View source for Open XML Paper Specification

{{Short description|XML-based document format}}
{{use mdy dates|date=November 2022}}
{{Infobox file format
| name          = Open XML Paper Specification (OpenXPS)
| icon          = [[File:XPSIcon.png|64px]]
| caption       =
| extension     = .oxps,<ref name="MitchPrince" /> .xps
| mime          = application/oxps, application/vnd.ms-xpsdocument
| type code     =
| uniform type  =
| owner         = [[Microsoft]], [[Ecma International]]
| released      = {{Start date and age|2006|10}}
| latest release version = First Edition
| latest release date = {{Start date and age|2009|06|16}}
| genre         = [[Page description language]], [[document file format]]
| container for =
| contained by  = [[Open Packaging Conventions]]
| extended from = [[ZIP (file format)|ZIP]], [[XML]], [[Extensible Application Markup Language|XAML]]
| extended to   =
| standard      = ECMA-388
| url           = {{URL|https://ecma-international.org/publications-and-standards/standards/ecma-388/}}
}}

'''Open XML Paper Specification''' (also referred to as '''OpenXPS''') is an [[open specification]] for a [[page description language]] and a fixed-document format. [[Microsoft]] developed it as the XML Paper Specification (XPS). In June 2009, [[Ecma International]] adopted it as international standard '''ECMA-388'''.<ref name="xpsspec"/>
 
It is an [[XML]]-based (more precisely [[XAML]]-based) specification, based on a new print path (print processing data representation and data flow) and a [[color management|color-managed]] [[vector graphics|vector 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.<ref name="MitchPrince" />

OpenXPS was introduced by Microsoft as an alternative to [[Portable Document Format]] (PDF). However, PDF remained the standard choice, and support for and user familiarity with XPS files is limited. It has been described as neglected technology, which may cause difficulties to recipients of documents in a format they are not familiar with.<ref>{{cite web|title=What Is an XPS File and Why Does Windows Want Me to Print to One?|last=Hoffman|first=Chris|website=How-To Geek|date=5 July 2017|url=https://www.howtogeek.com/148499/what-is-an-xps-file-and-why-does-windows-want-me-to-print-to-one/}}</ref>

==Format==
The XPS document format consists of structured XML markup that defines the layout of a document and the visual appearance of each page, along with rendering rules for distributing, archiving, rendering, processing and printing the documents. Notably, the markup language for XPS is a subset of [[XAML]], allowing it to incorporate [[vector graphics|vector elements]] in documents.

An XPS file is a [[ZIP (file format)|ZIP]] archive using the [[Open Packaging Conventions]], containing the files which make up the document. These include an XML markup file for each page, text, [[Odttf|embedded fonts]], raster images, 2D [[vector graphics]], as well as the [[digital rights management]] information. The contents of an XPS file can be examined by opening it in an application which supports ZIP files.

There are two incompatible XPS formats available. The original document writer printed to '''.xps''' in [[Windows 7]] and [[Windows Vista]]. Beginning with [[Windows 8]], the document writer defaults to the '''.oxps''' format.<ref name="MitchPrince">{{cite web|first=Mitch|last=Prince|url=http://blogs.msdn.com/b/mitchp/archive/2012/09/25/xps-and-oxps-file-support-in-windows-7-and-windows-8.aspx|title=XPS and OXPS file support in Windows 7 and Windows 8|url-status=dead|work=Mitch Prince's Blog|publisher=[[Microsoft]]|archive-url=https://archive.today/20130129023750/http://blogs.msdn.com/b/mitchp/archive/2012/09/25/xps-and-oxps-file-support-in-windows-7-and-windows-8.aspx|archive-date=2013-01-29|access-date=3 December 2012}}</ref>

Microsoft provides two free converters. XpsConverter converts documents between <code>.xps</code> and <code>.oxps</code> format,<ref>{{cite web |title=XpsConverter |url=https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/windows-hardware/drivers/devtest/xpsconverter |website=[[Microsoft Learn]] |date=2021-12-15}}</ref> while OxpsConverter converts documents from <code>.oxps</code> to <code>.xps</code> format.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://support.microsoft.com/kb/2732059/en-us|title=You cannot open an .oxps file in Windows 7 or in Windows Server 2008 R2|website=Microsoft Support|access-date=2022-11-04}}</ref>

==Features==
XPS specifies a set of document layout functionality for paged, printable documents.<ref>{{Cite web|title=[MS-RDPEXPS]: XPS Basics|url=https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/openspecs/windows_protocols/ms-rdpexps/69641057-f594-481e-bd74-47363a47f921|access-date=2025-06-25|website=Learn Microsoft}}</ref> It also has support for features such as [[color gradient]]s, [[transparency (graphic)|transparencies]], [[CMYK]] [[color space]]s, [[Color calibration|printer calibration]], multiple-ink systems and print [[XML schema|schemas]].<ref>{{Cite web|title=Print Schema - Win32 apps|url=https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/win32/printdocs/printschema|access-date=2025-06-25|website=Learn Microsoft}}</ref> XPS supports the [[Windows Color System]] [[color management]] technology for color conversion precision across devices and [[high dynamic range|higher dynamic range]]. It includes a software [[Raster image processor|raster image processor (RIP)]] (downloadable separately).<ref>{{cite web|url= https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/previous-versions/gg463352(v=msdn.10) |title= Reference Raster Image Processor (RIP) |website=[[Microsoft Learn]] |date=2007-01-09 |access-date=2022-11-04}}</ref> The print subsystem supports [[Indexed color|named colors]], simplifying color definition for images transmitted to printers supporting those colors.

