OpenXML/ODF Translator Add-ins for Office
The ODF-Converters (cooresponding to Word translator, Excel translator and PowerPoint translator) translate OpenXML documents, spreadsheets and presentations (.DOCX, .XLSX and .PPTX) to Open Document Formats - ODF 1.0 formats (.ODF, .ODS and .ODP respectively) and conversely, for Open XML processing applications. You will find below the list of unsupported features which may be due to standard compatibility issues, or due to the translator itself (see rendering issues as discussed in the blog)...
Table of Content
ODF add-in for Word
- Features not supported in Open XML
- Features not supported in Open Document Format
- Vista OS known issues
- In-depth Analysis
ODF add-in for Excel
ODF add-in for PowerPoint
ODF add-in for Word
Features not supported in Open XML
Section background color
In OpenOffice Writer, the background color can be set separately for each section. This is impossible in Word.
List level bullet font style
In Open Document, the bullet font style can be different for each list level. This feature is not supported in Open XML
Text blinking
Text blinking is not supported in Open XML.
Table cell protection
Table cell protection is not supported in Open XML.
Number of widow or orphans lines
In ODF, the number of lines which are considered for widow and orphan control can be specified. In Open XML this option is not included (always 2 lines are considered).
'Manual' and 'From left' alignment in tables
In tables, ODF has alignment options like "Manual" and "From Left" which are not supported in Open XML. Open XML only supports Left, Center and Right Alignment.
Last line alignment in justified paragraph
In justified paragraphs, ODF can optionally change the alignment of the last line of the paragraph to left-aligned, centered or justified. In Open XML, this option is not available.
Max number of table columns
In Open XML, the number of columns in a table is limited to 63. ODF supports up to 8,192 columns.
'Leading' line spacing in a paragraph
In ODF, paragraph-line spacing has an option "Leading", which is not available in Open XML.
Tabs fill character of a paragraph
In ODF, a character can be specified which is used to fill up the space of a tab. This feature is not available in Open XML.
'Title' and 'lowercase' style options
In ODF, font effects like "Title", "Lowercase" can be specified. The same font effects are not available in Open XML. (Style "Title" is available in both ODF and Open XML).
Keep with next paragraph for table
In ODF, a table can have the option 'keep with next property'. In Open XML this option can only be applied to paragraphs.
Don't split table
ODF defines a 'May Break Between Rows' attribute to prevent the splitting of a table. Open XML does not support this.
Hidden Sections
In addition to the character formatting attribute, OpenOffice allows entire sections to be marked as hidden (command Format-Sections...-Hide). This feature might be emulated using the "normal" hidden character attribute (however, with some side-effects).
Background Image in Tables
In ODF, a background image can be defined for an entire table, a row or an individual cell. This image is automatically resized when modifying the table. There does not seem to be a suitable alternative command or workaround in Open XML.
Break before Table
A table can get the attribute "Break before/after" in ODF. It is emulated in Open XML by using the similar paragraph-based attribute.
Even Column Height
Contents in a multi-column section can be evenly distributed resulting in balanced columns. There does not seem to be a suitable alternative command or workaround in Open XML.
Character rotation
In ODF, there is an option to rotate the text by 90 and 270 degrees. This feature is not available in Open XML.
Repeat Heading in a Table
In ODF, any number of rows can be selected for repeating Heading, whereas in Open XML only a single row can be repeated as a Heading.
Copy Heading while splitting Table
When a table is split in ODF, an option for copying the Heading is provided. In Open XML no such feature is supported.
Table Shadowing Style
ODF supports shadows for tables. Open XML does not support this feature.
List Vertical Numbering
It is not possible to have vertical numbering in list items of Open XML.
List : Minimum Space Between Numbering and Text
ODF uses an attribute defining a distance between the end of the numbering and the beginning of the paragraph text. In Open XML, this distance is defined between the beginning of the numbering and the paragraph text. The exact length of the numbering cannot be calculated by the converter. Therefore, the attribute cannot be properly converted.
Tab-stop in numbering
In ODF, when a numbering is set to display more than one level (e.g. 1.1.2 instead of 2), the tab-stop after numbering cannot be placed precisely (we cannot know the total length of numbering). In this case, the tab-stop is not generated, and content between numbering and text is set to 'space' instead of 'tab'. The result might still be not as expected though.
