email word (.doc) attachments: it's NOT a standard!

[otheos]

Some may have already read this article, but I think EVERYBODY should.

Read here

Quoting from the article:

Quote:

These replies are meant for individuals who send Word files. When you encounter an organization that imposes use of Word format, that calls for a different sort of reply; there you can raise issues of fairness that would not apply to an individual's actions.

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You sent the attachment in Microsoft Word format, a secret proprietary format, so it is hard for me to read. If you send me plain text, HTML, or PDF, then I will read it.
Distributing documents in Word format is bad for you and for others. You can't be sure what they will look like if someone views them with a different version of Word; they may not work at all.

Receiving Word attachments is bad for you because they can carry viruses (see http://www.symantec.com/avcenter/venc/data/acro.html). Sending Word attachments is bad for you, because a Word document normally includes hidden information about the author, enabling those in the know to pry into the author's activities (maybe yours).

Text that you think you deleted may still be embarrassingly present. See http://www.microsystems.com/Shares_Well.htm for more info.
But above all, sending people Word documents puts pressure on them to use Microsoft software and helps to deny them any other choice. In effect, you become a buttress of the Microsoft monopoly.
This pressure is a major obstacle to the broader adoption of free software.
Would you please reconsider the use of Word format for communication with other people?
Converting the file to HTML is simple. Open the document, click on File, then Save As, and in the Save As Type strip box at the bottom of the box, choose HTML Document or Web Page. Then choose Save.
You can then attach the new HTML document instead of your Word document.
Note that versions of Word change in inconsistent ways -- if you see slightly different menu item names, please try them. To convert to plain text is almost the same -- instead of HTML Document, choose Text Only or Text Document as the Save As Type.

[DVNT1]

Plain text? yes, that could be a good alternative but it lacks the formating and hyperlinking ability that can be very useful.

HTML? That can carry a virus too.

PDF? If I already have MS Word why should I buy Adobe Acrobat? Unless, there is another reasonable way to create the PDF?

What about the free MS Word viewer similar to Adobe Acrodat Reader's functionality (found here) ?


True, MS Word has it's downfall as mentioned, and others problems too. From my point of view it is a common and acceptable way to send documents to me.

[otheos]

html can carry virii too, but it's standardm multiplatform and requires no viewer. It's also smaller than doc.

pdf is a standard open to all OS's and platforms, and viewers (including adobes) are free and run on all platfroms too.

The doc viewer you link is windows only and is prone to word format incompatibilities (so it won't open all doc files).