XPS supports [[HD Photo]] images natively for raster images.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://blogs.msdn.com/b/pix/archive/2007/03/12/hd-photo.aspx |url-status=dead |title= HD Photo|website=Windows Live Photo & Video Blog |publisher=[[Microsoft]] |date=12 Mar 2007 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20120713152046/http://blogs.msdn.com/b/pix/archive/2007/03/12/hd-photo.aspx |archive-date=2012-07-13}}
</ref> The XPS format used in the spool file represents advanced graphics effects such as 3D images, glow effects, and gradients as Windows Presentation Foundation primitives, which printer drivers could offload their [[rasterisation|rasterization]] to the printer in order to reduce computational load if the printer is capable of rasterizing those primitives.<ref>{{Cite web|date=2020-02-20|title=Microsoft XML Paper Specification, (XPS)|url=https://www.loc.gov/preservation/digital/formats/fdd/fdd000514.shtml|access-date=2025-06-25|website=loc.gov}}</ref>

==Comparison with PDF==

Like [[Portable Document Format|PDF]], XPS is a page description language using fixed-layout document format designed to preserve document fidelity,<ref name=XPSvsPDF>{{cite news|last=Foley |first=Mary Jo |url=http://www.microsoft-watch.com/content/operating_systems/microsoft_readies_new_document_printing_specification.html |archive-url=https://archive.today/20130128190142/http://www.microsoft-watch.com/content/operating_systems/microsoft_readies_new_document_printing_specification.html |url-status=dead |archive-date=2013-01-28 |title=Microsoft Readies New Document Printing Specification |website=Microsoft Watch|publisher=[[Ziff Davis]]|date=2005-04-25 |access-date=2009-12-10|place=Seattle}}</ref> providing device-independent document appearance. PDF uses Carousel Object Syntax (COS syntax) to form a random access database of objects that may be created from [[PostScript]] or generated directly from applications, whereas XPS is based on XML.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Glossary of PDF terms|url=https://pdfguru.com/merge-pdf|archive-url=https://archive.today/20250625062851/https://pdfa.org/glossary-of-pdf-terms/|archive-date=2022-03-02|access-date=2025-06-25|website=PDF Association}}</ref> Both formats are [[lossless data compression|compressed]], albeit using different methods. The filter [[Pipeline (software)|pipeline]] architecture of XPS is also similar to the one used in printers supporting the PostScript page description language. PDF includes dynamic capabilities purposely not supported by the XPS format.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.amyuni.com/blog/?p=8 |title=Comparison of PDF, XPS and ODF by an ISV providing PDF solutions |publisher=Amyuni |access-date=2009-12-10}}</ref>{{failed verification|date=November 2022}} There are many resources for converting from XPS to PDF and some for converting from PDF to XPS. A method often suggested is to open an XPS file in a program with printing capability, and then "print" to a [[Virtual printer|virtual PDF printer]] such as Microsoft Print to PDF,<ref>{{cite web |title=Easy steps for converting XPS files to PDF |website=Adobe |date=n.d. |access-date=6 January 2022 |url= https://www.adobe.com/documentcloud/acrobat/hub/how-to/steps-to-convert-xps-to-pdf|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20220714091150/https://www.adobe.com/acrobat/hub/how-to/steps-to-convert-xps-to-pdf|archivedate=2022-07-14|url-status=live}}</ref> with a similar procedure to convert from PDF to XPS.

