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----------------------------------------------------------- From: Jamsheer Message 1 in Discussion Hi all, Please find the MSDN chat transcipt - Microsoft Office 2003 - XML features Deepak_MS : Since we don't have any questions yet, why don't you start with a brief intro Raj Raj_MS : Microsoft Office has always had the capabilities to be an application platform. Features, such as forms in Word, web queries and get external data in Excel, and VBA in all applications have enabled developers to use Office Raj_MS : as a part of enterprise applicat 8vijay has joined the conversation. Raj_MS : as a part of enterprise applications. Raj_MS : As of Office 2003, several features have been added to enable all applications in Office to effectively use XML in flexible but powerful ways, making it possible to create even better intergration with enterprise applications. 8vijay has left the conversation. Deepak_MS : (sanjeevji): What kind of XML support is in Access and can I use XML to design reports? ? Raj_MS : XML is supported at several levels in Microsoft Access. To begin with, you can export just the data from any database object as XML, including forms and reports. Raj_MS : Secondly, you can save the schema of database objects as XML Schema Definition (.xsd) files. Raj_MS : Lastly, the presetation information of reports and forms can be saved in a special XML grammar called ReportML. Raj_MS : By hand-forming ReportML, you could use XML to design reports. Raj_MS : I'm done with this question. Is there anything else, sanjeevji? Deepak_MS : (Sanjeevji): but can report use XML as a data source or they would require an mdb? 8RahulJ has joined the conversation. Raj_MS : It would require an MDB. It could be a two step process of reading the XML into an access table, and then showing the report. Raj_MS : I'm done with this question. Deepak_MS : (Jam): Is it possible to access a word document as an XML document and modify it using other programs? Raj_MS : Yes. There are two ways you could do this. Raj_MS : Word has a save as XML option. By default, this option saves a document using a special XML grammar called WordML. WordML can preserve everything in the Word document. Raj_MS : Of course, you can manipulate the file using any other application. Raj_MS : The second option is using the Save as XML with an option called save data only. In this case, you need to associate the Word document with an XML schema, Raj_MS : and specifically mark parts of the document with XML tags. Then, when you save, it will save only the marked portion, with XML that conforms to the schema. A fantastic way of culling only relevant data out of a word document. 8kuttu has joined the conversation. Raj_MS : I'm done with this question. Deepak_MS : (Jam): Then how the images and other graphics in the document saved to XML? 8kuttu has left the conversation. 8kuttu has joined the conversation. Raj_MS : The usual way in XML: it's Base64 encoded, typically within a WordML tag called <w:binData /> Raj_MS : Done with the graphics question. Deepak_MS : (kuttu): is it possible to export an xml file into pdf? Raj_MS : Sure, kuttu, but Microsoft Office does not provide that feature. Deepak_MS : (Deepak_MS): Hi Raj, I've seen a lot of curiosity and excitement around the latest member of the office family InfoPath Raj_MS : Yes, so have I. Deepak_MS : Could you please explain what it does and how it uses XML.. ? Raj_MS : Infopath is a very neat application, which allows just about anyone to quickly create a fill-up kind of form, and share it with other people. Raj_MS : Infopath creates files with the extension .xsn, which can be shipped to anyone. Opening an xsn file provides people with a form, which they can use to do data entry. This data is then stored as XML. Raj_MS : Infopath also has features which allow people to directly query data from a SQL Server database, or a Web Service. Raj_MS : You can also submit the data entered to a database or a web service. Raj_MS : Done with this question. Deepak_MS : (Jam): Where can I find WordML schema? Raj_MS : It's a sort of a moving target at this point. You can get it as part of the Microsoft Word XML Content Development Kit, which is in Beta 2 right now. Raj_MS : http://download.microsoft.com/download/4/9/7/49799b71-5502-40c6-b7ce-c791f87f65cd/xmlcdkb2.msi Raj_MS : Approximately 4.5MB download. Raj_MS : Done with this question. Deepak_MS : In past, we have used word to do fill out kind of forms, so what is new here...? Raj_MS : We can still do that. The big difference is: Raj_MS : 1. Infopath does ONLY forms, and therefore is lightweight. Raj_MS : 2. Infopath makes it easier to share forms. Raj_MS : 3. Infopath has a better model for entering multiple records of data. Raj_MS : Done with this question. Deepak_MS : (Jam): What programming interfaces are available for this feature? I mean can I access it using .NET? Raj_MS : Good question. Raj_MS : To begin with, there is the Office COM object model, which is accessible via the PIAs in .NET. Raj_MS : Second, check out Visual Studio for Microsoft Office. Raj_MS : Allows you to create .NET assemblies which tie into Word documents, Excel spreadsheets or templates. Raj_MS : Done with this question. Deepak_MS : (Deepak_MS): What are the new XML features of Excel? Raj_MS : Well, first a couple of old features, which have been enhanced: Raj_MS : Excel can open arbitrary XML files. This feature has been significantly enhanced. Raj_MS : Second, Excel files can be saved with full fidelity in an XML grammar called XML Spreadsheet (XSS). Raj_MS : And, brand new in Excel 2003... Raj_MS : You can attach an XML schema to a spreadsheet, and save only the data associated with the schema. Just as in word. Raj_MS : Done with that question. Deepak_MS : Ok folks, with this we come to an end of this chat... Raj_MS : What, no one wants to know what XML features are there in PowerPoint? Deepak_MS : Sure Raj, could you briefly tell us something about XML features of powerpoint.. Raj_MS : I was kidding. There are none. Deepak_MS : Thanks for your time Raj, do join us next week for a special talk on developing Indian Language Websites using ASP.NET and SQL Server 2000 Raj_MS : Thanks, everyone. Regards, Jam ----------------------------------------------------------- To stop getting this e-mail, or change how often it arrives, go to your E-mail Settings. http://groups.msn.com/cochindotnet/_emailsettings.msnw Need help? 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