Buzz
XML, short for eXtensible Markup Language, is a versatile format for encoding documents. While HTML, a derivative of XML, is used to design web pages for browsers, XML's strength lies in its flexibility. Users can define custom tags and organize data in any structure they prefer. Many document formats, such as Microsoft Word's DOCX files, rely on XML standards. XML files can be easily viewed in most web browsers, though each browser may interpret the data differently. You can open XML files stored online or browse for them on your computer.
Steps
Open XML Files Using a Browser
Launch a browser like Firefox, Chrome, or Safari.
Open the XML file. Click on the XML file's URL or drag and drop the XML file into a new browser window.
View the XML file. XML tags will appear in purple, while the data will be displayed as plain text. In Chrome and Safari, click the arrow icons to collapse or expand tag sections. For Firefox, use the - or + symbols to collapse or expand tags.
Save the XML file. If you're viewing an XML file online and wish to save it, click on the File menu, then select Save. Choose your desired location and click Save.
View and Edit XML Files on a Windows Computer
Download XML Notepad. XML Notepad is an XML viewer and editor developed by Microsoft. You can download either the standalone installer or the downloadable version at https://xmlnotepad.codeplex.com. Links are available in the Project Description section.
- For Mac OS X users, TextWrangler is a free text editor that highlights XML tags for easier editing.
Install XML Notepad. Open the downloaded XML Notepad installer and follow the setup instructions to install the program.
Open an XML file using XML Notepad. Launch XML Notepad, click on the File menu, and select Open. Locate the XML file on your computer and click Open.
View the XML file in Tree View mode. Tree View organizes XML tags in the left-hand sidebar. Click on the Tree View label, then select a tag to display its text content.
View the XML file in XSL Output mode. XSL Output mode displays the XML file as it would appear in a web browser.
Edit the XML file. Modify the XML file as you would a text document. XML Notepad offers various features to work with XML files efficiently.
Tips
- Occasionally, XML files may contain errors. In such cases, the browser will display an error message. It's advisable to download the file and open it using an XML editor.
- If you receive attachments that appear to be office documents (e.g., a group of files including some with .doc extensions and others with .xml extensions), simply adjust the file extensions and use office software to open them.