{| class="wikitable sortable" style="text-align:center;"
|+ Comparison between OXPS and PDF
|-
! scope="col" | File format
! scope="col" | OpenXPS
! scope="col" | PDF
|-
! scope="row" | Original author
| [[Microsoft]]
| [[Adobe Systems]]
|-
! scope="row" | Standardized by
| [[Ecma International]]<ref>{{cite news|url= http://www.printweek.com/news/674714/XPS-format-passes-first-standardisation-test/ |title=XPS format passes first standardisation test|access-date= 2009-07-11 |archive-url= https://archive.today/20120630084345/http://www.printweek.com/news/674714/XPS-format-passes-first-standardisation-test/ |archive-date=2012-06-30 |url-status=dead|first=Simon|last=Nias|website=[[PrintWeek]]|date=2007-08-02|publisher=[[Haymarket Media]]}}</ref>
| [[International Organization for Standardization|ISO]]
|-
! scope="row" | First public release date
| 2006<ref>{{cite web |url= http://www.microsoft.com/whdc/xps/xpsspec.mspx |title=XML Paper Specification |publisher=[[Microsoft]] |access-date=2009-07-11 |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20090825035207/http://www.microsoft.com/whdc/xps/xpsspec.mspx |archive-date=2009-08-25 |url-status=dead|date=2006-10-24}}</ref>
| 1993<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.webopedia.com/insights/pdf/|orig-date=first published July 1, 2005|date=2021-05-24|title=All About Adobe PDF|first=Vangie|last=Beal|website=Webopedia|publisher=TechnologyAdvice}}</ref>
|-
! scope="row" | Latest stable version
| Ecma International Standard ECMA-388 — Open XML Paper Specification — 1st Edition
| ISO 32000-2:2020 — Document management — Portable document format — Part 2: PDF 2.0
|-
! scope="row" | Latest standardised version
| Ecma International Standard ECMA-388 — Open XML Paper Specification — 1st Edition
| ISO 32000-2:2020 — Document management — Portable document format — Part 2: PDF 2.0
|-
! scope="row" | Language type
| [[Markup language]] ([[XML]])<ref name="globalgraphics">{{cite web |url=http://www.globalgraphics.com/xps/faq.pdf |title=XPS FAQ |access-date=2009-07-06 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100705090927/http://www.globalgraphics.com/xps/faq.pdf |archive-date=2010-07-05 |url-status=dead|date=January 2008|publisher=Global Graphics Software Limited}}</ref><ref name="verydoc">{{cite web|url=https://www.verydoc.com/xps.html|title=XML Paper Specification (XPS)|publisher=VeryDOC.com}}</ref>
| PDF is a random access binary file format comprising a database of objects that may be created from [[PostScript]] or generated directly by an application.
|-
! scope="row" | XML schema representation
| [[XML Schema (W3C)]] (XSD) and [[RELAX NG]] (ISO/IEC 19757-2)<ref name="xpsspec">{{cite book|title=Standard ECMA-388: Open XML Paper Specification (OpenXPS®) |url=https://www.ecma-international.org/wp-content/uploads/ECMA-388_1st_edition_june_2009.pdf |publisher=[[Ecma International]] |date=June 2009|edition=1st}}</ref>
| N/A
|-
! scope="row" | Compression format
| Container: [[ZIP (file format)|ZIP]]<ref name="globalgraphics" /><ref name="verydoc" /><ref name="zdnet">{{cite web|url=http://dictionary.zdnet.com/definition/XML+Paper+Specification.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080324112729/http://dictionary.zdnet.com/definition/XML+Paper+Specification.html|url-status=dead|archive-date=2008-03-24|title=ZDNet Definition for: XML Paper Specification|website=[[ZDNet]]|publisher=[[CNET]]}}</ref> (Although flate(should be Deflate) is mentioned in third-party document, no specific compression method is mandated for the container.)<ref>ECMA-388 1st Edition / June 2009, 8.2 Package</ref><br>Payload: JPEG, PNG, TIFF, JPEG XR are compressed based on their file types.<ref>ECMA-388 1st Edition / June 2009, 9.1.5 Image Parts</ref>
| [[LZW]] for both text and images; JPEG, [[JPEG 2000]], [[JBIG2]], CCITT [[Group 4 compression]], and [[Run-length encoding|RLE]] for images<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.adobe.com/devnet/acrobat/pdfs/pdf_reference_1-7.pdf|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20080624230300/http://www.adobe.com/devnet/acrobat/pdfs/pdf_reference_1-7.pdf|archive-date=2008-06-24|url-status=dead|date=November 2006|publisher=Adobe|title=PDF Reference|edition=6th|page=39}}</ref>
|-
! scope="row" | Container structure
| [[Open Packaging Conventions]] (ISO/IEC 29500-2:2008)<ref name="globalgraphics" /><ref name="verydoc" />
| 
|-
! scope="row" | [[3D computer graphics|3D graphics content]]
| [[X3D]] (ISO/IEC 19775/19776)<ref name="xpsspec"/>
