OpenDocument.XML.org is, as the name might suggest, a website devoted to the new standard document file format. These formats have been making news over the past year or so because of the issue of archiving data files and having the ability to access them when the software and/or software company that created the format no longer exists.
OpenDocument files are available for any software company to incorporate into their products, and are based on a combination of xml and file compression. An interesting trick: take an open document file, change the extention to .zip, then open using whatever program is convenient for you to do so.
You will see the components of the file stored as separate files within the zipped folder. These are mostly .xml files, but if you have images in your document, these will be stored as their own image files. There is even a .png thumbnail of the first page of the document.
The site is mostly for people who are developers or at least very curious about OpenDocument, but it is worth your while to check out the “Learn More” link and read about the generalities of the specification.
from OSDir