Image position in frame
In ODF, an image can be positioned absolute within a frame. In Open XML, an image in a frame can be positioned only inline with text
Text background color
Open XML allows only 16 colors for text background color ('text highlight'), whereas ODF allows any color. If a color is set outside those 16 basics color, it is converted to the yellow color.
Next Master style lost without page-break
Let's assume we have a master page A which defines a next-page B in ODF. There are two possibilities to instantiate page B : 1. insert a page break 2. fill page A In the latter point, the transition from A to B is not explicit in the ODF format. (It's up to the office application to handle this, because it's referential is based on pages) As a result, the next master style is lost during translation (unless using page breaks, first point). OpenOffice 2.3 inserts a soft-page-break which is used to retain the next master style.
Keep ratio feature for frames
This feature does not have an equivalent in Open XML (Open XML has a different feature called "lock aspect ratio" but it works differently than "keep ratio" in ODF. The ODF "keep ratio" feature calculates width and height, while "lock aspect ratio" in Open XML blocks ratio)
Columns for frames/text-boxes
This feature is not supported in Open XML.
Background color of pages
Unlike in ODF, the page background color is set at the document level in Open XML. Therefore, it is not possible to assign different page colors throughout the document in Open XML.
Notes embedded in text-boxes
In Open XML, embedded notes are not supported for text-boxes.
Image borders
It is not possible to set each image border with different properties.
Text references (Entry) in Table of Content
In Open XML, only whole paragraphs can be added to the TOC (Table Of Content). In ODF, a part of a paragraph can be added to the TOC.
Background opacity
Background opacity is not supported in Open XML.
Page break
In ODF, there is an option 'auto' which allows the application to decide where to place a page break. In Open XML this option is not available.
'spacing at tops of pages' option
The option 'Add paragraph and table spacing at tops of pages' is lost during conversion. The corresponding option of Open XML, 'suppressTopSpacing' does not have any effect in the implementation of Word 2007 and prior. The effect is an extra space at the top of the page in the converted file if the option is set in the original ODF file. A workaround was made, redefining top-spacing in paragraphs when required.
SVM images
SVM images are not supported in Word 2007 and prior.
Font weight
In Open XML, the only font weight available are 'normal' and 'bold'. All intermediate values in ODF are converted into bold.
Image wrapping
In ODF, 'none' image wrapping is converted into 'TopAndBottom' for Open XML. This has consequences for aspect, among which the loss of border of parent paragraph : if the image is linked to a paragraph with border in the original ODF file, the border will be lost in the converted Open XML file.
Table of content protection against manual changes
This function is not supported in Open XML
Line Numbering
Most attributes of line numbering are lost because not handled in Open XML. The only attributes available in the conversion are : increment(converted into countBy), offset(converted into distance), and a fix attribute restart=continuous. The start-value attribute of a paragraph is lost during conversion, although it is possible to have it in Open XML, but the complexity is such that it is not handled.
Date format
A date field can be formatted according to the default language of the application. In this case, the format may not be correctly retained.
Paragraph and Page shadow
Open XML does not support shadow distance, and a color of shadow other than black. A paragraph or page that does not have a border defined cannot have a shadow (although Open XML spec allows it). Shadows that are not placed at bottom and right border are not well converted (although Open XML spec allows it).
Column separator
All attributes of column separator are lost (handled by a boolean in Open XML) : width, color, height, vertical-align.
Footnote/endnote in a list
In ODF, when a footnote/endnote is in a list, the first numbering/bullet is represented by the note character used for reference. In Open XML, the character is inserted in the list of the note.
Relative picture position
It looks like Word 2007 has a problem in handling relative positioning of pictures.
Text vertical alignment in text-box
In ODF, a text-box can define the vertical alignment of text (top, center, bottom). In Open XML, this feature is not available.
OLE Objects
ODF OLE objects are not embedded in one file but in an ODF folder structure by OpenOffice. Therefore, they cannot be reasonably translated for usage in OpenXML. Microsoft formats and simple text files are automatically converted to an ODF folder structure if they are embedded into an ODF. Therefore, OLE objects ob these types cannot be converted as well. Linked OLE objects will be converted correctly.
Features not supported in Open Document Format
Space between paragraps of the same style
In ODF there is no property which allows not to add space between paragraphs of the same style.
Recoloring Images
OpenOffice doesn't support changing image color(from orginal).
Relative frame size fitting to text
In Word it is possible to create a frame with relative size fitted to text. Such a frame cannot be created in OpenOffice.
