Mitch Prince's Blog

XPS and OXPS file support in Windows 7 and Windows 8

2012-09-25T15:52:58Z

The XMLPaper Specification (XPS) was originally created by Microsoft and then adopted by ECMA TC46 as ECMA-388, the Open XML Paper Specification. This is also referred to as OpenXPS. XPS has the file extension of XPS and OpenXPS uses the OXPS file extension. These two file formats aren’t the same. Windows Vista and Windows 7 both contain support to view and create XPS files. You can choose to print to the “Microsoft XPS Document Writer” (MXDW) to create an XPS file and use the XPS
Viewer to view them.

Windows 8 can view and create both XPS and OXPS files. See OpenXPS Support in Windows. The “Microsoft XPS Document Writer” defaults to creating an OXPS file. When creating a document, you can choose which file type to create when you are prompted for the filename. You can change this default using the group policy editor or use PowerShell as described in Changing the Default Format for Microsoft XPS Document Writer.

You can’t view an OXPS file on earlier versions of Windows (i.e Windows 7, Vista, or WinXP) because, these operating systems only support XPS. If you try and open an OXPS file in the XPS Viewer, you will get the error “The XPS Viewer cannot open this
document”. You can’t simply rename the OXPS file to XPS because, these formats aren’t exactly the same. If you try this, you will get the same error. These formats are compared in the OpenXPS Document Comparison Result (Open XPS Format) paper.

The Microsoft XML Paper Specification Essentials Pack (version 1.2) provides support for Vista and Windows XP to view and create XPS files but, not OXPS files.

However, you can use the XpsConverter utility to convert OXPS files to the XPS file format. The Windows Driver Kit 8 (WDK) which used to be called the DDK, describes the XpsConverter tool. This tool isn’t included in WDK 7.

XPS Converter (XpsConverter.exe) is a command-line tool for converting XML Paper Specification (XPS) documents from Microsoft XPS (MSXPS) to standardized OpenXPS, and from OpenXPS to Microsoft XPS (MSXPS). When you install the WDK, the
XPSConverter.exe file is placed in the %programfiles%\Windows Kits\8.0\bin\<arch> or %programfiles(86)%\Windows Kits\8.0\bin\<arch> directories.

Here’s the syntax to convert an OXPS file to the XPS format:

XpsConverter /XPS /InputFile=sample.oxps /OutputFile=sample.xps

SharePoint 2013 - Training and Published Resources

2012-08-14T15:08:00Z

For those of you that are interested in getting up to speed on SharePoint 2013, you maybe interested in the following collection of technical resources that we have published recently when we released SharePoint 2013 Preview. Rather than having to dig around looking for all of these, I have collected these together for you to help you start your SharePoint 2013 training roadmap:

Training
Information on TechNet and MSDN
Software and SDK downloads
Visio diagrams
Key articles that will be of interest to ITPros and Developers.

SharePoint 2013 Preview Technical Resources

Now available on MSDN: deep training on SharePoint Server 2013! These multi-module, comprehensive training sessions are available for IT pros and developers.

SharePoint 2013 training for IT pros

http://bit.ly/PigeB8 or http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/sharepoint/Fp123606

Here are the videos of all sessions for this training course. These were based on information a little before Beta 2 shipped. Learn to deliver collaborative capabilities with the new SharePoint, Project, and Visio. Also learn how to efficiently share, build, and organize project work within your team.

For background on this class see the following blog post by one of my fellow course instructors:

http://blogs.msdn.com/b/vesku/archive/2012/07/17/sharepoint-2013-it-pro-and-developer-training-materials-released.aspx

Developer training

http://bit.ly/MXe9Lm or http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-US/office/apps/fp123626

Developer-focused how to training and walkthrough videos about Office 2013 and SharePoint 2013 including changes and new features for search, social, ECM, WCM, and REST. Learn about apps for Office and SharePoint. Learn how to use the new Office and SharePoint development scenarios to efficiently build solutions. These modules are designed for Office and SharePoint developers experienced in developing, deploying, and supporting Office and SharePoint customizations

MSDN

Apps for Office and SharePoint

The new cloud app model gives you maximum choice and flexibility to build a new class of apps for Office and SharePoint using familiar languages, tools, and hosting services. Find out more at the Apps for Office and SharePoint Developer Center.

SharePoint 2013
Find developer documentation and SDKs, reference content, how-tos, and walkthroughs for the most recent version of SharePoint including:

SharePoint 2013 development overview

What's new for developers in SharePoint 2013

Related products located in other
sections of the MSDN library:

SharePoint Development in Visual Studio 11 Beta

What's new for developers in SharePoint 2013

Learn about new features and functionality in SharePoint 2013 Preview, including the new Cloud App Model, development tools, platform enhancements, mobile apps, and more.

http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/jj163091(v=office.15)

Apps for SharePoint overview

http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/office/apps/fp179930(v=office.15)

Learn what apps for SharePoint are, why you should build them, and the concepts that are fundamental to building them in SharePoint 2013 Preview.

