14 DAY TRIAL // Microsoft has made available for download the Community technology preview of the Open XML Format Software Development Kit 2.0. The Open XML Format SDK 2.0 went live on April 7, 2009, and is now up for grabs via the Microsoft Download Center. With the SDK, and the underlying System.IO.Packaging API, the Redmond company enables developers to leverage a simplified manipulation process involving OpenXML packages. And when it comes down to manipulation of OpenXML packages, version 2.0 of the SDK brings to the table support for strongly typed part and content classes.
“In version 1 of the Open XML SDK we released the Open XML Packaging API, which allows you to create, open and manipulate Open XML files at the package and part level. In the first CTP of version 2 we released the Open XML Low Level DOM and Stream Reading/Writing components, which allow you to create and manipulate objects within xml parts contained in an Open XML package. In the second CTP of version 2 we are providing schema level validation functionality,” revealed Brian Jones, Office program manager.
In addition, the April 2009 CTP of Open XML Format SDK 2.0 permits OpenXML documents to be validated. The validation functionality added to the latest version of the SDK is designed to permit developers to perform validation of Open XML docs in relation to variations of the Open XML Format. Essentially what validation support is designed to do is to help reduce the possibility of invalid or corrupt Open XML files.
“Manipulating Open XML Formats by using the Open XML Base layer makes it much easier for you to work on the Open XML files, but doing so does not guarantee the production of valid Open XML files. The new Schema Level Validation component provides a mechanism to help you discover Open XML errors within files and in your code. This component assists you in debugging and validating Open XML files based on the schemas,” Jones added.
Open XML Format SDK 2.0 April 2009 Community Technical Preview (CTP) is available for download here.