Scale relative to orginal picture size
This feature doesn't have a equivalent in ODF. It is used to calculate and view in dialog box relative size according to orginal image size.
Picture rotation
Rotation is not supported for pictures in ODF. Only vertical or horizontal flip are supported.
Footnote and Endnote
The functions Number Format, Start at, Numbering(Continous, Restart each section) and Apply Change (This section, Whole Document)are not supported in ODF.
Table Text Wrapping
Table Text Wraping isn't supported in ODF.
Table Style Border
It looks like OpenOffice.org does not properly handle table style border.
Picture position option: "move object with text", "lock anchor", "allow overlap"
Those features are not supported in OpenOffice.
Start Page Numbering (starting with something other than 1)
In ODF there isn't option "Start Page Numbering".
Adjust List Indents (Follow number with: space)
The option "Follow number with='Space'" in 'Adjust List Indents' is not supported because in Open Document Format we can use only values to position the lists.
Alignment tabs in header/footer
There is no option in ODF to insert alignment tabs.
Space size when text is "Justify"
It's imposible to do. The text have format "Justify". In Open Document Format size of space are setted automaticaly, in Open XML size of space are setted automaticly if there is a text after space.
Frame anchor in header and footer
It"s not supported in ODF because if anchor is different than "as-char" then frame is not treated as content of header or footer and it can cover text (see bug #1618635 Header content not correct alligned). When frame is anchored as character horizontal position is lost.
Frame horizontal alignment in header or footer
Frame must be anchored as character when it's in header or footer (See conversion issue "Frame anchor in header and footer"). When frame is anchored as character horizontal position is lost.
Text watermarks
Text watermarks aren't suported directly in ODF.
Hyperlinks in Table of Figures
In Open XML we can insert Hyperlinks in Table of Figures. It's not supported in Open Document Format.
Mark entry
Option in Open XML Cross reference, Page range and Page number format are not supported in Open Document Format.
Change multiple characters in numbering
It's impossible to create directly numbering sequence like aa, bb, cc ... Such numbering occurs only after letter 'z' in 'a, ..., aa, ..., aaa, ...' numbering format (accordingly sequence aaa, bbb, ccc occurs after 'zz' etc.).
Font style in fields
In Open XML different font style can be applied to part of the field but in Open Office it can be set for the whole field only.
Build Table Of Figures from styles
In Open XML we can build Table Of Figures from styles. It's not supported in Open Office
Table Identifier
Table identifiers aren't supported in Open Office
Table vertical relative positioning
In Open Office it's not possible to specify table vertical relative positioning (Top, Center, Bottom)
Page number definition in header and footer
Page numbers in headers and footers are sometimes not displayed due to a bug of OpenOffice 2.0
OLE objects
When inserting a binary file as "Link to File", Word doesn't always link the object. In some cases Word embeds the object into the archive and manipulates the object. These objects get converted, but Open Office cannot open them. The same applies for embedded OpenXML archives.
Vertical alignment of text in textboxes
In ODT it is not possible to format a textbox itself. Only the paragraph can be formatted. Paragraphs can only have a horizontal alignment. Therefore, textboxes cannot have a vertical alignment in ODT.
Numbering
When different numIds in DOCX reference the same abstractNumId the converter creates two lists which can have different properties. However, in DOCX the same list is referenced. Therefore, the numbering may be inconsistent in this special scenario.
Indentation
In DOCX, paragraphs which are included in one list can have different direct formatting. In ODT only one list style is generated for one list. Therefore, . indentation can be inconsistent in this special scenario.
Vista OS known issues
Extra blank lines appearing in OpenOffice 2.2.x
Some extra blank lines might appear under Vista OS and OpenOffice-2.2 environment.
Vista uninstall
There is this an uninstall problem if Install and Uninstall are not run with the same privileges. Examples: (1) Install the converter from a command prompt ran “as administrator”. Uninstall the converter from “add/remove programs” applet. The converter is not uninstalled (it disappears from this applet but files are still there). (2) Install the converter from a command prompt ran “as administrator”. Uninstall the converter from a command prompt without privileges. The converter is not uninstalled (it disappears from this applet but files are still there) This problem is linked to the modification we applied to the .msi in order to be able to run it without privileges: (1) An administrator is able to install it anywhere, but the user cannot remove it from a privileged place such as Program files. (2) When we required administrative privileges to install the converter, then the uninstall also required them and was able to remove the converter from any place. So the conclusion is: The behavior is normal as a “simple” user should not be able to remove something installed by an administrator but it could almost be considered as a Vista defect: the uninstall should either fail or require privilege elevation in order to remove the files from C:\Program files.
