Skip to main content

XPS Documents- Alternative to PDF


Microsoft XPS Logo/ Icon


An XML Paper Specification (XPS) is a document format that you can use to share documents with others. Except few dissimilarities, it is exactly similar to a PDF document. More than a year back, I discussed about PDF file and I've also discussed about how to create PDF file. Today I'd like to talk about XPS. 


Applies to: 
  • Windows 7 
  • Windows 8
  • Windows 8.1


Though XPS is also available with Windows Vista since 2006, still this is not a popular way of sharing documents due to the widely accepted PDF documents. PDF is being used for a long time. Thousands of tools (either Premium, Freeware, Shareware or even Open Source) are available throughout the web for handling PDF documents.

You should notice, PDF viewer is available with any smart phone, tablet, laptop or desktop. It is supported by any operating system. But XPS is not so cheap. It's exclusive for Windows Vista or Above. And that's why it is not a widely accepted medium of sharing documents. 


While most of the people even don't know about XPS document, I really enjoy storing my files in xps format. Believe me- this is safe too! Because a Windows XP user can't open your XPS file normally. You can easily store your information in XPS format and upload these to internet


How to Create XPS Document? 

If you can create PDF documents, then creating XPS is nothing serious for you. But if you don't know how to create PDF, then first you should read this. This will help you to be familiar with the necessary steps.  

By the way I'm showing you how to create XPS documents. Follow the steps below:
  1. Press Ctrl + P from any program you want to create PDF from.
  2. Create Printer > Choose Microsoft XPS Document Writer.
  3. Hit on the Print Button.
  4. Name the file and choose the destination where it should be printed.
  5. Finally hit the Save Button. Your file is ready.
Note: Look at the Save as Type in step 4. You can choose either .xps or .oxps. 


How to View XPS Document? 

To view XPS document, you have XPS Viewer with Windows 7. And in Windows 8 or 8.1, you have XPS Viewer and Windows Reader. Without XPS viewer, you can't open this type of file. 



How to Use XPS Document? 

I never recommend to use XPS document for sharing files with others. Because you know XPS is still unknown or unavailable to most of the people. In case of sharing files, PDF is better. But while sharing an exclusive file, XPS is a better choice for sure. 

You can store your personal information through xps files. You can also upload those files online. This works like printed papers. Like printed files, XPS file doesn't allow you to change the contents easily. So you can protect your contents from alteration or overwriting. 


After reading this article, hopefully you got a better idea about XPS Dcoment, XPS Document Writer and XPS Viewer. Still if you have any query just knock me. I'm ready to reply to your comments . . . :)



Stay with Marks PC Solution to get more interesting IT topics!

Comments

Popular posts from this blog

GTA San Andreas Cheat Code (PDF)

After Vice City, San Andreas is the most popular game released by Grand Theft Auto (GTA). Usually GTA releases role playing game. San Andreas is such a game where you can act like a person. You can do everything. You have to take part in missions and complete them.  To make your missions easier, there are lots of cheat codes. If you can properly apply these codes, the tough parts of the game will be easier. Cheat codes are somewhat like keyboard shortcuts of computer programs.  I've shared 63 cheat codes below. There were more cheat codes in my collection, but I've omitted the less important cheats. Effects or result of the cheats are on the left side, and the codes are on the right side.  You can copy the following codes in your PC. And for your convenience, I've also uploaded a PDF file of these codes. You will find the download link at the bottom.  Effect Cheat Code Adrenaline Mode MUNASEF All Cars Explode ALL...

Joining Texts from Multiple Cells in Excel

  Programs like MS Excel is full of functions. There are many useful functions that we don't use or we don't know about. One of them is CONCATENATE. It means joining or linking. With this function you can join texts from multiple cells. Let's see how . . . Suppose you're working in an Excel Worksheet where you need to combine texts from different cells. I'm gonna show you an example. Let's consider the image below -    What do you see ? I've imputed First Name and Last Name. In Full Name column I've used the formula i.e. CONCATENATE. And in the last column I've added Mr. with the full name.    So how do you use this formula ? Here it is -  =CONCATENATE(A2," ",B2) Observe it carefully. You can add more than 02 cells with this functions. Here I've just used 02 cells. You may think what is this " " for ? You may notice that there is a space between the two i.e. " & ".  If you don't use " " then you...

Running Total/ Cumulative Sum in Excel

  Hey Guys! You should have noticed that I'm writing on MS Excel for last few days! To be honest I'm trying to learn some simple and useful tricks of Excel. And I'm also trying to share my knowledge with you. In this post I've come with such a little trick which maybe very useful if you face such situation. Let's begin . . .    Running Total/ Cumulative Sum It means the summation of numbers in a list and it will be updated each time when a number is added or changes. Look at the image below -    Look at the image. There are two columns with numbers. The first one is simply the number list. But the 2nd one is the summation of the list. Each time a new number is added to the first column the second one shows the summation. How to do this?  It's not a magic. Very simple sum formula is used to perform this task. But there is a little trick. You just need to lock the first cell and then every time it will update the running total list.  Here is my list. Sim...