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Open a .XPS file

xps.png
XPS files are formatted documents like PDF files, except open source. Windows Vista includes an XPS reader, so you should be able to view it just by double-clicking the file in Explorer.

Unless you have Firefox installed. Then, Windows Vista will try and open it in Firefox, which will prompt you repeatedly asking how to deal with the file.

To view the XPS file, follow these steps:

  1. Save the XPS file to your computer.
  2. Start Internet Explorer.
  3. Then, press the Alt key on your keyboard, click File, and then click Open.
  4. Click the Browse button, select your file, and then click OK.
  5. Click Open.

Internet Explorer will prompt you to open a new window. Open it up, and you can view the file.

For earlier versions of the Windows operating system, download the Microsoft XPS Document Writer to generate XPS files from any Windows application and an XPS viewer to see the results. You’ll probably need some other components, too, like the .NET Framework 3.0 (who’s using that? :) )

For more information, read the Windows Vista Resource Kit (co-authored by your very own Tony Northrup). Got a question for Tony? Send an e-mail to qa@vistaclues.com.

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Posted: January 16th, 2007 under Downloads, File Management, Firefox, Internet Explorer.
Comments: 5

Comments

Pingback from Download-Save as a PDF file - Windows Vista help
Time: January 16, 2007, 12:31 pm

[...] Microsoft is offering this free download to allow you to use Office 2007 to save files as a PDF or XPS file. It works with any of the following Office apps: [...]

Comment from Luca Pattaro
Time: August 22, 2007, 7:57 pm

Tou can set IE/ as default program for .xps file, instead of Xps viewer. It works for me

Comment from Anju
Time: September 17, 2007, 6:09 pm

Thanks a lot …. for this post of opening an .xps extension file in vista

Comment from sluggy
Time: February 29, 2008, 10:48 pm

The best way to open xps files with firefox is to use the IETab extension for firefox. Install this then configure it to open xps files from tools->ietab options. They then open in an IE tab within firefox without having to switch browser!!

Comment from shaq
Time: March 7, 2008, 2:26 pm

Sluggy’s suggestion works like a charm. Just add “file://*.xps” to the ietab configuration and you’re done. Thanks sluggy.

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