -format is on people who might switch to free systems: they hesitate -because they feel they must have Word available to read the Word files -they receive. The practice of using the secret Word format for -interchange impedes the growth of our community and the spread of -freedom. While we notice the occasional annoyance of receiving a Word -document, this steady and persistent harm to our community usually -doesn’t come to our attention. But it is happening all the time. -

- - -

- Many GNU users who receive Word documents try to find ways to handle -them. You can manage to find the somewhat obfuscated ASCII text in -the file by skimming through it. Free software today can read most -Word documents, but not all—the format is secret and has not been -entirely decoded. Even worse, Microsoft can change it at any time. -

- - -

- Worst of all, it has already done so. Microsoft Office 2007 uses by -default a format based on the patented OOXML format. (This is the one -that Microsoft got declared an “open standard” by -political manipulation and packing standards committees.) The actual -format is not entirely OOXML, and it is not entirely documented. -Microsoft offers a gratis patent license for OOXML on terms which do -not allow free implementations. We are thus beginning to receive Word -files in a format that free programs are not even allowed to read. -

-

- When you receive a Word file, if you think of that as an isolated -event, it is natural to try to cope by finding a way to read -it. Considered as an instance of a pernicious systematic practice, it -calls for a different approach. Managing to read the file is treating -a symptom of an epidemic disease; what we really want to do is stop -the disease from spreading. That means we must convince people not to -send or post Word documents. -

-

- I therefore make a practice of responding to Word attachments with a -polite message explaining why the practice of sending Word files is a -bad thing, and asking the person to resend the material in a nonsecret -format. This is a lot less work than trying to read the somewhat -obfuscated ASCII text in the Word file. And I find that people -usually understand the issue, and many say they will not send Word -files to others any more. - - -

-

- If we all do this, we will have a much larger effect. People who -disregard one polite request may change their practice when they -receive multiple polite requests from various people. We may be able -to give - - Don’t send Word format! - - the status of - - - netiquette, -if we start systematically raising the issue with everyone who sends -us Word files. -

-

- To make this effort efficient, you will probably want to develop a -canned reply that you can quickly send each time it is necessary. -I’ve included two examples: the version I have been using recently, -followed by a new version that teaches a Word user how to convert to -other useful formats. -

- -

- You can use these replies verbatim if you like, or you can personalize -them or write your own. By all means construct a reply that fits your -ideas and your personality—if the replies are personal and not -all alike, that will make the campaign more effective. -

-

- These replies are meant for individuals who send Word files. When you -encounter an organization that imposes use of Word format, that calls -for a different sort of reply; there you can raise issues of fairness -that would not apply to an individual’s actions. -

-

- Some recruiters ask for resumes in Word format. Ludicrously, some -recruiters do this even when looking for someone for a free software -job. (Anyone using those recruiters for free software jobs is not -likely to get a competent employee.) To help change this practice, -you can put a link to - - http://gnu.org/philosophy/no-word-attachments.html - - into your resume, next to links to -other formats of the resume. Anyone hunting for a Word version of the -resume will probably read the page. -

-

- This essay talks about Word attachments, since they are by far the most -common case. However, the same issues apply with other proprietary -formats, such as - - - PowerPoint and Excel. Please feel free to adapt the -replies to cover those as well. - - -

-

- With our numbers, simply by asking, we can make a difference. - - - - - - -

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