Open Specifications

Take advantage of your access to information about protocols, file formats, standards and other technical specifications for Microsoft high-volume products.

Protocols

Specifications for Microsoft proprietary protocols implemented by certain Microsoft products and used to communicate with other Microsoft products

Computer Languages

Specifications for certain Microsoft computer languages implemented by Microsoft products

Standards

Specifications for certain standards supported in releases of Microsoft Exchange Server, Microsoft Outlook, Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Windows WordPad, SQL Server, and Internet Explorer

Data Portability

Specifications for explaining how user-created data in Microsoft Office and Microsoft SQL Server can be extracted for use in other software products

Open Specifications Forums

Windows Protocols

Using the Open Specifications

Using the SharePoint Products and Technologies Protocols

File Services

Using the Exchange Server Protocols

Using the Office Protocols

Office File Formats

Using the Microsoft SQL Server Protocols

Documentation on Standards

Office Open XML File Format Implementation

Interoperability Scenarios: Technical Questions

Office Open Document Format Implementation

Open Packaging Conventions (OPC)

Patent Licensing

Some of the Microsoft Open Specifications include patented inventions, and others do not. You may benefit from a patent license if you are distributing implementations of these specifications commercially or if you use an implementation of any of the specifications covered by Microsoft patents. For more information, go to www.microsoft.com/openspecifications or contact the Microsoft Open Specifications Team.