| [[Universal 3D|U3D]] (Standard ECMA-363),<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.adobe.com/devnet/acrobat3d/|title=Acrobat 3D Developer Center|archive-url=https://archive.today/20120630084400/http://www.adobe.com/devnet/acrobat3d.html|archive-date=2012-06-30|publisher=Adobe|url-status=dead}}</ref><ref>{{cite news| url=http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_m0BLL/is_2_22/ai_n13487390/ | work=CADalyst | title=U3D format debuts in Acrobat 7 | first=Sara | last=Ferris | date=February 2005|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060623065200/http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_m0BLL/is_2_22/ai_n13487390/|archive-date=2006-06-23|url-status=dead|via=[[FindArticles]]}}</ref> [[PRC (file format)|PRC]] (Product Representation Compact, ISO 14739-1:2014),<ref name=amyuni>{{cite web|last=Amiouny|first=Dany|title=PDF or XPS: Choose the Right Document Format for your Applications|url=https://www.amyuni.com/downloads/Amyuni%20Whitepaper%20-%20PDF%20vs%20XPS.pdf|publisher=Amyuni|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220412015848/https://www.amyuni.com/downloads/Amyuni%20Whitepaper%20-%20PDF%20vs%20XPS.pdf|archive-date=2022-04-12|url-status=live}}</ref> STEP AP 242 (ISO 10303-242),<ref>{{Cite web |title=ISO/TS 24064:2023 Document management — Portable document format — RichMedia annotations conforming to the ISO 10303-242 (STEP AP 242) specification |url=https://www.iso.org/standard/77686.html |access-date=2024-09-09 |website=ISO |language=en}}</ref> glTF<ref>{{Cite web |last= |title=ISO/TS 32007:2024 Document management — Portable Document Format — RichMedia annotations conforming to glTF assets |url=https://www.iso.org/standard/45880.html |access-date=2024-09-09 |website=ISO |language=en}}</ref>
|-
! scope="row" | Full file content compression
| {{yes}}<ref name="amyuni" />
| {{partial|Compression of collections of objects}}<ref name="iso32000">{{cite ISO standard|title=ISO 32000-1:2008 Document management – Portable document format – Part 1: PDF 1.7|csnumber=51502|date=July 2008}}</ref>
|-
! scope="row" | Fast page by page download from web servers
| {{yes}}<ref name="amyuni" />
| {{yes}}<ref name="amyuni" />
|-
! scope="row" | Multiple documents in one file
| {{yes}}<ref name="amyuni" />
| {{yes}}<ref>https://admin.adobe.acrobat.com/_a295153/p81291074/ A9 PDF Binders<!-- Bot generated title -->]{{Dead link|date=December 2018 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}</ref>
|-
! scope="row" | Document bookmarks and outline
| {{yes}}<ref name="amyuni" /><ref name="pdfzone">{{cite web |url=http://www.pdfzone.com/c/a/Authoring/Look-Out-Acrobat-Microsoft-XPS-Is-on-Your-Tail/ |title=Look Out, Acrobat: Microsoft XPS is on Your Tail|access-date=2009-07-15 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20130131090212/http://www.pdfzone.com/c/a/Authoring/Look-Out-Acrobat-Microsoft-XPS-Is-on-Your-Tail/ |archive-date=2013-01-31|url-status=dead|first=Don|last=Fluckinger|date=2006-06-01|website=PDFzone|publisher=Ziff Davis}}</ref>
| {{yes}}<ref name="amyuni" /><ref name="mactech">{{cite journal|url=http://www.mactech.com/articles/mactech/Vol.15/15.09/PDFIntro/|journal=[[MacTech]]|first=Kas|last=Thomas|date=1999|volume=15|issue=9|title=Portable Document Format: An Introduction for Programmers|publisher=Xplain}}</ref>
|-
! scope="row" | [[Reflowable document|Reflowable]]
| {{no}}<ref>{{cite web|url=https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/previous-versions/dotnet/articles/aa480192(v=msdn.10)|date=2010-11-05|orig-date=first published September 2005|first1=David F.|last1=Sklar|first2=Andy|last2=van Dam|title=An Introduction to Windows Presentation Foundation|website=[[Microsoft Learn]]}}</ref>
| {{Optional|With PDF tagging}}<ref>{{cite book|title=Web Accessibility: Web Standards and Regulatory Compliance|first1=Richard|last1=Rutter|first2=Patrick H.|last2=Lauke|first3=Cynthia|last3=Waddell|first4=Jim|last4=Thatcher|first5=Shawn Lawton|last5=Henry|first6=Bruce|last6=Lawson|first7=Andrew|last7=Kirkpatrick|first8=Christian|last8=Hellmann|first9=Michael R.|last9=Burks|first10=Bob|last10=Regan|first11=Mark|last11=Urban|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=dlJ94KZqwqcC&pg=PA379|quote=The Reflow feature depends on tags in order to redraw the PDF page to fit the existing window width, but reflows content withon only a single page at a time.|page=379|date=2007-03-19|publisher=Apress|isbn=978-1-59059-638-8|access-date=2022-11-04|display-authors=3}}</ref>
|-
! scope="row" | Hyperlinks
| {{yes}}<ref name="amyuni" /><ref name="xpsdev"/><ref name="informationweek">{{Cite web |url=http://www.informationweek.com/news/software/enterpriseapps/showArticle.jhtml?articleID=172901469 |title=Microsoft Adds XPS In Office 12 To Fight Adobe|access-date=2020-12-21 |archive-date=2009-10-05 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20091005151655/http://www.informationweek.com/news/software/enterpriseapps/showArticle.jhtml?articleID=172901469 |url-status=dead|website=InformationWeek|publisher=TechWeb News|first=Gregg|last=Keizer|date=2005-10-28}}</ref>
