Open XML Paper Specification

XPS (the "XML Paper Specification", formerly codenamed "Metro" and subsuming the Next Generation Print Path (NGPP) marketing concept) is Microsoft's initiative to integrate document creation and viewing into its Windows operating system. The specification itself describes the formats and rules for distributing, archiving, rendering, and processing XPS documents. Most notably, XPS uses the Windows Presentation Foundation, so that the methods used for rendering for display in Windows are the same as those used for rendering for print devices.

XPS is viewed as a potential competitor to Adobe's portable document format (PDF). XPS however is a static document format that does not include dynamic capabilities similar to those of PDF.

XPS is scheduled to be shipped with Microsoft's Windows Vista and enjoys the support of office printing system heavyweights such as Canon, Epson, Hewlett-Packard, Ricoh and Xerox.

External links

• XML Paper Specification
• Software Imaging :: XPS & Windows Vista