Office 2003 XML Reference Schemas

Microsoft offers open and royalty-free documentation and licenses for the Microsoft Office 2003 XML Reference Schemas. These Reference Schemas include SpreadsheetML (the schema for Microsoft Office Excel 2003), FormTemplate Schemas (the schema for Microsoft Office InfoPath 2003), WordprocessingML (the schema for Microsoft Office Word 2003), and and DataDiagramingML (the schema for Microsoft Office Visio 2003). The Schemas provide developers and representatives of business and government a standard way to store and exchange data stored in documents. Learn more about these technologies and how you can take advantage of them.

Microsoft submits Office 12 XML Formats to Ecma International for Standardization

In this open letter to Office developers, Steven Sinofsky, Microsoft Senior Vice President in charge of Office, explains the rationale for Microsoft’s decision to ask Ecma International to assist Microsoft and its partners in pursuing formal standardization of the Office 12 XML format specifications.

Office 2003 XML Reference Schemas Overview

Learn how the availability of these schemas will benefit organizations of all sizes and help them take advantage of industry-standard XML technology.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Get answers to questions about this licensing program. This FAQ has been recently updated with information regarding the perpetual nature of the program, patent grants, and more.

Implementing Office 2003 XML Reference Schemas

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Perpetual Rights and Access to Future Versions

Microsoft confirmed in a recent letter to the European Union’s Telematics Between Administrations Committee that the rights granted under the licenses for the Office 2003 XML Reference Schemas are perpetual in nature and that Microsoft will provide non-discriminatory access to future versions of those specifications.

•	Download Office 2003 XML Reference Schemas and Documentation Schemas are available for Excel 2003, InfoPath 2003, Visio 2003, and Word 2003.

•	Office 2003 XML Reference Schema Licensing The Office 2003 XML Reference Schemas are offered under a royalty-free license. Review the legal agreements.

XML and Office

•	XML Documents for the Masses Senior Director and XML Architect Jean Paoli discusses the new file format for the next versions of Microsoft Office Word, Excel and PowerPoint.

•	Comments Submitted to Massachusetts Regarding Open Document Formats Proposal On Thursday, September 8, 2005, Microsoft formally submitted its comments on Massachusetts' proposal to mandate state executive agencies’ exclusive use of software that supports the OASIS OpenDocument format by default.

•	Clarification of License Terms for Office XML Reference Schema Senior Director and XML Architect Jean Paoli explains clarifications made to the royalty-free Office 2003 XML Reference Schemas License based on constructive feedback provided by the Commonwealth of Massachusetts.

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Microsoft's Commitment to Interoperability

Senior Director and XML Architect Jean Paoli shares his thoughts about Microsoft’s recent response to the recommendations of the European Union's Telematics Between Administrations Committee (TAC) and his perspective on how Microsoft’s deep support for XML in Office enables data interoperability.

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An Open Letter Regarding Open Document Formats

Senior Director and XML Architect Jean Paoli shares his enthusiasm and support for the European Union's Telematics Between Administrations Committee (TAC) recent recommendation that its governments use open document formats, such as those supported in the Microsoft Office System.

•	XML Vision by Jean Paoli Read what Jean Paoli, XML Architect at Microsoft and co-creator of W3C's XML 1.0 Standard thinks about the future role of this technology.

•	XML in Action See five scenarios of how customer-defined XML can be used with the 2003 release of Microsoft Office.

•	Office XML Developer Center Visit MSDN for more in-depth technical resources on building XML solutions.

How the Danish Government Uses Office 2003 XML Reference Schemas

"This enables our eGovernment solutions to utilize standards-based technology while furthering enabling open and effective tools for our citizens and government," said Helge Sander, Danish Minister of Science, Technology, and Innovation.

•	Press Release: Microsoft Announces Availability of Open and Royalty-Free License

•	Case Study: An XML Project by the Danish Ministry of Science, Technology, and Innovation

•	The Danish Software Strategy

News and Reviews

•	Information Correlation, Reasoning Next Step for XML Jean Paoli, 2005 XML Cup Recipient and senior director of XML architecture at Microsoft, offers thoughts and wisdom on the next steps for XML.

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Report: Microsoft XML Reference Schema Patent Licensing Encourages Software Development

Eric Stasik, a former director of patents and licensing at Ericsson, discusses why the Microsoft XML Reference Schema Patent license promotes industry-wide acceptance and fosters software development. In his report, Stasik explains why the Microsoft XML Reference Schema Patent license is more attractive to developers than those offered by Apache and others—and how free software may cost small developers more than they think. Purchase the full report from Althos Publishing.

•	European Union eGovernment Policy-Makers Encourage the Uptake of Open Document Formats After extensive analysis, eGovernment policy-makers say the use of open document formats, such as WordML, improves interoperability.

•	What the Press Is Saying About Microsoft Office 2003 XML Reference Schemas Read what CNET, IT-Analysis.com, TechNewsWorld, and other press publications are saying about Office 2003 XML Reference Schemas licensing.

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