4 ms·
I don't know about XPM/PBM/XBM lost but AIUI PDF is just a subset of postscript with compression. If you think MS's binary excel file format is all that secret
by throwaway_pdp09 6y ago
I don't know about XPM/PBM/XBM lost but AIUI PDF is just a subset of postscript with compression. If you think MS's binary excel file format is all that secret, I suggest you try unzipping it - it is no more than compressed XML. I have rescued parts of corrupt excel and word files by doing just that.
- mark-r 6y agoMS completely redesigned their binary formats a few years ago. You're right about the current format, but the earlier one was completely undecipherable. Even the current XML has quirks in it to be compatible with the older format.
- mike22 6y agoIt was reversible enough to write the Apache POI library. I maintain code that uses the HSSF streaming API portion of the library, which mainly gives you low-level access to the structures in XLS files. The OO.org folks made some very nice documentation: http://www.openoffice.org/sc/excelfileformat.pdf http://www.openoffice.org/sc/excelfileformat.pdf
- ken 6y agoPDF diverged from Postscript years ago. Microsoft’s binary Excel format is not XML -- you’re thinking of its replacement. It was COM/OLE or some such.