What is OpenDocument?
LibreOffice uses the OpenDocument Format (ODF), a fully open and ISO standardised file format that guarantees access to your data forever. (You can, of course, encrypt your documents with a password.) Because ODF is standardised, other office software can implement support for it as well – and many programs have done so. By using ODF, you ensure that your data can be transferred between different computers and operating systems, without having to worry about vendor lock-in or license fees.
Typical extensions for ODF files include the following:
- .odt – a text document
- .ods – a spreadsheet file
- .odp – a presentation file
- .odg – an illustration or graphic
What to do if you're sent an ODF file
If you are sent a file with one of the above extensions, but your software or operating system can't identify it, then simply download LibreOffice – it's free and open source software, originally based on OpenOffice.org, and handles all of the above extensions.