This topic describes the Packaging APIs, which provide support for applications that consume or produce Open Packaging Conventions–compliant files, called packages.
This topic contains the following sections.
Purpose
The Windows 7 Packaging feature is a set of COM-based API that provides support for accessing, modifying, and saving packages using C and C++.
What is Packaging?
Packaging can be more easily understood through an analogy with real–world filing systems. People and businesses need to organize their information. Often, this information is tracked by using paperwork that is stored in folders, which are in turn, stored in filing cabinets. For each person and business, someone had to design a system to fit their needs, a system that would allow information to be accessed as needed.
A personalized filing system provides great advantages when used by someone who understands how the system works, but when someone new needs to access the system, how do they know where to find the information they need? Suddenly, the personalized filing system becomes less convenient. Applications face similar challenges in organizing data: what information is most important and how can developers ensure that it is easily accessible?
The ECMA-376 OpenXML, 1st Edition, Part 2: Open Packaging Conventions (OPC) specification provides an answer to this question. A package, as described in the OPC, enables different applications to access key information from an OPC–based file in a standardized and predictable way. A package is like a filing cabinet whose basic organization is known to all the people and businesses that interact with it.
Examples of ZIP-based package formats include:
- The OpenXML formats used in the 2007 Microsoft Office system:
- Office Word 2007 documents (.docx)
- Office Excel 2007 worksheets (.xlsx)
- Office PowerPoint 2007 presentations (.pptx)
- XPS documents (.xps)
Developer Audience
The Packaging APIs are designed to be used by developers of the following types of software:
- Applications that load, create, save, or modify packages.
- Tools that modify packages.
Related Technologies
XPS Document and XPS Digital Signature APIs build on OPC requirements and enable interaction with .xps documents.
System.IO.Packaging is a managed implementation that enables interaction with packages.
Section Contents
See Also
- Overviews
- Packaging API Overview
External Resources- ECMA-376 OpenXML
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Build date: 10/22/2009