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Created as an alternative to the Adobe Acrobat PDF file type, the Microsoft XML Paper Specification, or XPS, format is a write-protected medium used to share documents online. Like Adobe's PDF file format, Microsoft's XPS format enables you to share your business's documentation online, while preventing others from altering the content of those documents. While there are several XPS-viewers supported by Windows, opening an XPS file on a Mac requires that you either view it online or use a Mac-enabled XPS reader such as NiXPS, which you can download as a free trial.
Opening in Google Drive
1.Log in to your Google Drive account using your Google username and password. If you do not have a Google account, create one by clicking the 'Sign Up' button on the Google Drive homepage (link in Resources).
3.Browse for an XPS file on your computer and select 'Open.' A progress bar displays your upload. After upload is complete, select the file in your Google Drive home screen to view the file.
Opening With NiXPS View
1.Download and install the trial version of NiXPS View (link in Resources). Note that the trial version of the program can open only the first three pages of an XPS file; to see more pages, you need to purchase the program.
2.Launch NiXPS View, click the 'File' menu and select 'Open.'
3.Browse for an XPS file stored on your computer and click 'Open.'
Pagemark XPS Viewer
1.Download and install the Pagemark XPS Viewer for Mac platforms (link in Resources). The demo version of the program opens the first three pages of an XPS file, enabling you to test the program's usability.
3.Click 'File,' then 'Open.' Navigate to a saved XPS file on your computer and click 'Open.'
Warnings
- If you are running Mac OS X 10.8 Mountain Lion or OS X Lion 10.7.5, you may need to allow Gatekeeper to install the Pagemark XPS Viewer. Apps developed by an unknown developer -- meaning without a registered Developer ID -- will not install on your Mac unless you change the Gatekeeper settings to allow the installation. Access the Gatekeeper settings in the 'Apple' menu by clicking 'System Preferences,' then selecting 'Security & Privacy' and clicking on the 'General' tab. Change the 'Allow applications downloaded from' setting to 'Anywhere.'
- Apple recommends to only download and install apps that are digitally signed to prevent the spread of malware and other programs that may adversely affect your Mac.
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About the Author
Anthony Oster is a licensed professional counselor who earned his Master of Science in counseling psychology at the University of Southern Mississippi. He has served as a writer and lead video editor for a small, South Louisiana-based video production company since 2007. Oster is the co-owner of a professional photography business and advises the owner on hardware and software acquisitions for the company.
Photo Credits
- Sean Gallup/Getty Images News/Getty Images
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Oster, Anthony. 'How to Open an XPS on a Mac.' Small Business - Chron.com, http://smallbusiness.chron.com/open-xps-mac-56463.html. Accessed 05 September 2019.
Oster, Anthony. (n.d.). How to Open an XPS on a Mac. Small Business - Chron.com. Retrieved from http://smallbusiness.chron.com/open-xps-mac-56463.html
Oster, Anthony. 'How to Open an XPS on a Mac' accessed September 05, 2019. http://smallbusiness.chron.com/open-xps-mac-56463.html
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The XPS format is Microsoft’s alternative to PDF. It was introduced in Windows Vista, but never gained much traction. However, modern versions of Windows continue to include better support for XPS files than PDF files.
Once regarded as a possible “PDF killer,” the XPS file format now lives on in Windows seemingly out of sheer inertia. The average person should stay away from XPS files and use PDF files instead.
Note: If you’re using Windows 10, they’ve finally added built-in support for printing to PDF files, so you will hopefully never need to deal with an XPS format file again. Continue reading the following for posterity and use PDF instead of XPS.
What’s an XPS File?
Think of an XPS file like a PDF (or PostScript) file. An XPS file represents a document with a fixed layout, just as a PDF file does. XPS also includes support for other features that you’d find in PDF, like digital signatures and DRM.
RELATED:How to Print to PDF in Windows: 4 Tips and Tricks
XPS is now technically a standardized, open format – it stands for Open XML Paper Specification. XPS is an open format in the same way “Office Open XML” is an open, standardized format for Microsoft Office documents. Other software companies haven’t jumped to include XPS support.
By default, Windows 8 uses the OXPS file extension for XPS files it generates. OXPS stands for OpenXPS – it’s the standardized version of the original XPS format. It’s actually not compatible with the XPS Viewer included with Windows 7, so you have to convert OXPS files to XPS if you want to view them on Windows 7.
In short, an XPS file is Microsoft’s less-compatible version of a PDF file.
XPS Functionality Included With Windows
Windows Vista, Windows 7, and Windows 8 all include built-in XPS tools. Even Windows 8 has better support for XPS files than it does for PDFs.
- Microsoft XPS Document Writer: Microsoft installs a virtual printer named “Microsoft XPS Document Writer.” This printer creates XPS files from documents you print to it. It’s like a “print to PDF” feature, but less useful because it’s not as compatible with other software.
- XPS Viewer: The included XPS Viewer application allows you to view XPS documents on your desktop.
While Windows 8 touts better support for PDFs because of its Modern “Reader” app, you will need a third-party app if you want to view PDF files on the desktop or print to PDF files.
When Should You Use XPS Files?
While XPS was regarded as a possible “PDF killer” when it was included with Windows Vista six years ago, it never became very popular. Even though Windows prods its users into printing to XPS files rather than PDF files by including the XPS Document Writer printer, few users seem to create XPS files.
It’s unclear why you’d actually want to create an XPS file instead of a PDF file, unless you need to print a document to a file and can’t install a PDF printer. Microsoft has certainly not been making a case for XPS files being better than PDF files and has been silent on any reason to use them in recent years. In fact, Windows 8’s inclusion of a PDF viewer can be seen as Microsoft taking a step back, introducing support for a competing document format.
![Microsoft Xps Document Writer Drivers For Mac Microsoft Xps Document Writer Drivers For Mac](/uploads/1/2/6/0/126030348/779253134.jpg)
While the advantages of printing to XPS files are unclear, the disadvantages are fairly clear. The world has largely standardized on PDF files, while XPS files remain little-used. If you’re trying to send someone a document, you can bet they’ll be familiar with PDF files and will be able to open it. An XPS file may look unfamiliar and the recipient may not be able to open the file. For example, Macs don’t include built-in XPS file support, but they do include built-in PDF support. Many other programs may support PDF files, but won’t support XPS files. There are third-party viewer applications that can read XPS files, but support is nowhere near as common.
What Is Microsoft Xps Document Writer
In summary, you probably don’t want to use XPS files for your personal documents. XPS seems neglected, like another Microsoft technology introduced around the same time: Silverlight. Silverlight was supposed to be Microsoft’s “Flash killer,” but it’s now being set aside. Just as Silverlight failed to replace Flash, XPS can’t seem to replace PDF.
READ NEXTCannot Install Microsoft Xps Document Writer
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