In-depth Analysis
Differently supported features
Paragraph numbered with non-existing numbering style
Paragraph numbered with non-existing numbering style isn't shown as numbered by OpenOffice and Word 2007 but is shown as numbered by Word 2003
Wrapping text around frames and pictures
The wrapping style 'top & bottom' and alignment for frames and pictures in headers and footers behave unexpected in proportion to set property.
HeadingChar paragraph
In Word a ListParagraph, with HeadingChar character style is shown as a Heading, while in OpenOffice Writer it looks like a normal ListParagraph
Outline numbering
In OpenXML list numbering and outline numbering is the same feature, while in Open Document, outline numbering is a separate feature - applying numbering to headings and numbered paragraphs(and any other styles inherited from headings). Since there is only one outline numbering style it can't be set for both headings and numbered paragraphs or other styles.
Drop caps
in ODF, defining a drop cap requires very few properties (the number of dropped lines is enough). In Open XML, it takes several additional properties, such as the font size and the position of the drop cap, to have it correctly drawn. Those properties are tied to the 'character's shape' (eg, for a given number of dropped lines, the smaller it is, the higher is the font size). As a result, it not possible to simply calculate those missing properties.
End notes : page break in ODF
In ODF when adding an end note there is a page break before the end note paragraph. In Open XML it is just placed after last text line of the document i.e. end of document. It is possible to add a page break in the ODF->Open XML converion but with the reverse conversion it will add one more in the ODF file.
Alphabetical index
When generating an alphabetical index with a key, which is occurring on several following pages, the results for OpenXML and ODF are not equal. In ODF, the number of the first page that contains the key is inserted appended by an additional "p." or "pp." mark i.e. 3pp. In Open XML, a comma separated list of all page numbers that contains the key.
Subtables
The notion of subtable (table within a table, with jointed borders) is not supported in Open XML, instead cell fusions are used. It is far too complicated (and sometimes even impossible) to get a correct result with XSLT. Therefore, we insert new tables inside cells with correct borders / margin to simulate subtables.
Chapter Field
Inserting a chapter field in ODF is not supported by Open XML. A solution is to use a STYLEREF field in Open XML, referencing a heading style with an appropriate outline level. The number is always lost in chapter field. NB : In MSOpen XML, the styleRef field refers to the user-application style (using the user language). In the conversion, suche a style name is not available, we use the xml stylesheet style. This can cause errors when displaying the style.
Frame/text-box background "no fill"
This feature is different in OpenOffice and Open XML. In OpenOffice "no fill" means that frame takes the color of page and it can cover other elements (it's not transparent), however in Open XML "no color" means that the frame is transparent.
Page background color
In Open Document Format page background color is applied to page excluding the margins, whether in Open XML page bg color is applied to the whole page.
Page numbering
In OpenOffice, the <text> value inserted as child of the <text:page-number> element (field used to insert page numbering) seems to be the total number of pages of the document (not the case when the field is in header/footer). OpenOffice recalculates each field when loading the document. In Open XML, the <text> value, child of <w:fldSimple "PAGE"> is the current value of the field, and is not updated when loading the document. During the conversion, the field will appear as set in OpenOffice, and the user will have to update the field to get the right values.
Bullets numbering
The bullets of lists available are not the same in OpenOffice and Open XML. The best match has been chosen for each bullet type.
Column break
In OpenOffice, a table can have a column break before/after property. For the conversion, the break is inserted in the run after/before table. However, a paragraph is automatically added before the table. In OpenOffice, if there is a column break and no column defined, nothing is displayed. In Open XML, the column break is interpreted as a page break.
Track revisions
The style displayed for track-revision is completely dependant on the application for Open XML, whereas ODF allows to enable/disable display of track-revisions.
Consecutive tables
OpenOffice allows two distinct table to follow one another (without paragraph between them), whereas Open XML merges tables if there is nothing between them.
Page top and bottom margins
If the footer start position is greater then bottom margin the real margin is extended to footer start. The same situation is with top margin and header.
Background Gradient Missing
In Open Document Format we create Gradient using colors, start-intensity and end-intesity.In Open XML we create Gradient using Open XML's method. The conversion is imposible.
