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Proprietary costs Open freesĬontrol of a format or distribution channel can make it harder to use a competitive solution. You may read only on devices the distributor supports. When you go to read the book on a different device, you discover that you can’t read the e-book on just any e-reader. Pick up your favorite book - say, an e-book - to read the latest novel. You have to purchase from manufacturer-authorized sources. When you go to order more coffee, you learn that you can’t order coffee just anywhere. Lift a cup of your favorite beverage - say, coffee - to sip the last drop.
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Want to work with the file elsewhere? You’ll either need to export the file or access the document with programming (i.e., the Google Drive API). The powerful collaborative editing features work only inside a Google Doc. Open your favorite writing app - say, Google Docs - to create a new file. How to transfer ODT files with Google Docs and Microsoft Word OnlineĪndy Wolber explores how well Google Docs supports Open Document Format (ODF) files.
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