3 ms·

How can they fix anything if other software isn't written to obey, or expect, headers?

• anon84873628 3y ago
  Instead of looking at it in terms of the distinct number of different software products, instead look at the number of physical "integration operations" that happen every day. A good portion of those (whether it is "the majority", who can say) are actually between Excel and itself, e.g. two people in a company sending files to each other. This is a multi-agent coordination problem. If Excel (the dominant market participant) makes a change because it is helpful to their own users anyway, that alters the incentive calculus for the other software products too. Suddenly there is a large enough market / population of users / number of integration events where making an investment in the enhancement makes sense.
  • politelemon 3y ago
    I agree it makes a lot of sense, and to help with the "marketing" they could even give it a slightly distinct but easy name to indicate it's a CSV flavour. Having something repeatable verbally makes it easier in conversations. I've sent you an Earthy CSV. Oh you can use x, it supports earthy.
  • MichaelZuo 3y ago
    If they make it a default they will nonetheless break a huge amount of existing workflows to older Excel versions and other programs. Why would they want to pay for the reputation and credibility damage for the multi-year long, or multi-decade long, transition period?