Looking for update on use of XML in Word

[mitchalexander]

My interest in XML is as an end user - at work I am creating documents
(XML templates established by my company) and editing them in Word. At
work I am in a PC environment. I have gone online and researched the
ability to edit the XML documents in Word (Mac Office 04) on my IBook.
Alas, it seems that is impossible until Microsoft releases Office 07
early next year (and provide updates for previous versions of Office
that can just be updated to make it possible to use XML docs). As an
end user, I don't have any knowledge of what XML is about (and that's
fine, I just want to be able to use the documents - I am not in an IT
position at work but rather as a program officer for a foundation).

I did see mention of a beta release from Microsoft that is available
now, to allow Office 04 users to have use of XML docs in Word.

Can somebody provide an update to what I know? Is a beta update is
available, where can I download it? Also, will I be able to go back
and forth between a PC version of Word and a Mac version of Word using
a XML document?

Also - I did check out XML editors - a very confusing process because I
have zero knowledge of XML itself. The ones I have looked at online
are:

* Barebones.com
* Oxygenxml.com
* freexmleditor.com

But from what I have read using these programs is not an option, for I
will not be able to download a XML document, edit the document, and
then upload it back up to my company's system. If anybody know
differently, I would like to know.

Thanks for your help! - Mitch

 

[John McGhie [MVP - Word and Word Macintosh]]

Hi Mitch:

The converter to enable Office 2004 to read and write Office 2007 XML
documents does not yet exist. When it does, yes, you will be able to go
back and forth between PC and Mac just the way you can now with the .Doc
format.

Extensible Markup Language is simply a way of encoding information so
computers can read it.

The most important difference between markup languages (of which XML is one
of many...) and binary formats (of which the Word .doc format is one of
many) is their approach. Whereas a binary format "describes" things, a
markup language "names" things.

Let's consider a "Paragraph of text".

A binary format contains all the information needed to "make" the paragraph
and format it. A markup language simply tells you what type of paragraph it
is. The text is in the paragraph, and so is the name that says, for
example, that it is a "Heading 2". All of the other properties --
formatting, justification, purpose -- are elsewhere, not in the document.

Markup languages are usually "structured". The behaviour of a "Heading 2"
depends on where it appears: Front Matter, Body, after a Heading 1, in an
Appendix.

Because XML is structured, the machine knows what is where. It can insist
that required components exist, and that they be placed in their proper
positions. For example, a cover page, a table of contents, and the first
chapter heading must be in place before the body text. And the machine can
prevent components from being placed in the wrong position: If you try to
place a header in the body text, it won't let you.

XML is designed to be human-readable as well as machine readable. Many
would argue with this: but it is, sort of!

You "can" edit XML in any application that will handle Unicode text.
SimpleText will do just fine. However, the job is a lot easier if the
application is aware of the structure of the file and can show you things in
context.

If you know XML, you can edit it in any application. The Microsoft Office
applications will neither know nor care which application edited the file
before them. So you can use any freeware application you like and will be
able to upload the files back to work.

However, that's a very idealistic point of view. In fact, the XML
Extensible stylesheet language transformation (XSLT) style sheet for
Microsoft Office is extremely complex. Unless the editor you use has a copy
of the Microsoft XML Schema Definition (XSD) loaded, you will flounder
helplessly in a sea of code.

Try these websites to get you going, then start reading up on the Microsoft
website.

http://infomotions.com/musings/getting-started/

http://www.4guysfromrolla.com/webtech/051000-1.shtml

Hope this helps

My interest in XML is as an end user - at work I am creating documents
(XML templates established by my company) and editing them in Word. At
work I am in a PC environment. I have gone online and researched the
ability to edit the XML documents in Word (Mac Office 04) on my IBook.
Alas, it seems that is impossible until Microsoft releases Office 07
early next year (and provide updates for previous versions of Office
that can just be updated to make it possible to use XML docs). As an
end user, I don't have any knowledge of what XML is about (and that's
fine, I just want to be able to use the documents - I am not in an IT
position at work but rather as a program officer for a foundation).

I did see mention of a beta release from Microsoft that is available
now, to allow Office 04 users to have use of XML docs in Word.

Can somebody provide an update to what I know? Is a beta update is
available, where can I download it? Also, will I be able to go back
and forth between a PC version of Word and a Mac version of Word using
a XML document?

Also - I did check out XML editors - a very confusing process because I
have zero knowledge of XML itself. The ones I have looked at online
are:

* Barebones.com
* Oxygenxml.com
* freexmleditor.com

But from what I have read using these programs is not an option, for I
will not be able to download a XML document, edit the document, and
then upload it back up to my company's system. If anybody know
differently, I would like to know.

Thanks for your help! - Mitch

--

Please reply to the newsgroup to maintain the thread. Please do not email
me unless I ask you to.

John McGhie <[email protected]>
Microsoft MVP, Word and Word for Macintosh. Business Analyst, Consultant
Technical Writer.
Sydney, Australia +61 (0) 4 1209 1410