Start: Set up the development environment for SharePoint 2013

Learn the steps to set up a SharePoint 2013 Preview development environment by installing SharePoint 2013 Preview and Visual Studio
2012.

Sign up for an Office 365 Developer Site

Learn how to sign up for an Office 365 Developer Site to
develop, test, and deploy apps for Office and SharePoint.

SharePoint Development in Visual Studio

http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/ee330921(v=vs.110).aspx

Technet

SharePoint 2013 for IT pros

Get the IT pro resources you need to try SharePoint Foundation 2013 and SharePoint Server 2013 on-premises including details about installation, upgrade, migration, and services.

TechNet evaluation articles for SharePoint 2013 Preview

The following articles about how to evaluate SharePoint 2013 Preview are available to view online. Writers update articles on a continuing basis as new information becomes available and as users provide feedback. Each of these documents provides a good
overview of these topics.

Downloadable content for SharePoint 2013 Preview

Download the preliminary content in the SharePoint 2013 Preview TechNet library for offline viewing.

Downloads

SharePoint 2013 Technical Library in Compiled Help

Downloadable
CHM version of SharePoint 2013 content on TechNet.

Downloadable eBook: Deployment guide for SharePoint 2013 Preview

Download this free ebook to learn how to install and configure SharePoint Server and SharePoint Foundation.

Solution: Surface external data from AdventureWorks in SharePoint 2013 Preview and Office 2013 Preview (white paper)

Learn how to use a customer view in an external data source, configure SharePoint 2013 Preview services and accounts, choose and implement an authentication mode, define an external content type, create and authorize...

SharePoint 2013: presentation: IT pro training

Download walkthroughs, training, and reviews of new features, changes and options in Office 2013 for ITPros.
(The zip file at the bottom of the list of downloads contains all of the presentations).

Visio Diagrams:

Design Sample: Extranet with Dedicated Zones for Authentication for SharePoint 2013 Preview

This design sample illustrates many top-level project sites with vanity URLs by using host-named sites for each project site (instead of organizing project sites underneath a top-level site collection).

Design Sample: Corporate Portal with Host-named Sites for SharePoint Server 2013 Preview

This design sample illustrates the use of host-named site collections with all sites deployed in a single web application on the farm. This method is highly scalable and is flexible in managing URLs.

Design Sample: Corporate Portal with Path-based Sites for SharePoint Server 2013 Preview

This design sample illustrates the use of path-based site collections with sites organized into dedicated web applications and a single top-level site collection per web
application.

Enterprise search architectures for SharePoint Server 2013 Preview

This design sample shows the search architecture for a variety of sizes of server farms.

Search architectures for SharePoint Server 2013 Preview

This design sample shows the search architecture for a medium size server farm.

SharePoint 2013 Preview Upgrade Process

This model explains the process that you use when you upgrade from SharePoint Foundation 2010 or SharePoint Server 2010 to SharePoint Foundation 2013 Preview or SharePoint
Server 2013 Preview.

SharePoint 2013 Preview: How to Test Upgrade

This model explains how to create a test environment to use when you upgrade from SharePoint Server 2010 or SharePoint Foundation 2010 to SharePoint 2013 Products Preview.

Back up and restore: SharePoint Server 2013 Preview

This model illustrates various ways that you can back up and restore a SharePoint environment.

Services in SharePoint Server 2013 Preview

This illustration provides information about services that are available in SharePoint Server 2013 Preview.

Test Lab Guides

Test Lab Guide: Demonstrate Intranet Collaboration with SharePoint Server 2013 Preview

This paper helps you configure an environment to demonstrate the intranet collaboration features of SharePoint Server 2013 Preview.

Test Lab Guide: Configure SharePoint Server 2013 Preview in a Three-Tier Farm

This paper provides a brief introduction to SharePoint Server 2013 Preview and illustrates how to create a three-tier test lab.

Test Lab Guide: Demonstrate SAML-based Claims Authentication with SharePoint Server 2013 Preview

This paper provides a brief introduction to SharePoint Server 2013 Preview and illustrates how to create a three-tier test lab that uses SAML-based claims authentication.

SDKs

SharePoint Server 2013 Client Components SDK

The SharePoint Server 2013 Client Components SDK can be used to enable remote and local development with SharePoint Server 2013

SharePoint 15 Technical Preview Interoperability API Documentation

This download provides documentation of APIs related to Interoperability with SharePoint 15.

SharePoint 2013 SDK - (coming soon)

Downloads

Download the tools, products, and resources you need to create apps for Office and SharePoint.