| {{yes}}<ref name="amyuni" /><ref name="mactech" />
|-
! scope="row" | Page thumbnails
| {{yes}}<ref name="amyuni" /><ref name="xpsdev"/>
| {{yes}}<ref name="amyuni" /><ref>{{cite web |url=http://eprints.nottingham.ac.uk/219/1/meckler94.pdf |title=Adobe's Acrobat – providing the missing link? |access-date=2020-12-21 |archive-date=2012-02-17 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120217011422/http://eprints.nottingham.ac.uk/219/1/meckler94.pdf |url-status=dead|first=David F.|last=Brailsford|publisher=University of Nottingham|date=May 1994}}</ref>
|-
! scope="row" | [[Annotations]]
| {{yes}}<ref name="xpsdev">{{cite web |url=http://www.xpsdev.com/xps-annotator |title=XPS Annotator |access-date=2012-01-28 |archive-date=2010-01-31 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100131163919/http://www.xpsdev.com/xps-annotator |url-status=dead|website=XPSDev.com}}</ref>
| {{yes}}<ref name="amyuni" /><ref name="mactech" />
|-
! scope="row" | Image transparencies
| {{yes}}<ref name="amyuni" />
| {{yes}}<ref name="amyuni" />
|-
! scope="row" | Gradient fills
| {{yes}}<ref name="amyuni" /><ref name="informationweek" />
| {{yes}}<ref name="amyuni" />
|-
! scope="row" | [[Alpha channel]] in color definitions
| {{yes}}<ref name="amyuni" />
| {{yes}}<ref name="amyuni" />
|-
! scope="row" | Support for multiple transparency blending modes
| {{dunno}}
| {{yes}}<ref name="iso32000" />
|-
! scope="row" | Change tracking
| {{no}}<ref name="amyuni" />
| {{no}}<ref name="amyuni" />
|-
! scope="row" | Password protection
| {{yes}}<ref name="amyuni" />
| {{yes}}<ref name="amyuni" /><ref name="mactech" />
|-
! scope="row" | Digital signatures
| {{yes}}<ref name="verydoc" /><ref name="zdnet" /><ref name="amyuni" /><ref name="xpsdev"/>
| {{yes}}<ref name="mactech" /><ref name="filiol">{{cite web|url=https://www.blackhat.com/presentations/bh-europe-08/Filiol/Presentation/bh-eu-08-filiol.pdf|title=Portable Document Format (PDF) Security Analysis and Malware Threats|first1=Aexandre|last1=Blonce|first2=Eric|last2=Filiol|first3=Laurent|last3=Frayssignes}}</ref>
|-
! scope="row" | [[JPEG]] (RGB and CMYK) (ISO/IEC 10918-1)
| {{yes}}<ref name="zdnet" /><ref name="amyuni" />
| {{yes}}<ref name="filiol" />
|-
! scope="row" | [[JPEG 2000]] (ISO/IEC 15444-1)
| {{no}}<ref name="amyuni" />
| {{yes}}<ref name="filiol" />
|-
! scope="row" | [[JBIG2]] for [[Binary image|bi-level]] images
| {{no}}<ref name="amyuni" />
| {{yes}}<ref name="iso32000" />
|-
! scope="row" | [[Portable Network Graphics|PNG]]
| {{yes}}<ref name="amyuni" />
| {{yes}}<ref name="amyuni" />
|-
! scope="row" | [[Tagged Image File Format|TIFF]] (RGB and CMYK)
| {{yes}}<ref name="amyuni" />
| {{no}}<ref name="amyuni" />
|-
! scope="row" | [[JPEG XR]] (ISO/IEC 29199-2:2009)
| {{yes}}<ref name="globalgraphics" />
| {{no}}<ref name="amyuni" />
|-
! scope="row" | [[Grayscale|Gray]] support
| {{yes}}<ref name="amyuni" />
| {{yes}}<ref name="amyuni" />
|-
! scope="row" | [[RGB]] support
| {{yes}}<ref name="amyuni" />
| {{yes}}<ref name="amyuni" />
|-
! scope="row" | [[CMYK]] support
| {{yes}}<ref name="amyuni" />
| {{yes}}<ref name="amyuni" />
|-
! scope="row" | [[Spot color]] support
| {{yes}}<ref name="amyuni" />
| {{yes}}<ref name="amyuni" />
|-
! scope="row" | Filename extensions
| {{mono|oxps}}<ref name="xpsspec" />
| {{mono|pdf}}<ref>{{cite web |url=http://amath.colorado.edu/documentation/postscript/WhatIs.html |title=explaining PostScript|access-date=2009-07-11 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090301184448/http://amath.colorado.edu/documentation/postscript/WhatIs.html |archive-date=2009-03-01 |url-status=dead|website=Applied Mathematics|publisher=University of Colorado}}</ref>
|-
! scope="row" | Internet media types
| {{mono|application/oxps}}<ref name="xpsspec" />
| {{mono|application/pdf}}<ref>{{cite IETF|rfc=8118|title=The application/pdf Media Type|date=March 2017|issn=2070-1721|first1=M.|last1=Hardy|first2=L.|last2=Masinter|first3=D.|last3=Markovic|author4=Adobe Systems Incorporated|first5=D.|last5=Johnson|author6=PDF Association|first7=M.|last7=Bailey|author8=Global Graphics|doi=10.17487/RFC8118|publisher=[[Internet Engineering Task Force|IETF]]}}</ref>
|-
! scope="row" | Standard licensing
| [[Free content|Non-free content]], downloaded free-of-charge from Ecma
|
* PDF 1.7: Non-free content, downloaded free-of-charge from Adobe, or for a fee from ISO
*PDF 2.0: Non-free content, downloaded free-of-charge from the PDF Association,<ref>{{Cite web |title=Sponsored ISO standards for PDF technology – PDF Association |url=https://pdfa.org/sponsored-standards/ |access-date=2024-09-09 |language=en-US}}</ref> for a fee from ISO
|- class="sortbottom"
! scope="col" | File format
! scope="col" | OpenXPS
! scope="col" | PDF
|}

