What is an XPS (XML Paper Specification) file generated by Microsoft Word?

XPS (XML Paper Specification) is file format originally developed by Microsoft. Later it was standardized by Ecma International as international standard ECMA-388 with a new name, Open XML Paper Specification, or OpenXPS.

OpenXPS is based on a new print path and a color-managed vector-based document format which supports device independence and resolution independence. It 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.

As of June 16, 2009, OpenXPS became a open standard document format.

Features of OpenXPS:

• OpenXPS is an subset of XAML (Extensible Application Markup Language).
• OpenXPS is actually a ZIP archive containing many files which make up the original document. These include an XML markup file for each page, text, embedded fonts, raster images, 2D vector graphics, as well as the digital rights management information.

⇒ Unzip XPS (XML Paper Specification) File Generated by Word

⇐ Convert Word Documents into XPS Files

⇑ Converting Microsoft Word to/from Other Format

⇑⇑ MS Word - Frequently Asked Questions