I don’t think that’s really defending them.

I’m saying, THEY HAVEN’T THOUGHT LIKE YOU HAVE.

Most people dont give a tinkers cuss about file formats except nerds.

I know, I’m one of them.

All they care about is opening it on their computers, hence the “Microsoft compatible” statement.

Yes, I’m aware of how significant the AEC are, incompetence can be everywhere; I dont think file format knowledge is the ‘core area’ of AEC officials, and with a straight face, do you?

is it good enough? no.

should it be fixed? yes.

so give them a solution, instead of being all whiny about it.

People filing registrations late has nothing to do with the AEC. I know it’s in most peoples modus operandi to submit things the last minute, but that’s really their fault. I mean, how much time are they given? I don’t know, I’m assuming it’s reasonable here. if it’s not, correct me.

So I don’t think I’m defending their actions, I’m hypothesising the thought processes around them. ‘please explain’ how calling people incompetent is defending them.

No, I don’t think any company should get preferential treatment, and especially not Microsoft.

but what are you going to suggest otherwise? Open Document Format? the format that’s not supported without a crap plugin for office 2007/2003?

Here’s how that conversation goes with the applicant:

“oh, well to open this document you just need to install this free plugin, oh wait, you don’t have administrative access? oh your IT policy need to be changed, can I speak to your heads of IT please?”.

now what’s more likely, changing an entire companies IT policy, or allowing for alternatives by saying ‘readably by’.

specifying that it needs to be openable by a piece of software does not say “save this in .doc/x format” it says “save it in a format that we can open it in”.

I just think you’re being a little deliberately obtuse about this.

this is government. baby steps are required.

should they be? no.

are ‘baby steps’ more likely to achieve results? in my opinion, yes.

Registrations often tend to be filed shortly before the deadline so the applicant often doesn’t get a second chance.

If you want to defend the actions of the AEC then please explain why any company should have preferential treatment in the laws related in any way to the political process.

I think what’s more likely here, is that somebody who has little technical knowledge is writing something with technical requirements in it.

I’ve found that when that happens, people make broad sweeping gestures with their text with little understanding of what it actually means to someone technical who reads it.

It’s a pretty long document to begin with, I think more likely you are attributing malice aforethought where there is none.

I’ve found that in large organisations incompetence and lack of knowledge causes these types of things, not hidden agendas.

Rather than writing a dramatic post about it, perhaps you should reccomend a solution, I’ve been sitting here and it’s reasonably hard to do.

I think a better wording would be from:

A Microsoft compatible electronic membership list (and paper copy) providing the following information for each member:

to:

“An electronic membership list (readable by AEC IT Resources:- currently Microsoft Office *version here*) with a paper copy providing the following information for each member:”

by stating “microsoft compatible” they’re also shooting themselves in the foot, microsoft have had an awful lot of formats you know.

if they really wanted, they could save it in a FOXpro database or an XPS document or something, it’s technically meets their requirements. (I would bet if it was sent in XPS, people still wouldn’t know what to do with it.)

either A) they learn about open document formats, forcing them to have a link about open document formats, or B) they specify what software they use so people can save appropriately.

I’ve reccomended B, because likely these people would give you a look like you’re from another planet if you started talking about open document formats.

The requirement can easily be met with OpenOffice.org, KOffice, or AbiWord. They said Microsoft-compatible, and you’re misreading the requirement to claim that it says that a Microsoft product must be purchased.

P.S.: If I put jmtd.net into the website box openid auth is attempted and fails. It works ok with other sites but I’m not sure whether that’s a happy accident and I’ve declared something wrong or whether you have made a mistake.