lsdException

Question

Hi all,

I have a question about the lsdException element. According to the Markup Language Reference of the Office OpenXML specification, the lsdException (Latent Style Exception) element specifies properties to be applied to a latent style. And a "latent style" is defined as a known style definition not included in the document.

In Word 2010, however, if I create a new document, type a line of text, select it, and give it the Title style (by clicking on that style on the ribbon), when I look at the saved file, I see the following:

1) The Title style is defined in the Styles part and used in the document. (This is expected.)

2) The Title style is also listed in the latentStyles element as an ldsException element. (I would not have expected this.)

Is this a Word bug? Is the lsdException element for the Title style important to Word for any reason in this instance? If this is not a Word bug, how does Word use the latentStyles (parent of lsdException) element in DOCX files?

Thank you for your help.

Jim

Answer 1

Hi Jim:

I have alerted open specification team regarding your inquiry. A member of the team will be in touch soon.

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Regards, Obaid Farooqi

Answer 2

Hi Jim,

Thanks for you question about the ldsException element.  I'm looking into this for you and will get back to you shortly.

Best regards,
Tom Jebo
Escalation Engineer
Microsoft Open Specifications

Answer 3

Hi Jim,

Thank you for your patience on this.  Word uses lsdException to initialize some of the attributes and values for the styles in order to avoid defining them in the style definition.  Word is doing this in an effort to be smarter about initialization of attributes.  If you were to remove the ldsException for a style and add the attributes specified by it to the style record, then Word would be happy.

Best regards,
Tom Jebo
Escalation Engineer
Microsoft Open Specifications