Frames without paragraph in Open Document Format get wrongly positioned in Open XML
In Open Document Format frame can be defined without paragraph and text:anchor-page-number is number of page where this frame is. In Open XML frame have to be in paragraph and there isn't option like text:anchor-page-number. The conversion, when text:anchor-page-number>1, is imposible. (Bug 1575348)
-->Picture in paragraph with background
In .Open Document Format the picture is in background of paragraph, but in .Open XML the background of paragraph is around the picture..
Picture position and distance from text
In Open XML distance from text doesn't affect image position. Example: In OpenOffice for position "right to entire page" and "right spacing" set to 2cm the image is placed 2 cm from right page border, in Open XML image is placed on the right border without any space.
Style of links
In ODF, a normal and visited style can be defined for each link. In Open XML, only one style can be used for visited links, and the normal style is just overriding the basic 'Hyperlink' style. The normal style can be converted, but the visited style is lost, and Open XML will use the default 'FollowedHyperlink' style'. NB : ODF uses default 'Internet link' and 'Visited internet link' that are automatically recognized by Open Office although never mentionned in the spec. Open XML uses default 'Hyperlink' and 'FollowedHyperlink', not mentionned in the Open XML spec. The converter is based on both those styles to avoid problems of unrecognized links (where clicking would have no effect).
Page paper tray
Although the user interfaceof OpenOffice and Open XML are quite alike concerning page/paper tray property, the specs are different : ODf uses a string id for the selected printer, whereas Open XML uses decimal id. Besides the case of 'default' value, converted into '1', all non decimal values are lost in conversion.
Frame rotation
Rotated frames are handled by a series of transformation applied to frame in OpenOffice, whereas Open XML manages transformation with less information. Should be handled by post-processing.
Shape out of page boundaries
In OpenOffice, a shape can be anchored to a page but positioned out of page boundaries. It will be visible in any case. In Open XML, when a shape goes out of page boundaries, it is hidden by other pages than the page it is anchored to.
Page numbers including chapter numbers
In ODF chapter number can be only added as another field. When section has linked header/footer to previous we can't support different page number format than in previous section.
Rendering of a table wrongly declared
In an ODF document, when X columns are declared and Y cells are defined on rows (X>Y), OpenOffice will display X columns. The converter only converts defined cells, and will then display Y columns. KOffice displays Y columns.
Drawing borders around images
In an ODF document border around image is being drawn to the inside reducing it's real size. The converter increases image size property according to border width so that after convertion real size of the image is the same.
Columns in sections
If document has more than one column then in Open XML only last section has this number of columns in Open Document Format every section has it. It means that when we apply more than one column ex.: 3 to any section (when document has more than one ex.: 2) then we have in ex.: 6 columns in this section. One document column is treated as a page by section and divieded by section columns.
Paragraph styles spacing before and after
In Open XML in real spacing between two consecutive paragraphs is the biger. For example first paragraph style has spacing after 10pt and second has spacing before 20pt the real spacing is 20pt. In Open Document Format real spacing is sum. In our example the real spacing is 30pt.
Numbering/Bulleted list indent in indented paragraph
A list indent in Word is not applied when a paragraph is indented. In OpenOffice it is added to paragraph indent.
Default Tab-Stop
In Open XML, default tab stops are fix, i.e. they do not change whatever the indention of a paragraph is. In Open Office however, default tab stops are relative to the indention of the paragraph.
Link level to style
The Open XML (DOCX) feature "Link level to style" out of the dialog "Customize Outlined Numbered List" is not supported by OpenOffice (or Open Document Format). Open Office only supports to link paragraph styles to the levels of the build-in list of headings used by the ToC. For no other outlined list the levels can be linked to paragraph styles.
Outline numbering (roundtrip)
In ODT, heading styles which are not used in the document are not necessarily included in styles.xml. However, the outline list can be applied to all heading levels even though they are not defined in styles.xml. The converter can only consider styles included in styles.xml. Therefore, after a roundtrip conversion, newly added headings that haven't been used in the original document may be unnumbered (because they are not necessarily in styles.xml of the original ODT).
Picture anchored "as-character"
Pictures anchored "as-character" in a paragraph with line-height "exactly 0,48cm" are completely displayed by Word even when their size is higher than the line height. OpenOffice crops the image at the line height, i.e. the image is only partly visible. A good workaround does not seem to be possible because changing the paragraph's line-height affects the text in it as well.
