Solved XPS Viewer

[pappi]

I noticed just now I have XPS viewer (which I did not have with Vista).


Bing search says its to read XPS files. I then presume I must have some XPS files. So, what are XPS files? (Bing search shows no good result.) Can't adobe reader read them?

 

[Airbot]

http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/339-xps-viewer.html

 

[pappi]

I don't mind that I'm not sure what xps viewer is. I guess it is used exclusively for xps file viewing. But I'd like to know about xps files. What are they? What are they for? Do I have them in my laptop...say, by default? Are they critical files, like online banking files?

 

[derekimo]

Couple more links for you,

What is the XPS Viewer? - Microsoft Windows Help

XPS documents: frequently asked questions - Microsoft Windows Help

 

[pappi]

I've been to those links. Too technical(too Greek to me). I need explanation in English.

 

[whs]

xps files are very similar to pdf files. xps is a Microsoft standard that is present in all systems. You create an xps file with PRINT, it is one of your printer options (see picture). After you 'printed' to xps, you go to the xps document (wherever you chose to store it) and double click on it. Then the XPS-Viewer will open it.

It is handy if you want to keep something but do not want to waste paper. As you can see on my picture, I also have a doPDF. That is a similar facility except it 'prints' pdfs. You can download and install that program.

If that was not English enough, come back and ask. LOL

 

[pappi]

@whs...thanks. Finally someone speaks the Queen's English. Now I have a much better inkling what xps files are. I now know I do not have them. For one thing, although I have a printer, I have run out of ink a long time ago; hence, I have not used it for ages.

 

[whs]

Well, then the xps print facility should be handy for you. Next time you see something you want to keep, 'print' it to xps - no ink needed.

 

[pappi]

OMG....can't believe I missed that. Yes, thanks WHS for pointing that out.

Now I have some serious chore to do(so help me God)...I have to configure my idle printer with this machine and W7.

 

[whs]

You may not have to configure anything. Just try to print something - anything, maybe a picture. Then see whether xps shows up as an option.

 

[pappi]

LOL....I should actually have thought of that. Hmmm....WHS, you should be enshrined. Thanks for being incredibly didactic.


So I guess when the time comes I need to print this xps file or any file on paper, I have to do the chore of printer configuration(with ink, of course).

Actually, that was the very first time I ever clicked Print. Nice to know I can make xps files.

 

[whs]

LOL, hard to print with a printer that has no ink. I would recommend to also install the doPDF. PDFs are a bit nicer than xps files. Free PDF Converter - Print to PDF with doPDF

 

[pappi]

I have just finished reading wiki seconds ago about doPDF.

I know I have adobe reader that came with laptop which for years, in several notebooks, I usually deleted and got replaced by Foxit reader(smaller size). But I got viruses the last time I installed Foxit. That's why this time I stuck by adobe.

So, I sense doPDF reader does not come with adobe automatically, eh? The moment I get myself to purchasing ink, I should probably install doPDF...and do the configuring chore(yep, it feels like doing laundry, or dishes...sooner or later it's gotta be done).

Thanks for the download link.

BTW, can a printer without ink be configured to a laptop?

 

[whs]

Yeah right, I had Foxit for years but now they have a problem. I replaced it with Sumatra - a nice small footprint reader too.

This is the filehippo link. Stay only on the first line - Download on the right (you don't want this Converter). They got more confusing too.

Download Sumatra PDF 2.4 - FileHippo.com

 

[pappi]

OK...that means with sumatra I can delete bulky adobe reader? It also reads xps files? And it's free?

"Forget Adobe or Foxit, this one is around 4Megs and has more features then those memory hogs, plus the lack of js support means it's a lot more secure.
On a side note it's much faster opening xps files then Windows's native xps viewer, Microsoft should take a few hints from them."

 

[whs]

Yeah, Sumatra is free. It reads PDFs. The xps files are read by the xps file reader which is standard on your system. But the speed is an argument.

 

[pappi]

OK...I installed Sumatra(9.64 MB) and uninstalled Adobe reader(129MB) and subsequently recovered nearly 120 MB. And it works.

Unfortunately, I have no point of comparison as I had not opened PDF files for 6 months(since I acquired this notebook and W7). Is there any function of Adobe reader that a much smaller alternative such as Sumatra does not do?(other than occupy twelve times more space?)

BTW, with IE 11 I can open PDF files only with Admin user. With FF, I can open also with Standard user.

 

[whs]

I have never used Adobe. So I really don't know what functions it supports.