XPS Reader

The format in which digital documents and papers are preserved constantly evolve and tend to include more types of content in order to accommodate the needs of an ever-changing world. The XML Paper Specification (XPS) format is one of the newer types and is integrated in Windows since Vista arrived, a few years back.

Even if there is a dedicated application (XPS Viewer) already bundled with Microsoft's proprietary OS which natively supports the above-mentioned file type, it does not hurt trying something new like the program called XPS Reader.

This utility comes with a minimalistic interface that hosts a single button, namely the one which allows you to choose the target XPS document you want to take a look at. Once the file is selected, depending on its size, the software may take a couple of second to completely load the content in its main window.

A neat feature of XPS Reader that you will surely notice when choosing a document with a particular layout is the ability to display correctly horizontal digital paper, resembling the style of an old type of wall calendar.

The way in which this application actually functions is by transforming the pages of the XPS file into images in PNG format that you can then browse with ease. Moving back and forth inside such a document can be done by using the “Previous” and “Next” arrows, by dragging the page with the mouse or by double-clicking the page.

The advantage XPS Reader may have over the tool that's built-in Windows is just the way in which it manages to display the files. Instead of showing them inside a window where you have to scroll in order to move between pages, this utility gives the appearance of a book to every loaded document, thus making the whole process a bit more attractive.

In conclusion, XPS Reader is a pretty efficient piece of software when it comes to viewing XPS documents. The computer’s performance is not going to be hampered as CPU and memory usage is low at all times. The response time is good, the interface is minimalistic and our tests did not reveal any errors or crashes.