Different rendering behavior for page margins
Word 2007 does not take the non-printable-margin of a page into account when it renders the page. This option can be activated in the compatibility options of Word 2007 ("Word Options" > "Advanced" > "Layout Options" > "User printer metrics to lay out the document").
Undocumented features in ODF specification
Border : merge paragraph
The 'style:join-border' attribute of styles paragraph-properties, though implemented in OpenOffice.org, is never mentionned in the ODF 1.0 Spec.
Number List : negative length
The OpenOffice?.org 2.0 implementation of start indent challenges the ODF Spec :
Hyperlink styles
Mailto hyperlinks do not have any parent-style specified, although they are displayed as regular hyperlink (inherit from built-in OpenOffice.org Internet_20_link). In the conversion, w:basedOn element is set to Internet_20_link for mailto hyperlink to avoid being based on standard style only.
<define name="style-list-level-properties-attlist" combine="interleave">
<optional>
<attribute name="text:space-before">
<ref name="nonNegativeLength"/>
</attribute>
</optional>
</define>
And a negative length was found. The converter thus handles negative distances, although it is not supposed to.
Hyperlink styles
Mailto hyperlinks do not have any parent-style specified, although they are displayed as regular hyperlink (unherit from built-in OpenOffice.org Internet_20_link). In the conversion, w:basedOn element is set to Internet_20_link for mailto hyperlink to avoid being based on standard style only.
Undocumented features in OpenXml specification
Version number
The version number (AppVersion in Properties) must be of xx.xx form. Otherwise, Open XML crashes.
Frame relative width and height
When the width/height of a frame is defined as a percent value of a parent, Open XML will implement it as mso-width-percent=<value> and mso-width-relative=<parent>. In the spec, it is said that the width attribute should directly takes the percent value of the parent, and the mso-* attributes are never mentionned (for example, cf VML Reference Material/VML/Elements/textbox section of the spec).
Frame relative positioning
Word 2007 allows 7 values for relative horizontal and vertical positioning. There are only 4 values defined in Open XML spec, and only those 4 are supported by older versions of Word.
FldChar element in fields
The element 'fldChar', used in Open XML to describe a complex field (begining or end tag), is documented, but the spec is confusing : the schema indicated 'parent element = r', which is right, but the given example show 'parent element = p', which is not right.
ODF add-in for excel
Features not supported in OOX
Line smoothing method
In Calc user can choose line smoothing method. In Excel it's not possible.
Cell content spacing
In Calc user can specify left/right/top/bottom spacing of the content. Excel doesn't provide simmilar functionality.
Hide cell when print
Hide protected cell (when Print) is not supported in excel
date:format-quarter format not supported
Date:format quarter "QQ" is not supported in excel
date-format: week of the year not supported in excel
date format: "WW" (weak of the year) is not supported in Excel
Header/Footer margins
In Calc user can specify:
- left and right margin of header/footer,
- spacing between header/footer and the page body
- height of header/footer.
There is no way header/footer could overlay page body.
In Excel user can only adjust offset of header/footer from top/bottom of
the page.
Moved header/footer can overlay page body.
Additional print options
In Calc user can specify whether: objects/graphics, charts, drawing, objects, formulas or zero values are printed. Excel doesn't provide such functionality.
Page border and background
In Calc user can specify page border and background color/graphic. Excel doesn't provide such functionality.
User defined paper size
In Calc user can enter his own paper size by defining paper height and width. Excel doesn't give such opportunity, user can only select paper size from the list.
Pages layout
It's impossible in Excel to set pages layout like in Calc (i.e to Mirrored).
Page number format
The only supported page number format in Excel is 1,2,3,... It's impossible to change it i.e to I,II,III,IV...
Header/Footer background
In Excel it's impossible to set color or picture as a background of a
header or footer.
Although it's possible to insert picture, it is not inserted in background.
Multiple page styles
In Calc it is possible to define many page styles and apply page layout
selected from the list of available page styles.
In Excel it's not possible to define page styles, so there is only one page
layout style and to apply different page layout user has to redefine
current one.
Sheets with names above 31 characters
Excel sheet names are limited to 31 characters.
Angle orientation between (90,270) degrees
In Excel text can be angle oriented only with degrees between <-90,90>.
Calc supports all degrees.
Font language
In OO Calc, font language property can be set. In Excel, this feature is not available.