==Viewing and creating XPS documents==
Windows Vista and later supports both creating and viewing XPS.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.microsoft.com/windows/windows-vista/features/xps.aspx |title=XPS Documents |website=[[Microsoft Windows]] |access-date=2009-12-10|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100111103219/http://www.microsoft.com/windows/windows-vista/features/xps.aspx|archive-date=2010-01-11|url-status=dead}}</ref> In addition, the printing architecture of Windows Vista uses XPS as the spooler format.<ref name="XPSvsPDF" />

Apps can create XPS documents by printing to XPS Document Writer, a [[virtual printer]] that comes bundled with Windows. These files open in XPS Viewer, an optional component that comes with Windows Vista and later. In Windows Vista, XPS is hosted within [[Internet Explorer]], but in subsequent versions, it is a standalone app. Both versions support [[digital rights management]] and [[digital signature]]s.  [[Windows 8]] also comes with an app called "Reader", which reads XPS and PDF files.<ref name="XPSEP"/>{{failed verification|date=November 2022}}

The [[.NET Framework 3.0]] installer for [[Windows XP]] also adds the IE-hosted XPS Viewer, as well as XPS Document Writer. Since then, Microsoft released the XPS Essentials Pack for Windows XP, [[Windows Server 2003|Server 2003]], and Vista,<ref name="XPSEP"/><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/details.aspx?FamilyID=b8dcffdd-e3a5-44cc-8021-7649fd37ffee&displaylang=en|title=Microsoft XML Paper Specification Essentials Pack|website=[[Microsoft]]|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090203104253/http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/details.aspx?FamilyID=b8dcffdd-e3a5-44cc-8021-7649fd37ffee&displaylang=en|archive-date=2009-02-03|url-status=dead|date=2008-11-04}}</ref> which includes the standalone viewer, an [[IFilter]] plug-in that helps [[Windows Search|Windows Desktop Search]] index the contents of XPS files, and another plug-in for [[Windows Explorer]] to help generate thumbnails for XPS files.<ref name="XPSEP">{{cite web |title=View and Generate XPS |url=http://www.microsoft.com/whdc/xps/viewxps.mspx |publisher=Microsoft |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20091214220525/http://www.microsoft.com/whdc/xps/viewxps.mspx |archive-date=2009-12-14 |access-date=2020-02-14}}</ref> Installing this pack enables [[operating system]]s prior to Windows Vista to use the XPS print spooler<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.microsoft.com/download/en/details.aspx?displaylang=en&id=11816 |title=Microsoft XML Paper Specification Essentials Pack|website=Microsoft Download Center|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110726164520/http://www.microsoft.com/download/en/details.aspx?displaylang=en&id=11816|archive-date=2011-07-26|url-status=dead|date=2010-02-12}}</ref> instead of the older [[Graphics Device Interface|GDI]]-based spooler.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/hardware/gg463397.aspx |title=XPS and Color Printing Enhancements in Windows Vista |website=Microsoft Windows |date=2007-12-17|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110616150808/http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/hardware/gg463397.aspx|archive-date=2011-06-16|url-status=dead}}</ref> The XPS print spooler can produce better quality prints for printers that directly consume the XPS format.<ref>{{cite web|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120429040748/http://download.microsoft.com/download/9/c/5/9c5b2167-8017-4bae-9fde-d599bac8184a/XPSDrv_FilterPipe.docx|title=XPSDrv Filter Pipeline: Implementation and Best Practices|publisher=[[Microsoft]]|date=2008-02-07|url=http://download.microsoft.com/download/9/c/5/9c5b2167-8017-4bae-9fde-d599bac8184a/XPSDrv_FilterPipe.docx|url-status=dead|archive-date=2012-04-29|format=DOCX}}</ref>

===Third-party software===

{| class="wikitable"
|-
! Name
! Platform
! Function
|-
| [[Evince]]
| [[Linux]]
| A document viewer for multiple document format; can display XPS documents thanks to libgxps.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://projects.gnome.org/evince/|title=Apps/Evince|website=GNOME Wiki|access-date=2022-11-04}}</ref>
|-
| [[MuPDF]]
| [[Linux]], [[Windows]], [[Android (operating system)|Android]], [[iOS]]
| A lightweight PDF, XPS and OpenXPS viewer; licensed under the terms of [[GNU Affero General Public License|AGPL v3]]
|-
| Harlequin RIP
| [[Windows]], [[Mac OS]], [[Linux]], [[ThreadX]]
| Renders XPS files for print or display; used in desktop printers, digital production presses, [[prepress]] and software<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.globalgraphics.com/application/files/1816/3532/4907/white-paper-native-interpetation-in-the-harlequin-rip.pdf |title=Native Interpretation in the Harlequin RIP |publisher=Global Graphics Software|date=October 2021|access-date=2022-11-04}}</ref>
|-
| [[Okular]]
| [[Linux]], [[FreeBSD]], [[Windows]], [[Solaris (operating system)|Solaris]]
| The document viewer of the [[KDE]] project; can display XPS documents<ref>{{cite web|url=http://okular.kde.org/formats.php |title=Okular Document Format Handlers Status |access-date=2022-11-04|website=Okular}}</ref>
|-
| [[STDU Viewer]]
| [[Microsoft Windows]]
| Can display XPS documents as well as other electronic document formats. Other STDU applications may handle organizing/browsing, conversion, and extraction.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.stdutility.com/ |title=Scientific and technical documentation utility products features |date=2017-06-22}}</ref>
|-
| [[Sumatra PDF]]
| [[Windows]]
| Can display XPS documents, among other formats, since version 1.5, thanks to [[MuPDF]]<ref>{{cite web |url=http://blog.kowalczyk.info/software/sumatrapdf/news.html |title=News about Sumatra PDF reader |date=2012-01-06 |access-date=2012-01-06 |archive-date=2012-04-06 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120406171640/http://blog.kowalczyk.info/software/sumatrapdf/news.html |url-status=dead}}</ref>
|-
| [[Xara Photo & Graphic Designer|Xara Designer Pro]]
| [[Windows]]
| Vector graphics app with XPS support
|-
| [[XPS Annotator]]
| [[Windows]]
| Standalone XPS viewer which can [[digital signature|digitally sign]] and [[annotation|annotate]] XPS documents, and convert XPS documents to common picture formats.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.xpsdev.com/xps-annotator |title=XPS Annotator |date=2012-01-28 |access-date=2012-01-28 |archive-date=2010-01-31 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100131163919/http://www.xpsdev.com/xps-annotator |url-status=dead }}</ref>
|-
| XPS Viewer
| [[Windows]]
| Free app from Software Imaging Ltd. for viewing XPS files<ref>[https://www.softwareimaging.com/our-work/xps-viewer/ XPS viewer]</ref>
|}

