Open XML Paper Specication

2 Features

Open XML Paper Specication (also referred to as

OpenXPS) is an open specication for a page description language and a xed-document format. Microsoft
developed it as the XML Paper Specication (XPS). In
June 2009, Ecma International adopted it as international
standard ECMA-388.[2]

XPS species a set of document layout functionality

for paged, printable documents. It also has support for
features such as color gradients, transparencies, CMYK
color spaces, printer calibration, multiple-ink systems and
print schemas. XPS supports the Windows Color System
color management technology for color conversion precision across devices and higher dynamic range. It also
includes a software raster image processor (RIP) which is
downloadable separately.[5] The print subsystem also has
support for named colors, simplifying color denition for
images transmitted to printers supporting those colors.

It is an XML-based (more precisely XAML-based) specication, based on a new print path (print processing
data representation and data ow) and a color-managed
vector-based document format that supports device independence and resolution independence. In Windows 8
.xps was replaced with the ECMA standard .oxps format which is not natively supported in older Windows
versions.[1]
XPS also supports HD Photo images natively for raster
images.[6] The XPS format used in the spool le represents advanced graphics eects such as 3D images, glow
eects, and gradients as Windows Presentation Foundation primitives, which are processed by the printer drivers
1 Format
without rasterization, preventing rendering artifacts and
reducing computational load.
The XPS document format consists of structured XML
markup that denes the layout of a document and the
with PDF and
visual appearance of each page, along with rendering 3 Similarities
rules for distributing, archiving, rendering, processing
PostScript
and printing the documents. Notably, the markup language for XPS is a subset of XAML, allowing it to in- Main article: Comparison of OpenXPS and PDF
corporate vector-graphic elements in documents, using
XAML to mark up the Windows Presentation Foundation (WPF) primitives. The elements used are described Like Adobe Systems's PDF format, XPS is a xedlayout document format designed to preserve document
in terms of paths and other geometrical primitives.
delity,[7] providing device-independent document apAn XPS le is a Unicoded ZIP archive using the Open pearance. PDF is a database of objects that may be crePackaging Conventions, containing the les which make ated from PostScript or generated directly from applicaup the document. These include an XML markup le for tions, whereas XPS is based on XML. Both formats are
each page, text, embedded fonts, raster images, 2D vector compressed, albeit using dierent methods. The lter
graphics, as well as the digital rights management infor- pipeline architecture of XPS is also similar to the one
mation. The contents of an XPS le can be examined by used in printers supporting the PostScript page descripopening it in an application which supports ZIP les.
tion language. PDF includes dynamic capabilities purThere are two incompatible XPS formats on the market. posely not supported by the XPS format.[8]
The original document writer printed to .xps in Windows
7 and earlier (i.e., Windows Vista and Windows XP). Beginning with Windows 8, the document writer defaults to 4 Viewing and creating XPS docuthe OpenXPS .oxps format. Trying to open .oxps les in
ments
Windows 7 or lesser without a .oxps-to.xps converter will
[1]
result in an error.
Microsoft provides two free converters. XpsConverter XPS is supported on several versions of Windows.
to convert documents between .xps and .oxps format.[3] Because the printing architecture of Windows Vista uses
Oxpsconverter to convert documents from .oxps to .xps XPS as the spooler format,[7] it has native support for
format.[4]
generating and reading XPS documents.[9] XPS docu1

ments can be created by printing to the virtual XPS

printer driver. The XPS Viewer is installed by default
in Windows Vista, Windows 7, and Windows 8. The
viewer is hosted within Internet Explorer (IE) in Windows Vista, but is a native application in 7 and 8 which
supports digital signatures. Windows 8 also has a Reader
application that reads XPS, OXPS, and PDF les.[10] The
IE-hosted XPS viewer and the XPS Document Writer are
also available to Windows XP users when they download the .NET Framework 3.0. The IE-hosted viewer
supports digital rights management and digital signatures.
Users who do not wish to view XPS documents in the
browser can download the XPS Essentials Pack,[11] which
includes a standalone viewer and the XPS Document
Writer. The XPS Essentials Pack also includes providers
to enable the IPreview and IFilter capabilities used by
Windows Desktop Search, as well as shell handlers to enable thumbnail views and le properties for XPS documents in Windows Explorer.[12] The XPS Essentials Pack
is available for Windows XP, Windows Server 2003, and
Windows Vista.[12] Installing this pack enables operating
systems prior to Windows Vista to use the XPS print
spooler[13] instead of the GDI-based WinPrint,[14] which
can produce better quality prints for printers that support XPS in hardware (directly consume the format).[15]
The print spooler format on these operating systems when
printing to older, non-XPS-aware printers, however, remains unchanged.

