Opening up Outlook’s data format

In Q4 last year, Microsoft announced through its Interoperability @ Microsoft blog that it was planning to open up its proprietary PST email format used by Outlook. The data in .pst files has been accessible through the Messaging API (MAPI) and Outlook Object Model (two things of which my understanding is minimal at best), butContinue reading “Opening up Outlook’s data format”

Payroll system conversion horror story

Converting their payroll system has resulted in some serious errors to the tune of greater than $1.5 million for the Fort Worth (Texas) school district. The school district overpaid employees and former employees at least $1.54 million, according to the [internal] audit. It also found that the district’s payroll system lacked proper controls, was cumbersomeContinue reading “Payroll system conversion horror story”

WSJ on why work tech sucks

You’ll have to hurry before Rupert puts it behind a paywall and blocks Google from indexing it, but the WSJ had a good article recently about technology in the workplace. At the office, you’ve got a sluggish computer running aging software, and the email system routinely badgers you to delete messages after you blow throughContinue reading “WSJ on why work tech sucks”

Google Docs to surpass Office in a year

Now this is interesting. Comments from Google’s president of the enterprise division indicate he believes that Google Docs will “reach a ‘point of capability’ next year that it will serve the ‘vast majority’s needs.’” He acknowledged that Docs is currently “much less mature” than Google Mail or Calendar. “We know it. We wouldn’t ask peopleContinue reading “Google Docs to surpass Office in a year”

Why your organization should be using open document standards

Microsoft has the enterprise market cornered with its Office productivity suite. Skill with Outlook, Excel and Word is pretty much required in the corporate world. As a result, most companies have significant data tied up in the proprietary binary file formats doc and xls. This is not to mention all the web-based software designed forContinue reading “Why your organization should be using open document standards”