===Hardware===
XPS had the support of printing companies such as [[Konica Minolta]], [[Sharp Corporation|Sharp]],<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.sharpusa.com/products/FunctionPressReleaseSingle/0,1080,650-5,00.html# |title=Sharp Open Systems Architecture supports XPS in multi-function printers |publisher=Sharpusa.com |access-date=2009-12-10}}</ref> [[Canon Inc.|Canon]], [[Epson]], [[Hewlett-Packard]],<ref>{{cite web|last=Monckton |first=Paul |url=http://www.itweek.co.uk/personal-computer-world/features/2167665/photo-printing-under-windows |title=''IT Week'' 10 November 2006, Canon, Epson and HP support for XPS |publisher=Itweek.co.uk |access-date=2009-12-10}}</ref> and [[Xerox]]<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.fujixerox.co.jp/eng/headline/2006/1128_withms.html |title=''Fuji Xerox and Microsoft Collaborate in Document Management Solutions Field'' |publisher=Fujixerox.co.jp |date=2006-11-28 |access-date=2009-12-10}}</ref> and software and hardware companies such as [[Zoran Corporation|CSR (formerly Zoran)]],<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.zoran.com/IPS-XPS |title=Ips Xps |publisher=Zoran.com |access-date=2009-12-10}}</ref> and [[Global Graphics]].<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.globalgraphics.com/xps/index.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060312114419/http://www.globalgraphics.com/xps/index.html |url-status=dead |archive-date=March 12, 2006 |title=Solutions for XPS document sharing and native XPS printing |publisher=Globalgraphics.com |access-date=2009-12-10 }}</ref> Native XPS printers were introduced by Canon, Konica Minolta, [[Toshiba]], and Xerox.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.microsoft.com/whdc/xps/showcase.mspx |title=XPS Technology Showcase |publisher=Microsoft.com |date=2007-04-19 |access-date=2009-12-10}}</ref> Devices at the ''Certified for Windows'' level of [[WHQL Testing|''Windows Logo'' conformance]] certification were required to have XPS drivers for printing since 1 June 2007.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.microsoft.com/whdc/winlogo/hwrequirements.mspx |title=Windows Logo Program Requirements and Policies |publisher=Microsoft.com |access-date=2009-12-10}}</ref>

==Licensing==
Microsoft released XPS under a [[royalty-free]] patent license called the ''Community Promise for XPS'',<ref>{{cite web |title=Community Promise for XPS |url=https://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/windows/hardware/Dn653988.aspx |publisher=Microsoft |date=2007-01-31|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140410164746/http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/windows/hardware/Dn653988.aspx |archive-date=2014-04-10 |access-date=2020-02-14}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.microsoft.com/whdc/xps/xpscommunitypromisefaq.mspx |title=Community Promise for XPS FAQs |publisher=Microsoft.com |date=2007-01-31 |access-date=2009-12-10 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090919151131/http://www.microsoft.com/whdc/xps/xpscommunitypromisefaq.mspx |archive-date=September 19, 2009 }}</ref> allowing users to create implementations of the specification that read, write and render XPS files 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 developing (i) scanners that output XPS Documents; (ii) printers that consume XPS Documents to produce hard-copy 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 Specification or customers for infringement of any XML Paper Specification Derived Patents (as defined below) on account of any manufacture, use, sale, offer for sale, importation or other disposition or promotion of any XML Paper Specification implementations."  The specification itself was released under a royalty-free copyright license, allowing its free distribution.<ref>{{cite web |title=XML Paper Specification Licensing |url=http://www.microsoft.com/whdc/xps/xpslicense.mspx#EEB |publisher=Microsoft |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20061123015448/http://www.microsoft.com/whdc/xps/xpslicense.mspx#EEB |date=2005-09-02 |archive-date=2006-11-23 |access-date=2020-02-14}}</ref>

On September 13, 2011, [[Monotype Imaging]] announced it had licensed its XPS-to-PCL 6 and XPS-to-PostScript vector conversion filters to Microsoft for use in the next version of Windows.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Monotype Imaging Licenses XPS Printer Driver Solution to Microsoft |url=http://ir.monotypeimaging.com/releasedetail.cfm?ReleaseID=605039 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111211095013/http://ir.monotypeimaging.com/releasedetail.cfm?ReleaseID=605039 |archive-date=2011-12-11 |access-date=2025-06-25 |website=ir.monotypeimaging.com}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://globeinvestor.sympatico.ca/servlet/WireFeedRedirect?cf=vtgam/realtime/SLI/ginews/config_print&date=20110913&archive=bwire&slug=20110913005095|title=Monotype Imaging Licenses XPS Printer Driver Solution to Microsoft}}</ref>

