Microsoft Word files with PHP?

[shachi]

Hello all,

I was just building a WYSIWYG editor when I needed to save the output as a Microsoft Word file but after numerous searches I still cannot find any algorithms for encrypting the data so that Microsoft Word can read it. I was wondering if anyone had any solutions for it? Or do I have to buy the algorithm? Any help would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks!!

[Twey]

It's a closely-guarded proprietary format. The guys at OpenOffice have managed to reverse engineer it pretty well, you could look at their source for some ideas. Either way, it'll be a hard and thankless task, and you'd have a much easier time outputting to the Open Document Format, which is simple XML.

[shachi]

I think I'll try to use the open document format, that'd be much easier. But I will also try to reverse engineer the format. Maybe that'll teach me some serious decryption.

Thanks for the information and your help.

EDIT: Where can I get something like a manual on using the ODF? Thanks again.

[Twey]

The specification is maintained by OASIS, here. Basic knowledge of XML is required.

[shachi]

Do you specialize in cryptography Twey?

[Twey]

Cryptography? No, I'm terrible at maths and everything to do with it... if I really want to send messages to someone in private, I construct a new language and use that instead

This doesn't have much to do with cryptography... the MS Office formats are just obscure and poorly documented, not encrypted.

[boogyman]

the MS Office formats are just obscure and poorly documented

I wouldn't doubt if Bill Gates requires that before everything is shipped / released, he mandates that all documentation / coding comments be removed.

While it does help the proprietory information, I cannot even come to fathom what it must be like to actually work for microsoft and have to confront that mess.

[boxxertrumps]

MS software standards are just obscure and poorly documented

fixed?

But their might be a manual that a developer wrote, some where in an office, under a desk, covered in cobwebs and in a rough draft... Abysmal creation, Microsoft is...

[Twey]

I suspect it's probably fairly well documented (or maybe not, if what we've seen of their Open XML format is any indication; evidence does seem to exist that at least some of it is thoroughly documented internally, though). Unfortunately, this documentation isn't available to the general public, since it would promote interoperability, the bane of Microsoft.

[shachi]

So, I guess I am on my own.