Custom optimal column width
In OO Calc, an optimal column width can be set. In Excel, this feature is not available.
Custom optimal row height
In OO Calc, an optimal row height can be set. In Excel, this feature is not available.
Non-Standard underline styles
In Excel user can not set uderline style as dotted, dashed or other non-solid. It's also imposible to set different underline color.
Features not supported in ODS
Smoothing line charts
In Excel it is possible to smooth single line of data series. In Calc smooth "option" must be set for all lines.
Chart title characters formating
In Calc whole text of Chart title must have one formatting style. In Excel parts of text in chart title can have different formatting.
Picture Rotate
"Rotate right 90" and "Rotate left 90" are not supported in ods.
Different view for each sheet
In Excel user can set different sheet view for each sheet. In Calc view settings are applyed to whole workbook.
Super/subscript for whole cell
In Excel user can set super/subscript property for whole cell. In Calc it is possible only to apply it to text.
File path in header/footer
It's not possible to automatically add file path to header/footer in Calc.
Header/Footer offset
In Excel user can move header/footer lower/higher onto page body. In Calc header/footer is always outside page body.
Print notes as displayed on sheet
Excel has got this functionality. Calc can only print notes at the end of the sheet.
Print 'Black and White','Draft quality' and 'Call errors as'
In Calc theese options doesn't have equivalent.
Different page setup for each sheet
In Excel user can set different page setup for each sheet. In Calc all settings are done for whole workbook.
Picture in header/footer
In Calc it's not possible to insert picture in header or footer.
First page header/footer
In Calc it's impossible to set different header/footer for first page only.
Columns above 256 ("IV")
Number of columns in Calc is limited to 256. Last column is "IV".
Rows above 65536
Number of rows in Calc is limited to 65536.
Sheets above 256
Number of sheets in Calc file is limited to 256.
Multiline vertically stacked text
Excel can insert many lines of vertical stacked text in one cell. In Calc there can be only one.
\\\'Justify\\\' and \\\'Distributed\\\' cell vertical text a
We don’t have cell vertical text alignments like “Justify” and “Distributed” in Calc which are available in Excel.
\\\'Center Across Selection\\\' and \\\'Distributed\\\' cell
We don’t have cell horizontal text alignments like “Center Across Selection” and “Distributed” in Calc which are available in Excel.
Accounting underline styles
In Excell there is 'singleAccounting' and 'doubleAccounting' underline style which is placed a bit lower than respectively 'single' and 'double' style. In OO Calc it's impossible to set similar styles.
In-depth Analysis
Differently supported features
Type of chart for line charts with markers
In Excel chart is regarded as line with markers chart type only if all lines have markers. When user manually removes markers from even only one line, then this chart is regarded as line chart. In Calc after setting chart type to line with markers user can remove markers even from all lines without automatically changing chart type.
Hyperlinks leading to a document
In Calc - when inserting a hyperlink that leads to an existing Excel file (".xlsx")- there`s no problem - file will be open in Excel. However Excel
- won`t open a hyperlink leading to a ".ods" file in OpenOffice.
Same problem with inserting a "Create New Document" hyperlinks. Both - Excel & Calc - support only their own formats.
Pie chart categories order
In Excel following categories are placed in pie chart clockwise, while in Calc counterclockwise.
Merge starting in row/column header but ending outside
In Calc such merge is included in header, but in Excel isn't.
Border styles overlap
In excel common borders have the same style in Calc common broders have style which is larger.
Diagonal-Border
In Calc diagonal-border up and diagonal-border down can be formated separately in the same cell, in Excel they must have the same formatting.
Underlined sub/superscript
In Calc when sub/superscriped text is additionally underlined then underline moves with the text, while in Excel underline stays at the same level and onlu text is moved.
Displaying text with paragraphs
When cell contains text that has many paragraphs (lines) and wrapping is off Calc shows each paragraph in seperate line, but Excel puts whole text into one single line.
Distance between lines
Excel has different distance between lines of text than Calc. Because of that when cell has multiple lines of text there is different optimal row height in these applications.
Entering text right-to-left (e.g hebraic language)
To do that in Calc there is the "Format -> Sheet -> Right - Left" option. Excel does it automatically according to system language setup.
Displaying angle oriented text in a small row
If row height is set to a smaller value then the height of angle oriented text inserted in that row then Calc crops text, while Excel displays '#' or a blank cell.
