Microsoft XML Paper Specification Essentials Pack version 1.0 is an integer part of the Redmond Company's efforts to streamline the viewing and creation of XPS documents. XML Essentials Pack 1.0 has reached the release candidate 1 stage and includes a variety of components that will enable users to view, generate and index XPS documents.

Microsoft has informed that XPS Essentials Pack RC1 delivers Support for Windows XP SP2 and Windows Server 2003, both 32-bit and 64-bit platforms. The downloads are not required for Windows Vista, as in the latest operating system from Microsoft, XPS documents are natively supported.

Via the XML Essentials Pack RC1, users will get the XPS Viewer EP, the Microsoft XPS Document Writer (MXDW), XPS Document metadata and thumbnail extensions, XPS Document rich preview provider, XPS Document search and index IFilter and XPSDrv print driver components.

"The XPS Viewer EP is a light-weight application that provides a rich viewing experience for XPS Documents. There are many exciting features built into the viewer, such as inherent support of HD Photo images and cool thumbnail views. The Microsoft XPS Document Writer (MXDW) complements the XPS experience by providing the means to generate XPS Documents, just by printing from any application to the MXDW print driver," revealed the XPS team.

For Windows XP and Windows Server 2003, XML Essentials Pack 1.0 RC1 requires that the users also deploy Microsoft .NET Framework 3.0 and Microsoft Core XML Services 6.0.

"The Essentials Pack search and index filters enable faster searching of XPS Documents using applications like Windows Desktop Search. The IPreview implementation enables previewing XPS Documents in Office 2007 without actually launching the viewer. For example, you can preview an XPS Document attached to an email in the reading pane of Outlook 2007 with a single click on the attachment. And finally, the Essentials Pack also provides the XPSDrv printer components that enable printing to the new generation of XPS-based devices like the XPS printers," added the XPS team.

Microsoft XML Paper Specification Essentials Pack 1.0 was tested by Softpedia as being 100% Clean and is available for download here.