Third-party support

5.1

Software

5.2

Hardware

XPS had the support of printing companies such as

Konica Minolta, Sharp,[21] Canon, Epson, HewlettPackard,[22] and Xerox[23] and software and hardware
companies such as CSR (formerly Zoran),[24] and Global
Graphics.[25] Native XPS printers were introduced by
Canon, Konica Minolta, Toshiba, and Xerox.[26] Devices
at the Certied for Windows level of Windows Logo conformance certication were required to have XPS drivers
for printing since 1 June 2007.[27]

REFERENCES

veloping (i) scanners that output XPS Documents; (ii)

printers that consume XPS Documents to produce hardcopy output; or (iii) print driver or raster image software
products or components thereof that convert XPS Documents for the purpose of producing hard-copy output, [...]
will not sue Microsoft or any of its licensees under the
XML Paper Specication or customers for infringement
of any XML Paper Specication Derived Patents (as dened below) on account of any manufacture, use, sale,
oer for sale, importation or other disposition or promotion of any XML Paper Specication implementations.
The specication itself was released under a royalty-free
copyright license, allowing its free distribution.[30]
In 2011-09-13, Monotype Imaging Holdings Inc. announced it had licensed its XPS-to-PCL 6 and XPS-toPostScript vector conversion lters to Microsoft Corp.
for use in the next version of Windows.[31][32]

7 History and standardization

In 2003, Global Graphics was chosen by Microsoft to provide consultancy and proof of concept development services on XPS and worked with the Windows development
teams on the specication and reference architecture for
the new format.[33] Microsoft submitted the XPS specication to Ecma International.[34] In June 2007 Ecma International Technical Committee 46 (TC46) was set up to
develop a standard based on the Open XML Paper Specication (OpenXPS).[35]
At the 97th General Assembly held in Budapest, June 16,
2009, Ecma International approved Open XML Paper
Specication (OpenXPS) as an Ecma standard (ECMA388).[36] TC46s members included:

8 See also
Comparison of OpenXPS and PDF
Windows Vista printing technologies
Functional specication

9 References
6

Licensing

To encourage wide use of the format, Microsoft released

XPS under a royalty-free patent license called the Community Promise for XPS,[28][29] allowing users to create
implementations of the specication that read, write and
render XPS les as long as they included a notice within
the source that technologies implemented may be encumbered by patents held by Microsoft. Microsoft also required that organizations engaged in the business of de-

[1] Mitch Prince. XPS and OXPS le support in Windows 7

and Windows 8. MSDN. Retrieved December 2, 2012.
[2] http://www.ecma-international.org/publications/
standards/Ecma-388.htm
[3] http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/windows/
hardware/Hh846189(v=vs.85).aspx
[4] You cannot open an .oxps le in Windows 7 or in Windows
Server 2008 R2

[5] Reference Raster Image Processor (RIP)".

crosoft.com. 2007-01-09. Retrieved 2009-12-10.

Mi-

[28] Community Promise for XPS. Microsoft.com. 200701-31. Retrieved 2014-11-29.

[6] HD Photo information on Microsoft Photography team

blog. Blogs.msdn.com. 2007-03-12. Retrieved 200912-10.

[29] Community Promise for XPS FAQs. Microsoft.com.

2007-01-31. Retrieved 2009-12-10.

[7] Foley, Mary Jo (2005-04-25). Microsoft Readies New

Document Printing Specication. Microsoft-watch.com.
Retrieved 2009-12-10.
[8] Comparison of PDF, XPS and ODF by an ISV providing
PDF solutions. Amyuni.com. Retrieved 2009-12-10.
[9] XPS Documents in Windows Vista. Microsoft.com.
Retrieved 2009-12-10.
[10] View and Generate XPS. Microsoft.com. Retrieved
2009-12-10.
[11] Download details: XPS Essentials Pack Version 1.0 Microsoft XML Paper Specication Essentials Pack
[12] View and generate XPS. Microsoft.com. Retrieved
2009-12-10.
[13] Microsoft XML Paper Specication Essentials Pack
Overview. Microsoft.com. 2010-02-12.
[14] Benets to print enhancements in Windows Vista. Microsoft.com. 2007-12-17.

[30] XML Paper Specication Licensing, Microsoft.

trieved on June 8, 2006.

Re-

[31] Monotype Imaging Licenses XPS Printer Driver Solution

to Microsoft
[32] Monotype Imaging Licenses XPS Printer Driver Solution
to Microsoft
[33] Global Graphics XPS reference. Redorbit.com. 200609-21. Retrieved 2009-12-10.
[34] Reimer, Jeremy (2007-07-01). War and PDF: Microsoft
submits XPS to standards body. Arstechnica.com. Retrieved 2009-12-10.
[35] TC46 - XML Paper Specication (XPS)".
international.org. Retrieved 2009-12-10.

Ecma-

[36] Steve McGibbon (Microsoft) (2009-06-17). OpenXPS OpenXML Paper Specication.

