What is a .XPS file?
An XPS file, which stands for XML Paper Specification File, is a type of document that captures the layout, appearance, and printing details of a page in a fixed format. This means that the content of the document, including text and images, will appear the same way on any device, similar to a PDF file. However, XPS is a format developed by Microsoft and is based on XML, unlike PDF which is based on PostScript.
To create an XPS file, you can use the Microsoft XPS Document Writer. This option is available when you choose to print a document from your computer; instead of printing on paper, you select Microsoft XPS Document Writer, and it saves your document as an XPS file. Once a document is saved in this format, it cannot be edited, but you can still open and view it.
There are several programs that can open XPS files: - **Microsoft XPS Viewer**: This is a program included in older versions of Windows (from Windows Vista to Windows 10) that allows you to open, view, and manage XPS files. In newer versions of Windows 10 and Windows 11, it is not included by default but can be added as an optional feature. - **KDE Okular**: A universal document viewer that can open XPS files, available on systems running KDE. - **MuPDF**: A lightweight PDF and XPS viewer. - **Microsoft Reader**: Another Microsoft program that can open XPS files, though it has been discontinued. - **XPS Annotator**: A program specifically designed for annotating XPS files, but it is also discontinued. - **NiXPS View and NiXPS Edit**: Tools for viewing and editing XPS files. - **Google Drive**: You can view XPS files on Google Drive through web browsers on different platforms like iOS, Android, and Chrome OS.
The XPS format was initially created to replace the Enhanced Metafile (EMF) format and offers a fixed document layout that ensures documents appear the same on any device. This makes it useful for sharing documents when you want to preserve the exact look of the original document.
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