[Planner Dev] KPlato and Planner file format

[Raphael Langerhorst <raphael-langerhorst gmx at>]

Hello!

I just signed up on the list to say hello... and to discuss file 
formats.

I'm helping with KPlato (http://www.koffice.org/kplato/) development 
and recently we had a discussion about file formats on the KPlato 
mailing list: https://mail.kde.org/mailman/listinfo/kplato (look for 
threads with PMXML and OASIS, etc.)

KPlato didn't have an official release yet, so it wouldn't hurt so 
much to change the file format. The current file format is a custom 
XML based format, not based on any existing project management file 
format.

If possible we (the KPlato team) would like to move to a standardized 
file format for project management to increase interoperability. A 
few considerations and options are already on the table, ranging from 
creating a completely new OASIS specification (maybe extending the 
Open Office format) to adapting the PMXML standard. Here are some 
links on the subject:
http://proj.chbs.dk/specifications/   (file format collection)
http://www.projectoffice.com/xml/xml.asp   (PMXML format)
http://www.oasis-open.org/committees/tc_home.php?wg_abbrev=office

Another consideration is of course Planner (or MrProject). So I would 
like to know what file format Planner is currently using (is a DTD or 
Schema available?) and whether it is based on another format or 
standard. And are you considering to change the format? What's your 
opinion about PMXML?

If you consider moving to PMXML I would suggest that we get together 
to improve the specification to fit general project management needs 
best (currently there are a few flaws that would need to improve, but 
it's a promising base). Also we would need to talk to the people at 
Pacific Edge about this and maybe we can have a dedicated 
specification mailing list (or maybe there already exists one?).

in case PMXML turns out to be not usable, another option would be to 
create either a new OASIS document specification for project 
management or to extend the Open Office specification (as the rest of 
KOffice is moving to this specification right now). Of course if the 
format of Planner is a good base as well, we could start from there.

Finally, I would like to note that the task at hand is to get an 
official standard for Project Management, whatever direction is best. 
Maybe PMXML is a good start, maybe even the format of Planner is 
good. Wherever we go, we should aim at making the file format an 
official standard, as this is the best way to make the format and all 
compliant applications acceptable for industry, home users and even 
open source developers.


Regards,
Raphael

-- 
G System, The Evolving Universe - http://www.g-system.at