The Microsoft Office XML formats are XML-based document formats (or XML schemas) introduced in versions of Microsoft Office prior to Office 2007. Microsoft Office XP introduced a new XML format for storing Excel spreadsheets and Office 2003 added an XML-based format for Word documents. These formats were succeeded by Office Open XML (ECMA-376) in Microsoft Office 2007.

File formats

Limitations and differences with Office Open XML

Besides differences in the schema, there are several other differences between the earlier Office XML schema formats and Office Open XML.

Word XML format example

Excel XML spreadsheet example

</Cell> <Cell> </Cell> <Cell> </Cell> <Cell> </Cell> <Cell> </Cell> <Cell> </Cell> <Cell> </Cell> <Cell> </Cell> <Cell> </Cell> <Cell> </Cell> <Cell> </Cell> <Cell> </Cell> <Cell> </Cell> <Cell> </Cell> <Cell> </Cell> <Cell> </Cell> <Cell> </Cell> <Cell> </Cell> <Cell> </Cell> </Row> <Row> <Cell> </Cell> <Cell> </Cell> <Cell> </Cell> <Cell> </Cell> <Cell> </Cell> <Cell> </Cell> <Cell> </Cell> <Cell> </Cell> <Cell> </Cell> <Cell> </Cell> <Cell> </Cell> <Cell> </Cell> <Cell> </Cell> <Cell> </Cell> <Cell> </Worksheet> </Workbook>