Share via

Announcing the Open XML Format SDK April CTP

  • Article

We are glad to announce that the Open XML Format SDK April CTP is available!

You can download the new SDK from here:

https://www.microsoft.com/downloads/details.aspx?FamilyId=AD0B72FB-4A1D-4C52-BDB5-7DD7E816D046&displaylang=en

You can also find and online version of the SDK on the MSDN Library:

https://msdn2.microsoft.com/en-us/library/bb448854.aspx

Also, you can find permanent links to both the download and online version at the XML in Office Developer Portal and at the Office Open XML Formats Resource Center.

What is the Open XML Format SDK?

For those of you who are not familiar with this SDK, here's a brief intro.

The Open XML Format SDK Technology Preview simplifies the task of manipulating Open XML packages. The Open XML Application Programming Interface (API) encapsulates many common tasks that developers perform on Open XML packages, so you can perform complex operations with just a few lines of code. Using this API, you can programmatically generate and manipulate Word 2007 documents, Excel 2007 spreadsheets, and PowerPoint 2007 presentations. The programming model uses managed code, so it's safe for server-side scenarios.

The Open XML Format SDK also provides how-to articles and reference documentation that can help you get started with Open XML programming.

What's New in the Open XML Format SDK April CTP?

For those of you that have been working with the June 2007 CTP, here's a brief list of what's new with the April CTP:

Product names and editorial changes

1. The name of the SDK is "Open XML Format SDK" instead of "Microsoft SDK for Open XML Formats."

2. We changed all references of "Open XML object model" to "Open XML Application Programming Interface (API)."

API Changes

  1. Move AddNewPart<T>() from class OpenXmlPart to OpenXmlPartContainer class
  2. Add overload AddNewPart<T>() that receives a relationship Id parameter as input
  3. Support LINQ annotations on parts
  4. Move three document enumerations from namespace Microsoft.Office.DocumentFormat.OpenXml.Packaging to Microsoft.Office.DocumentFormat.OpenXml
  5. Naming changes for some objects

This release also includes support for cool C# 3.0 and VB.NET 9.0 features, such as LINQ Annotations.

If you want to see more detailed information, see What's New in the Open XML Format SDK April Technology Preview .

Future of the SDK

The Open XML API will release in two versions. Open XML API Version 1.0 is the updated version of the CTP in June 2007 and will only contain the Open XML Packaging API. Open XML API Version 2.0 will contain all of the Open XML API components, including the Open XML Packaging API with further updates. It will enforce validity of the content either in the original Open XML documents or being generated through this API. The purpose of this plan is to give out the long awaited Go-Live license of the existing Open XML Packaging API to external developers.

We need your feedback

The April 2008 CTP release has improvements based on customer feedback provided by the field and MVPs.

For the May 2008 release of the Open XML API Version 1.0, we also plan to incorporate customer feedback to improve the SDK. If you have comments about the API or documentation, please use the following two resources:

  1. MSDN Forum: Open XML Format SDK: Use the forum to ask questions and provide suggestions. The product team is monitoring and moderating this forum.
  2. MSDN Library: Open XML Format SDK (Online version) Wiki: The online version of the SDK is Wiki enabled. This allows you to add comments and report bugs you find on documentation. To leave comments, use the "Add Community Content" link located at the bottom of each topic.

Additional Resources

I recommend you monitor the following blogs for more news about the Open XML Format SDK:

More code samples: OpenXmlDeveloper.org site

You can also watch Zeyad's and Eric's interview to learn more about the future of the Open XML Format SDK.

Have fun with the April CTP!

Comments

  • Anonymous
    April 17, 2008
    PingBack from http://microsoftnews.askpcdoc.com/?p=3089

  • Anonymous
    April 17, 2008
    PingBack from http://www.danielbrown.id.au/Lists/Posts/Post.aspx?ID=56

  • Anonymous
    April 17, 2008
    Erika has a detailed post on the new release of the Open XML Format SDK, as well as the future of the

  • Anonymous
    April 17, 2008
    Download here . Class Diagram . What's new ? Roadmap . &lt;update&gt; I see Erika also has a link to

  • Anonymous
    April 18, 2008
    The April CTP version is now available, and Erika Ehrli has all the details.

  • Anonymous
    April 21, 2008
    Will it be released under MS-PL?

  • Anonymous
    April 21, 2008
    Now that the Open XML is an international standard, work continues on our contributions to make the it

  • Anonymous
    April 21, 2008
    Nu dat Open XML een internationale standaard is, gaat het werk bij Microsoft gewoon door om het toegankelijk

  • Anonymous
    April 23, 2008
    Will you rename the SDK "Open XML Format SDK" for the final version as Office Open XML is the name used by both Ecma and ISO in their nameing of the standard format ?

  • Anonymous
    April 25, 2008
    Last week I had the great opportunity to do my first experiments with Silverlight 2.0. I was truly fascinated

  • Anonymous
    May 28, 2008
    Hi Erika, According to the graph illustrating the road map for the SDK, there will be a final release in May 2008. Since May is almost done, could you provide som information on when Release 1.0 of the SDK will be available? Thanks,

  • Anonymous
    June 10, 2008
    We have great news for all Open XML developers who have waited so patiently for the fully supported release

  • Anonymous
    July 05, 2010
    how do I change a CTP format so I can open my pics