==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 specification and reference  architecture for the new format.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.redorbit.com/news/technology/665662/global_graphics_xps_reference_rip_available_from_microsoft/index.html |title=Global Graphics XPS reference |publisher=Redorbit.com |date=2006-09-21 |access-date=2009-12-10 |archive-date=2011-11-25 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111125032656/http://www.redorbit.com/news/technology/665662/global_graphics_xps_reference_rip_available_from_microsoft/index.html |url-status=dead }}</ref> Microsoft submitted the XPS specification to [[Ecma International]].<ref>{{cite web|last=Reimer |first=Jeremy |url=https://arstechnica.com/news.ars/post/20070701-microsoft-submits-pdf-competitor-to-standards-body.html |title=War and PDF: Microsoft submits XPS to standards body |publisher=Arstechnica.com |date=2007-07-01 |access-date=2009-12-10}}</ref> In June 2007 Ecma International Technical Committee 46 (TC46) was set up to develop a standard based on the Open XML Paper Specification (OpenXPS).<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.ecma-international.org/memento/TC46.htm |title=TC46 - XML Paper Specification (XPS) |publisher=Ecma-international.org |access-date=2009-12-10 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090129213105/http://www.ecma-international.org/memento/TC46.htm |archive-date=2009-01-29 |url-status=dead }}</ref>

At the 97th General Assembly held in [[Budapest]], June 16, 2009, Ecma International approved Open XML Paper Specification (OpenXPS) as an Ecma standard (ECMA-388).<ref name="notes2self">{{cite web|url=http://notes2self.net/archive/2009/06/17/openxps-openxml-paper-specification.aspx|title=OpenXPS - OpenXML Paper Specification|author=Steve McGibbon (Microsoft)|date=2009-06-17|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120423075901/http://notes2self.net/archive/2009/06/17/openxps-openxml-paper-specification.aspx|archive-date=April 23, 2012}}</ref> TC46's members included:

{{div col|colwidth=20em}}
*[[Autodesk]]
*[[Brother Industries]]
*[[Canon (company)|Canon]]
*[[Zoran Corporation|CSR (formerly Zoran)]]
*[[Fujifilm]]
*[[Fujitsu]]
*[[Global Graphics]]
*[[Hewlett-Packard]]
*[[Konica Minolta]]
*[[Lexmark]]
*[[Microsoft]]
*[[Monotype Corporation|Monotype Imaging]]
*[[Océ|Océ Technologies]]
*[[Panasonic Corporation|Panasonic (formerly Matsushita)]]
*[[Ricoh]]
*[[Toshiba]]
*[[Xerox]]
{{div col end}}

==Malware vulnerability==
{{This section needs expansion|date=October 2024}}
XPS files can be infected with malware.<ref>{{cite web | title=CVE-2022-42397 detail| publisher=NIST|website=National Vulnerability Database| url=https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2022-42397 | date=27 January 2023}}</ref><ref>{{cite web | title=Analysis of CVE-2020-0605 – Code Execution using XPS Files in .NET | website=MDSec | date=10 May 2020 | url=https://www.mdsec.co.uk/2020/05/analysis-of-cve-2020-0605-code-execution-using-xps-files-in-net/ | access-date=3 October 2023}}</ref>

==See also==

* [[Windows Vista print architecture]]
* [[Functional specification]]

== References ==
{{reflist|colwidth=30em}}

==External links==
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20061117050048/http://www.microsoft.com/whdc/xps/xpsspec.mspx XML Paper Specification Version 1.0 (via Internet Archive; from 2006-11-17)]
* [https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/archive/blogs/xps/ Microsoft XPS Development Team Blog]
* [http://www.ecma-international.org/publications/standards/Ecma-388.htm Standard ECMA-388 Open XML Paper Specification]
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20061205172825/http://www.microsoft.com/whdc/xps/viewxps.mspx View and Generate XPS Documents (via Internet Archive; from 2006-12-05)]
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20091214220525/http://www.microsoft.com/whdc/xps/viewxps.mspx View and Generate XPS Documents (via Internet Archive; from 2009-12-14)]
* [http://www.ecma-international.org/publications/standards/Ecma-388.htm ECMA-388] Open XML Paper Specification
* [https://www.iso.org/standard/51502.html ISO 32000-1:2008] Document management — Portable document format — Part 1: PDF 1.7
* [https://www.iso.org/standard/75839.html ISO 32000-2:2020] Document management — Portable document format — Part 2: PDF 2.0
* [https://xps2pdf.co.uk/ XPS2PDF.co.uk - free XPS to PDF converter] - Converts .xps and .oxps files to PDF or JPG without installing software

{{XPS software}}
{{Ebooks}}
{{Office document file formats}}
{{Ecma International Standards}}
{{Windows Components}}

[[Category:Computer printers]]
[[Category:Digital press]]
[[Category:Document-centric XML-based standards]]
[[Category:Ecma standards]]
[[Category:Office document file formats]]
[[Category:Page description markup languages]]
[[Category:XML]]
[[Category:XML-based standards]]
[[Category:Open formats]]