Return-Path: Delivered-To: apmail-poi-commits-archive@locus.apache.org Received: (qmail 83559 invoked from network); 18 Feb 2008 13:08:52 -0000 Received: from hermes.apache.org (HELO mail.apache.org) (140.211.11.2) by minotaur.apache.org with SMTP; 18 Feb 2008 13:08:52 -0000 Received: (qmail 15503 invoked by uid 500); 18 Feb 2008 13:08:46 -0000 Delivered-To: apmail-poi-commits-archive@poi.apache.org Received: (qmail 15446 invoked by uid 500); 18 Feb 2008 13:08:46 -0000 Mailing-List: contact commits-help@poi.apache.org; run by ezmlm Precedence: bulk List-Help: List-Unsubscribe: List-Post: List-Id: Reply-To: dev@poi.apache.org Delivered-To: mailing list commits@poi.apache.org Received: (qmail 15437 invoked by uid 99); 18 Feb 2008 13:08:46 -0000 Received: from athena.apache.org (HELO athena.apache.org) (140.211.11.136) by apache.org (qpsmtpd/0.29) with ESMTP; Mon, 18 Feb 2008 05:08:46 -0800 X-ASF-Spam-Status: No, hits=-2000.0 required=10.0 tests=ALL_TRUSTED X-Spam-Check-By: apache.org Received: from [140.211.11.3] (HELO eris.apache.org) (140.211.11.3) by apache.org (qpsmtpd/0.29) with ESMTP; Mon, 18 Feb 2008 13:08:11 +0000 Received: by eris.apache.org (Postfix, from userid 65534) id 539B71A9832; Mon, 18 Feb 2008 05:08:19 -0800 (PST) Content-Type: text/plain; charset="utf-8" MIME-Version: 1.0 Content-Transfer-Encoding: 7bit Subject: svn commit: r628714 - in /poi/trunk: legal/NOTICE src/documentation/content/xdocs/getinvolved/index.xml Date: Mon, 18 Feb 2008 13:08:18 -0000 To: commits@poi.apache.org From: nick@apache.org X-Mailer: svnmailer-1.0.8 Message-Id: <20080218130819.539B71A9832@eris.apache.org> X-Virus-Checked: Checked by ClamAV on apache.org Author: nick Date: Mon Feb 18 05:08:16 2008 New Revision: 628714 URL: http://svn.apache.org/viewvc?rev=628714&view=rev Log: Update notice for latest guidance on ooxml xsd licence, and update getting involved to link to the newly released binary file format docs Modified: poi/trunk/legal/NOTICE poi/trunk/src/documentation/content/xdocs/getinvolved/index.xml Modified: poi/trunk/legal/NOTICE URL: http://svn.apache.org/viewvc/poi/trunk/legal/NOTICE?rev=628714&r1=628713&r2=628714&view=diff ============================================================================== --- poi/trunk/legal/NOTICE (original) +++ poi/trunk/legal/NOTICE Mon Feb 18 05:08:16 2008 @@ -30,6 +30,8 @@ BSD Licence or Apache Licence Version 2.0 - http://www.openxml4j.org/Licensing/Default.html Office Open XML ECMA Specification - - http://www.ecma-international.org/publications/standards/Ecma-376.htm - Microsoft Open Specification Promise (OSP) - + http://www.ecma-international.org/publications/standards/Ecma-376.htm + Copyright - ECMA International, made available without restriction + http://www.ecma-international.org/memento/Ecmabylaws.htm - section 9.4 + Patent - Microsoft Open Specification Promise (OSP) http://www.microsoft.com/interop/osp/ Modified: poi/trunk/src/documentation/content/xdocs/getinvolved/index.xml URL: http://svn.apache.org/viewvc/poi/trunk/src/documentation/content/xdocs/getinvolved/index.xml?rev=628714&r1=628713&r2=628714&view=diff ============================================================================== --- poi/trunk/src/documentation/content/xdocs/getinvolved/index.xml (original) +++ poi/trunk/src/documentation/content/xdocs/getinvolved/index.xml Mon Feb 18 05:08:16 2008 @@ -53,6 +53,43 @@ license.

+
Publicly Available Information on the file formats +

+ In early 2008, Microsoft made a fairly complete set of documentation + on the binary file formats freely and publicly available. These were + released under the Open + Specification Promise, which does allow us to use them for + building open source software under the + Apache Software License. +

+

+ You can download the documentation on Excel, Word, PowerPoint and + Escher (drawing) from + http://www.microsoft.com/interop/docs/OfficeBinaryFormats.mspx. + Documentation on a few of the supporting technologies used in these + file formats can be downloaded from + http://www.microsoft.com/interop/docs/supportingtechnologies.mspx. +

+

+ Previously, Microsoft published a book on the Excel 97 file format. + It can still be of plenty of use, and is handy dead tree form. Pick up + a copy of "Excel 97 Developer's Kit" from your favourite second hand + book store. +

+

+ The newer Office Open XML (ooxml) file formats are documented as part + of the ECMA / ISO standardisation effort for the formats. This + documentation is quite large, but you can normally find the bit you + need without too much effort! This can be downloaded from + http://www.ecma-international.org/publications/standards/Ecma-376.htm, + and is also under the OSP. +

+

+ It is also worth checking the documentation and code of the other + open source implementations of the file formats. +

+
I just signed an NDA to get a spec from Microsoft and I'd like to contribute

In short, stay away, stay far far away. Implementing these file formats @@ -66,13 +103,14 @@

If you've ever received information regarding the OLE 2 Compound Document Format under any type of exclusionary agreement from Microsoft, or - (probably illegally) received such information from a person bound by - such an agreement, you cannot participate in this project. (Sorry) + (possibly illegally) received such information from a person bound by + such an agreement, you cannot participate in this project. (Sorry)

Those submitting patches that show insight into the file format may be - asked to state explicitly that they are eligible or possibly sign an - agreement. + asked to state explicitly that they have only ever read the publicly + available file format information, and not any received under an NDA + or similar.

@@ -86,7 +124,9 @@
  • Documentation is always the best place to start contributing, maybe you found that if the documentation just told you how to do X then it would make more sense, modify the documentation.
  • Get used to building POI, you'll be doing it a lot, be one with the build, know its targets, etc.
  • Write Unit Tests. Great way to understand POI. Look for classes that aren't tested, or aren't tested on a public/protected method level, start there.
    • -
  • (HSSF)Get the Excel 97 Developer's Kit - its out of print but its dirt cheap (seen copies for under $15 (US)) used on amazon. It explains the Excel file format.
    • +
  • Download the file format documentation from Microsoft - + OLE2 Binary File Formats or + OOXML XML File Formats
  • Submit patches (see below) of your contributions, modifications.
  • Fill out new features, see Bug database for suggestions.
    • --------------------------------------------------------------------- To unsubscribe, e-mail: commits-unsubscribe@poi.apache.org For additional commands, e-mail: commits-help@poi.apache.org