10 External links

[15] http://microsoft.com/whdc/device/print/XPSDrv_
FilterPipe.mspx XPSDrv Filter Pipeline: Implementation and Best Practices

XML Paper Specication

[16]

Standard ECMA-388 Open XML Paper Specication

[17] Native Interpretation in the Harlequin RIP Converter

1.1. globalprintmonitor.com. 2009-11-22.
[18] Okular Document format handlers status. 2011-11-13.
[19] News about SumatraPDF reader. 2012-01-06.
[20] XPS Annotator. 2012-01-28.
[21] Sharp Open Systems Architecture supports XPS in
multi-function printers. Sharpusa.com. Retrieved 200912-10.
[22] Monckton, Paul. "''IT Week'' 10 November 2006, Canon,
Epson and HP support for XPS. Itweek.co.uk. Retrieved
2009-12-10.
[23] "''Fuji Xerox and Microsoft Collaborate in Document
Management Solutions Field''". Fujixerox.co.jp. 200611-28. Retrieved 2009-12-10.
[24] Ips Xps. Zoran.com. Retrieved 2009-12-10.
[25] Solutions for XPS document sharing and native XPS
printing. Globalgraphics.com. Retrieved 2009-12-10.
[26] XPS Technology Showcase. Microsoft.com. 2007-0419. Retrieved 2009-12-10.
[27] Windows Logo Program Requirements and Policies.
Microsoft.com. Retrieved 2009-12-10.

Microsoft XPS Development Team Blog

Viewing XPS Documents

Xps to Pdf Conversion online

11

11
11.1

TEXT AND IMAGE SOURCES, CONTRIBUTORS, AND LICENSES

Text and image sources, contributors, and licenses

Text

Open XML Paper Specication Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Open%20XML%20Paper%20Specification?oldid=635892533

Contributors: Kpearce, Paul A, Feedmecereal, ZimZalaBim, Ambarish, Superm401, Filemon, Msiebuhr, Joaopaulo1511, Bnn, Fleminra,
Uzume, SURIV, Oneiros, Cynical, Tooki, Qef, O'Dea, Polluks, Cwolfsheep, DBrane, Quiggles, Fritz Saalfeld, JanSderback, Benhutchings, Forderud, Inarius, Marasmusine, Woohookitty, David Haslam, TotoBaggins, Toussaint, Rjwilmsi, ABot, Skyler, Nihiltres, Mathrick, Chobot, Todd Vierling, Akhristov, Pelago, Voidxor, Maerk, Xpclient, Mythobeast, Ninly, Danallen46, Marcosw, JLaTondre, Finell,
Chris Chittleborough, SmackBot, CSZero, LodesterreLLC, Nil Einne, Psiphiorg, Chris the speller, Thumperward, Javalenok, Frap, KnowBuddy, Warren, Wthrower, Janhoy, Lasindi, Mpbailey, Soumyasch, PseudoSudo, Jonhall, StephenBuxton, FleetCommand, NaBUru38,
Joelholdsworth, Gordonf, Knyri, Chuck Marean, Etienne.navarro, Thijs!bot, Hervegirod, Philippe, Seth Nimbosa, Dawnseeker2000, Gioto,
Snailshoes, Sterrys, HAl, CobraA1, Objectivesea, Rajpaj, Wikianon, Stephenchou0722, R'n'B, Alexander Abramov, Jutiphan, Dujohnson, Lhammer610, RedAznor, Owen Ambur, TreasuryTag, A.Ou, TXiKiBoT, WatchAndObserve, Meters, Simaocampos, Nixps, Digita,
Leafnode, Logan, SieBot, Callidior, Svick, ImageRemovalBot, Martarius, Csiahistorian, Alexbot, Blicktek, Xodarap00, Paulej, LobStoR,
Qwfp, DumZiBoT, Addbot, Ghettoblaster, Mabdul, Leszek Jaczuk, Lboonsen, Yobot, Legobot II, Sugeina, AnomieBOT, Morris lin,
Avesus, Xqbot, Jojoyee, SW2000, Joker1984, LittleWink, RedBot, Danglobalgraph, Christoph hausner, Azakea, Bokarevitch, Wq-man,
SamirGunic, Alecamiga, GoingBatty, Gertyk, Solarra, , Kmchanw, Be..anyone, I2van, Balexiev, Flybearzhang,
JamesMoose, Sanduskyoh, Daisyiceble, Pomand, Sdxu and Anonymous: 138

11.2

Images

File:Question_book-new.svg Source: http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/9/99/Question_book-new.svg License: Cc-by-sa-3.0

Contributors:
Created from scratch in Adobe Illustrator. Based on Image:Question book.png created by User:Equazcion Original artist:
Tkgd2007
File:XPSIcon.png Source: http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/6/65/XPSIcon.png License: Fair use Contributors:
Open XML Paper Specication Original artist: ?

11.3

Content license

Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 3.0