This document gives a complete detailed reference to the implementation of the Vector Markup Language (VML) that is shipped with Microsoft Office 2000. Other implementations may vary. Consult the VML specification  for more information about VML as a standard.

VML is defined as a set of XML elements and the corresponding attributes for each element. Since the Shape element is the basic building block of VML, click here to begin the reference.

Note that this reference contains several examples and demos. You must have Microsoft Internet Explorer 5 or greater.0 installed to view the live VML.

In addition to the information about using elements and attributes as XML tags that extend HTML, this reference contains syntax and examples that show how to use the scripting and the Document Object Model features of Internet Explorer 5 or greater. Using script with VML enables you to create elements "on the fly" and manipulate attributes in real time.

This examples in htis reference uses VBScript and Javascript. If you use use a different scripting language than the one shown in an example, you must match the case of all element and attribute names. The reference gives scripting syntax that is correct for case-sensitive languages such as JavaScript. If in doubt regarding the correct character case, use an object browser (such as OLEView) to explore the VGX.DLL to determine the exact case of an element or attribute. Note that when VML is used as XML tags, case sensitivity depends on the document type of you underlying document. If you are using a strict mode !DOCTYPE, elements and attributes will be case sensitive.

The VML Reference