How to Print to Microsoft XPS Document Writer in Windows

   Information
This tutorial will show you how to print to the Microsoft XPS Document Writer from an application to save as a XPS file in Vista, Windows 7, and Windows 8.

The Microsoft XPS Document Writer (MXDW) is a print-to-file driver that allows you to create XML Paper Specification (XPS) document files using any program that you can print from in Windows. You would print to the XPS Document Writer when you want to create, send, and share or publish documents that you do not want other people to modify, or when you want to print a document or display it online exactly as it appears on your screen. It's also a good idea to create an XPS document for files that contain graphics or illustrations that might otherwise display differently in print than online or on computers with different monitors.

XPS documents are easy to share because you can view them on any computer where an XPS viewer is installed, even if the computer doesn't have the same programs that you used to create the original documents. Windows 7 comes with a built-in XPS Viewer.

For more detailed information, see:


EXAMPLE: XPS Viewer
NOTE: This is just an example of a webpage in Internet Explorer printed to the Microsoft XPS Document Writer, and viewed in XPS Viewer.
Microsoft XPS Document Writer - Print to XPS File-example.jpg
Here's How:
1. Open the document or file that you want to print to .xps format, click/tap on File (Menu bar), and click/tap on Print.

2. In the Print dialog box, select Microsoft XPS Document Writer, adjust your print options to how you like, and click/tap on Print or OK. (see screenshots below)
NOTE: The Print dialog box may vary in how it looks depending on the program used to view the document or file.
Microsoft XPS Document Writer - Print to XPS File-step2a.jpg

Microsoft XPS Document Writer - Print to XPS File-step2b.jpg
   Note
If you do not see Microsoft XPS Document Writer in the available list of printers to select, then you may need to set Microsoft XPS Document Writer as the default printer in Devices and Printers (Windows 7/8) or Printers folder (Vista). This may be due to your physical default printer being offline or not connected.

Microsoft XPS Document Writer - Print to XPS File-step1.jpg

Microsoft XPS Document Writer - Print to XPS File-step1b.jpg

3. Navigate to where you want to save the .xps file to, type in a name for the .xps file, and click/tap on Save. (see screenshot below)
Microsoft XPS Document Writer - Print to XPS File-step3.jpg
That's it,
Shawn