Microsoft loves to pioneer stuff but more than that they like to steal ummmm borrow ideas and tweak them to make them better errr umm slightly diferent enough to grab a patent!
It seems according to Microsoft Here they have a PDF like file type built into VISTA. Has anyone else heard of this?
The XML Paper Specification (XPS) makes modern documents possible for all. Simply put, XPS describes electronic paper in a way that can be read by hardware, read by software, and read by humans. With XPS, documents print better, can be shared easier, be archived with confidence, and are more secure.
Microsoft has integrated XPS-based technologies into the 2007 Microsoft Office system and the Microsoft Windows Vista operating system, but XPS itself is platform independent, openly published, and available royalty-free. Microsoft is using XPS to bring additional document value to its customers, its partners, and the computing industry.
Explore some of the features and functionality made possible by XPS.
Get Started
In Windows Vista XPS document features are already in place. You can generate XPS files from any application by printing and selecting the Microsoft XPS Document Writer as the printer. You can view XPS documents by simply double-clicking. They will automatically open inside an XPS viewer.
For earlier versions of the Windows operating system, download the Microsoft XPS Document Writer (here) to generate XPS files from any Windows application and an XPS viewer to see the results.
Integrate XPS in Your Application
Your application can seamlessly integrate with enterprise-wide workflows by implementing XPS publish, import, and view functionality. The Windows SDK and .NET Framework 3.0 provide the APIs to enable you to use XPS technologies in your Windows Presentation Foundation (WPF) application.
The Windows Vista print sub-system was optimized to recognize and process XPS documents. By implementing XPS in your application, your customers can experience print quality previously found only in high-end graphic arts applications.
The XML Paper Specification is designed to simultaneously support innovation and format consistency so you can build custom implementations that have a safety-net of backward compatibility. This gives you the freedom to decide how and why to implement XPS in your application completely on your terms.
