QuickOffice v7 Delivers Native File Formats

This doesn't necessarily "antiquate" anything, but it provides an alternative that might be useful to some people, like me.

I sync only with my home PC. If I create or work on a Word file while away from that PC, I'd like to be able to put that file on an SD card and then port it to my traveling laptop or my office PC. Apparently that functionality is what this new format offers, and I think it's a significant improvement. I don't want to have to "convert" Palm files before I can use them on the PC. I find this analogous to the situation I had with the Veo camera for the SD slot. It claimed to save its images in JPG format, but the truth was that the images became JPGs only when you sync'd your device. That made the camera pretty much useless to me. I wanted instant JPGs that I could then move to another SD card and then to a PC.

If I understand this correctly, this new format could eliminate the need for a "special" Palm OS-based word processor like WordSmith -- that is, for people like me.

IMO, it's a step forward and two steps back. Yes, now some can read native Word/Excel format documents, _but_ it apparently will destroy the formatting just like PocketWord and PocketExcel do on the PPC if it doesn't support everything in the document. Hopefully, they'll continue to refine it and solve this problem and push Dataviz to keep up more quickly.

It does not touch your original document. Once you open it in Quickoffice the file is converted into the Quickoffice representation for that file. You can beam, send, or otherwise manipulate it just like any other Quickoffice file on your handheld.

The original is left intact. So while you lose the formatting in the Palm version, the fidelity of the original is not lost.

"The original is left intact. So while you lose the formatting in the Palm version, the fidelity of the original is not lost."

And the point is that this creates a worse situation in that now you have two copies of the document to reconcile. Despite DocsToGo not being able to use native Word files yet, you can still modify the text of the documents and when syncing them back to the desktop, everything else will remain the same. If one is receiving Word or Excel files with the purpose of making changes/revisions and then resubmitting them to the sender, the sender may not be getting back what they expected. Don't get me wrong, as I said, it's a step forward from the perspective of finally being able to modify native documents (eliminating an advantage of PocketOffice). However, it's also two steps back from the perspective of roundtripability (which ironically has been the advantage over PocketOffice stuff until now).

What formatting does it support anyway?

"How is that a worse situation?"
Because: "You have two documents,"
"but so what?"
Well, now one of them is not in sync with the other content-wise.

"Once you've opened it in Quickoffice and edit it, that should be your working document."

I suppose it depends on what was in the original. If it's a relatively simple document, sure, that's fine. Personally, many of the documents I deal with have some sort of graphics or screenshots.

"For the vast majority of users, this will fully support their needs."

Sure, that's why I didn't say that it was flatly going backwards. It's also why I explicitly stated it was my opinion, and not a blanket statement of fact.

"It's not until you start talking about some more advanced features that this becomes a problem."

I really don't consider bitmaps in a document an advanced feature.

"Even then, this provides tremendous utility for those who receive e-mail on their Palm."

Provided they don't have something that Quickword will strip, and perhaps they'll need to return to someone else. I don't know about you, but when someone emails me a document, it's usually for the express purpose of evaluating/correcting/clarifying the content and then shipping it back to them (unless they're emailing me a screenshot of an error message because that's the only way they're comfortable doing it).

"They can receive documents with Snapper mail (or any Exchange manager compliant program for that matter) and then actually open the native office format docs that they receive. Before this, when you received a doc you had to move it back to the PC to open it. If you wanted it on your Palm, you had to go through the conduit. This effectively side-steps that issue, making it possible for people to view (and yes edit) documents from wherever they are... While the solution isn't perfect, it's a BIG step forward for your average user (and in particular your connected mobile user)."

Definitely. That was my point. It's a step forward...provided they don't have to deal with any documents which have things that Quickword doesn't support yet, and they don't have to send them back to someone else. Connectedness works both ways, IME. And to reiterate in case some missed this part the first time, this will be fixed eventually, no doubt. Hopefully it'll be soon and it'll push Dataviz to speed up their solution as well.

I agree we should wait to see what Dataviz comes up with. Haven't they been doing file conversions for all their 19 years?

IMHO, this isn't about a "better way to access data on your palm", it's about being able to do business work without being tethered to a PC or even a Laptop. Now, a road-warrior professional can truly be free of encumberances like a laptop, gathering, viewing, even editing and sending MS office files from their mobile device (Kyocera 7135, for example). His/Her collegues stuck in an office somewhere needn't even be aware of the fact that he's not also in an office somewhere, let alone have to cater to his special needs as a Palm user.

This is not another level of complexity, it's a solution to a very real and ever more common problem.

-- SeaPUG: http://www.seapug.com --

This actually removes a level of complexity.

Old way: Get an email with a Word attachment, go back to desktop, copy from Palm or retrieve same email with desktop, edit, then send from desktop or save to Palm card and send from Palm.

New way: Get an email with a Word attachment, open directly in email with QuickWord, edit, then send from Palm.

Old way: Get an email with a Word attachment, go back to desktop, copy from Palm or retrieve same email with desktop, edit, then send from desktop or save to Palm card and send from Palm.

New way: return the mail unopened to the sender, tell them that you don't have MS Word or don't want to risk getting infected with a virus, and that they should send the file to you in some other format.

I think the original poster has an excellent point. The Palm OS has a level of simplicity that makes it easy for almost anyone to learn and understand. As I understand it, a vast majority of Palm users never really add any additional programs to their handheld, and just stick with the basics.
The beauty of the Palm OS is that we CAN add these features if we so desire. Some want the basics of a PIM device, and others want a laptop replacement that fits in the palm of their hand. The Palm OS offers both camps great options.
The PPC, in contrast, is complicated right out of the box. I am sure this scares away many prospective buyers just looking for an organizer.

Visit us at www.tdscomputer.com

I definitely agree. Open standard formats like ASCII text files are quite useful for editing content. Most Palm devices are still too small to do really effective layout, fonts and graphics work. Use them for previews or draft work. Leave the hardcore stuff to the desktops with their 21"+ screens and other toys.

"The quicker and dirtier the better"

Palm m505 User

Fortunately the next version of MS Office will be XML based. Not only will this make life a lot easier for on the fly conversion (if that were needed, how long before QuickOffice, DTG, etc. are XML based?), it is alos an open standard (although possibly with closed DTGs or schemas).

FBN

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i just downloaded and tested the quickoffice premier v7 beta trial version (wow such a long name, marketing department did a nice job :o)
i works great ! i mean at least as a viewer of native ms-documents ..
why viewer ? there is possibility to edit native formats but they are saved as html files with .doc extention in case of quickword and as quicksheet files (.xl) in case of quicksheet ..
well not bad for the first attempt ..
hm the html output of quickword is a nice try (but you loose all of your graphics ..
and concerning quicksheet, why are not the files exported at least as .cvs format ? that whould be also pretty helpful ..
but still is a great job done by cutting edge!
guy you rocks ! (mainly because it works even on my trg pro with CF :o)

I tried a couple of simple tests. I found that if I open a Word file with Quickword edit it and save it, the resulting file cannot be read by Quickword. When copied onto the PC, Word will open it assuming it's a doc file and scramble it somewhat. It's not until I renamed the extension to .html that I got any success with Word. However, not much use if Quickword can't pick it up.

Well done Cutting Edge anyway. You didn't beat doctogo crew with the announcement but you got the product out first.