Height of angle oriented text
Calculated height of angle oriented text is bigger in Excell than in Calc for the same text styles. Because of that there is different optimal row hight in these applications.
Column width
In Calc, column width can be measured in inches, centimeters or other commonly used units, but in Excel there is a special unit for it, which is calculated according to Number of Characters and Maximum Digit Width(see Technical Details). The way this measure unit is calculated makes it impossible to avoid differences in column width after reverse conversion.
Spacing between characters in vertical aligned text
In Calc spacing between characters in vertical aligned text is a bit smaller than in Excel and because of that after reverse conversion row height is bigger than text size while in Excel it is exact by default.
Default horizontal alignment of vertically stacked text
In Excel vertically stacked text is horizontally centered by default, but in Calc by default it is left-aligned.
Vertically stacked text
In Open Office Calc it is set with the attribute 'style:direction=ttb', in Excel with angle orientation value equal 255.
Default horizontal alignment of angle oriented text
In Calc angle oriented text with angle between (-90,0) and (0,90) is centered by default, while in Excell when text is angle oriented with angle between (0,90) it is left-aligned by default and when angle is between (-90,0) it is right aligned by default. When degree is equal to -90 text in Excel is left-aligned, but in Calc it is right-aligned.
Angle oriented text
Open Office Calc sets angle in standard way counting degrees counterclockwise beginning with positive part of axis X (i.e. -16 degrees are set in code as 344). Excel has different approach for negative degrees - they're set in code as above 90 values (i.e. -16 degrees are set in code as 106).
Undocumented features in OOX specification
3D Deep Bar Chart
In Excel there isn't 3D Bar Chart type similar to 3D Column Chart type (series aligned deep) available to pick. However, this type of chart is handled by Excel if appropriate atribute is set in code <c:grouping val="standard"/>
Header/footer font color
When color in header/footer is specified with theme color(T), sign(S) and tint value(N) it has notation TTSNNN, not TTSNN like specification says.
Shadowed and outlined text
Although documentation mentions there are tags for outlined and shadowed text, entering them nothing changes in text display.
Underline in header/footer
To end underlined text underline property should also be switched off, just like strikethrough, superscript or subscript.
Theme color number
It seems that when color value is taken from theme.xml file, color position in this file and value of "theme" attribute in "color" tag for values 0, 1, 2, 3 do not match.
<color theme="1"> matches with color in position=0 in theme.xml and <color
theme="0"> matches with color in position=1 in theme.xml.
Similarly positions 2 and 3 are being changed.
ODF add-in for PowerPoint
Features not supported in Open XML
Slide Renaming
Slide renaming is not supported in Open XML. Open XML follows Slide1, Slide2, etc; naming format and does not consider custom slide naming.
Page Setup
Slide size setup values are different in Open XML.
Features not supported in Open Document Format
Font format
Small Caps is not supported in ODP.
Line Style property for Format Shape
Compound type property does not have equivalent mapping in ODP.
Text Direction
Rotate all text 270 degrees and Stacked properties are not supported in ODP.
Page Setup
Slide size setup values are different in OpenOffice.
Background Styles
Background Transparency is not supported in ODP.
Paragraphs
Distributed and column properties are not supported in ODP.
In-depth Analysis
Differently supported features
Slide/Page Renaming
In Open XML, the renaming of slide is not supported, but it is possible in OpenOffice. We do not have 1 to 1 mapping for slide name from Open XML to OpenOffice and by default, OpenOffice considers slides as Pages. So by this, Slide1 will be called as Page1,Page2 etc; hence, on conversion of OpenOffice files to Open XML, slide names will not be retained. Open XML will follow Slide1, Slide2 naming format and not custom names.
Page Setup size
In Open XML, the slide sizes (Width, Height) are different compared to OpenOffice. So to retain the same size between Open XML and OpenOffice, we have to explicitly set 'Slide size' property to 'Custom' value in Open XML and 'User' Format value in OpenOffice.
Bullets numbering
The bullets of lists available are not the same in OpenOffice and Open XML. The best match has been chosen for each bullet type.
Line Style
The Line Styles available are not the same in OpenOffice and Open XML. The best match has been chosen for each Dash, Cap, Join, Arrow settings style type.
Undocumented features in OpenOffice specification
Footer Date format
In ODP, there is an issue in foreground display of date/time on the footer to the end user and on any selected combination of date/time, it always shows date in the foreground display, but on background check in xml tags, it retains the selected combination.