Software Downloads

Microsoft Office Web Apps Server Preview

...PowerPoint, Excel, and OneNote. A single Office Web Apps Server farm can support users who access Office files through SharePoint 2013 Preview, Lync Server 2013 Preview, Exchange Server 2013 Preview, shared folders, and web sites.

SharePoint Foundation 2013 Preview

SharePoint Foundation 2013 is the essential solution for organizations that need a secure, manageable, web-based collaboration platform.

Download Microsoft SharePoint Server
2013 Preview

SharePoint Server 2013 Preview is designed to bring people together to get work done. Whether you’re using it to manage your enterprise content, make it easy for business end users to share ideas and information, or help developers build innovative new applications, SharePoint Server 2013’s improvements in scale, security, and flexibility have you covered.

SharePoint Designer 2013

SharePoint Designer 2013 is the tool of choice for the rapid development of SharePoint applications.

Language Packs for SharePoint Foundation 2013 Preview

Language packs enable creation of sites and site collections in multiple languages without requiring separate installations of SharePoint Foundation 2013 Preview

Language Packs for SharePoint Server 2013 Preview

Language packs enable creation of sites and site collections in multiple languages without requiring separate installations of SharePoint Server 2013 Preview

SharePoint Online Management Shell Preview

The SharePoint Online Management Shell is a tool that contains a Windows PowerShell Module to manage your SharePoint Online subscription in the Office 365 Preview.

Microsoft Office 2013 Preview Language Pack

Microsoft Office Language Interface Pack 2013 Preview – provides a user interface for many Microsoft Office 2013 Preview programs.

Language Packs for Microsoft Office Web Apps Server Preview

Language Packs enable the installation of additional interface languages to Office Web Apps Server Preview.

MICROSOFT® SQL SERVER® 2012 SERVICE PACK 1 (SP1), COMMUNITY TECHNOLOGY PREVIEW 3 (CTP3)

...intended ONLY for those customers who are testing Business Intelligence capabilities available in Office 2013 and SharePoint 2013 public preview program. DO NOT install this early CTP3 release for general SQL Server 2012 patches and bug fixes...

Microsoft Office 2013 Audit and Control Management Server

Microsoft Audit and Control Management Server provides powerful change management features for Excel and Access files.

Migrating Woodgrove to MOSS 2007

2006-06-14T14:02:00Z

In the CMS migration guidance that we have delivered so far, we talk about what to look for in your existing apps, how some concepts change, and then about changes in the API. But, we never show you actually how to migrate a site.

We are working on a whitepaper that will walk through how to migrate the Woodgrove (sample that shipped with CMS 2002) to MOSS 2007. This is the "Hello, World" sample for CMS. We will start off using the CMS Assessment Tool, then we will show how to use the content migration feature in MOSS, and then how to use Sharepoint Designer and VS.Net 2005 to migrate the code. At the end of the paper will be a working example of Woodgrove on MOSS. We will include the sample code with the paper. From this paper you will be able to see where the different artifacts exist and some of the design decisions we made.

CMS Assessment tool Known Bugs

2006-06-12T13:27:00Z

Since, the CMS Assessment tool was released two bugs have been reported.

The first, is a bug in the Excel spreadsheet used to display the results. There's an error when running on non-English versions of Excel. After hitting the “Load Analysis Results” button, you get this error. Below is an example of what this error looks like in German:

Laufzeitfehler '1004':

Die PivotItems-Eigentschaft des PivotField-Objektes kann nicht

zugeordnet werden.

A simple workaround is to switch to the language Excel is using to English.

The 2nd bug is a timeout error when running an analysis of the large CMS repositories on .Net 1.1.

We are testing fixes to both of these now and will release an update in a few weeks.

I'll continue to watch the newsgroups looking for any other reports of errors. But you can post comments here too.

CMS Migration Materials are available and TechEd

2006-06-12T00:33:00Z

Microsoft office Sharepoint Server 2007 (MOSS 2007) is now in Beta. Customers of Microsoft Content Management Server 2002 (CMS 2002) maybe wondering where CMS is. The technology in CMS has been integrated into MOSS in the Web Publishing Features.

We have written several whitepapers that discuss CMS migration to MOSS. The start out very high level and end with an API comparision between CMS and MOSS for common tasks performed in PAPI.

In addition to these papers, we have also created a tool called the "CMS Assessment Tool". This tool will create an inventory of every place in your application code where you are calling PAPI. In additon to anlayzing your code, it will collect statistics from the repository, and run a pre-migration analyzer against the content to let you know of any potential content migration issues.

I placed links to all of these papers and the tool in the "CMS Migration" section on this blog.

Today, is the first keynote for TechEd. I will be at the conference. I will be leading a Birds of a Feather session on Thurday afternoon with Andrew Connell (MVP) on CMS Migration and you will find me at Arpan's CMS Migration talk too.