Ask HN: Why did Microsoft not use HTML as the format for its word documents?

#1

Post by tiller23 » Sat, Sep 22, 2018, 3:34 PM UTC

Is there any critical functional difference between doc vs. HTML format for storing documents? Seems like in 2018, if a new Word processor were to be made, it might as well store documents in HTML format so that they can be viewed in browsers?

Of course, this might undermine the word processor itself as now anybody is free to reverse engineer your format.

Re: Ask HN: Why did Microsoft not use HTML as the format for its word documents?

#2

Post by mtmail » Sat, Sep 22, 2018, 3:51 PM UTC

HTML can't to multiple column layout, page numbers, footnotes, document reviews, comments and more. Those might not be critical for the majority of daily use but as a Word processor, especially market leader, there's enough demand for everything to be almost pixel perfect between computers and versions. HTML colors even look different between browsers.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/OpenDocument was created as open standard. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rich_Text_Format to a lesser extend by Microsoft.

> in 2018, if a new Word processor were to be made

Then the first priority would be to be compatible with existing Word processor formats.

Re: Ask HN: Why did Microsoft not use HTML as the format for its word documents?

#3

Post by db48x » Sat, Sep 22, 2018, 3:52 PM UTC

Word predates the web browser by a decade.

Re: Ask HN: Why did Microsoft not use HTML as the format for its word documents?

#4

Post by dotmanish » Sat, Sep 22, 2018, 4:08 PM UTC

DOCX is an open XML based format: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Office_Open_XML

Some more information here: https://www.toptal.com/xml/an-informal-introduction-to-docx

Re: Ask HN: Why did Microsoft not use HTML as the format for its word documents?

#5

Post by microwavecamera » Sat, Sep 22, 2018, 10:14 PM UTC

db48x wrote: post #3

Word predates the web browser by a decade.

This. Plus M$ was firmly against open source and open standards for most of it's existence. They only switched to open XML based file formats after some EU municipalities experimented with switching to open source software rightly arguing that they have no effective way to preserve or convert vital files in proprietary formats. M$ wouldn't have done it otherwise. Microsoft, like most corporations, only does the right thing when it coincidentally benefits them.

Re: Ask HN: Why did Microsoft not use HTML as the format for its word documents?

#6

Post by db48x » Sun, Sep 23, 2018, 5:32 AM UTC

microwavecamera wrote: post #5

db48x wrote: post #3

Word predates the web browser by a decade.

This. Plus M$ was firmly against open source and open standards for most of it's existence. They only switched to open XML based file formats after some EU municipalities experimented with switching to open source software rightly arguing that they have no effective way to preserve or convert vital files in proprietary formats. M$ wouldn't have done it otherwise. Microsoft, like most corporations, only does the right…

Absolutely. Although calling their XML document formats "open" is a bit of a laugh. You might get away with calling them "documented", but even that's a bit of a stretch.