Vector Markup Language
Encyclopedia
Vector Markup Language (VML) is a deprecated XML
language used to produce vector graphics
.
VML was submitted as a proposed standard to the W3C in 1998 by Autodesk
, Hewlett-Packard
, Macromedia
, Microsoft
, and Visio. Around the same time other competing W3C submissions were received in the area of web vector graphics, such as PGML
from Adobe Systems
, Sun Microsystems
, and others. As a result of these submissions, a new W3C working group was created, which produced Scalable Vector Graphics
(SVG). SVG became a W3C Recommendation in 2001 as a language for describing two-dimensional vector and mixed vector/raster graphics in XML. VML has been largely deprecated in favor of other formats, such as SVG. SVG is not compatible with VML.
While Microsoft continues to document VML, development of the format ceased in 1998. VML is implemented in Internet Explorer 5.0
and higher and in Microsoft Office 2000
and higher. VML is still available in Internet Explorer 9
but Microsoft expects web sites to transition to SVG in the future. Version 2 of the Google Maps
JavaScript
API used to use VML for vector paths on Internet Explorer
5.5+, but has been officially deprecated in favour of version 3, which does not.
The Vector Markup Language is included in Part 4 of the Office Open XML standards ISO
/IEC
29500:2008 and ECMA
-376. According to the specification, VML should be considered a deprecated format included in Office Open XML for legacy reasons only. However, VML is in fact very pervasive in MS Office 2007 (Word, Excel and Powerpoint) documents.
applications, such as Microsoft Word
, Microsoft Visio
, etc. within its HTML files, created using the '
). Such files retain complete vector information, and can be reopened for editing
using other Microsoft applications, such as Microsoft PowerPoint
. VML is natively supported by Microsoft's Internet Explorer
inline within HTML, using an undefined version of SGML namespace
s.
VML is not natively supported by most web browsers. Web browsers such as Mozilla Firefox, Opera, Safari or Google Chrome support SVG instead of VML. See also Comparison of layout engines (Scalable Vector Graphics)
.
XML
Extensible Markup Language is a set of rules for encoding documents in machine-readable form. It is defined in the XML 1.0 Specification produced by the W3C, and several other related specifications, all gratis open standards....
language used to produce vector graphics
Vector graphics
Vector graphics is the use of geometrical primitives such as points, lines, curves, and shapes or polygon, which are all based on mathematical expressions, to represent images in computer graphics...
.
VML was submitted as a proposed standard to the W3C in 1998 by Autodesk
Autodesk
Autodesk, Inc. is an American multinational corporation that focuses on 3D design software for use in the architecture, engineering, construction, manufacturing, media and entertainment industries. The company was founded in 1982 by John Walker, a coauthor of the first versions of the company's...
, Hewlett-Packard
Hewlett-Packard
Hewlett-Packard Company or HP is an American multinational information technology corporation headquartered in Palo Alto, California, USA that provides products, technologies, softwares, solutions and services to consumers, small- and medium-sized businesses and large enterprises, including...
, Macromedia
Macromedia
Macromedia was an American graphics and web development software company headquartered in San Francisco, California that produced such products as Flash and Dreamweaver. Its rival, Adobe Systems, acquired Macromedia on December 3, 2005 and controls the line of Macromedia...
, Microsoft
Microsoft
Microsoft Corporation is an American public multinational corporation headquartered in Redmond, Washington, USA that develops, manufactures, licenses, and supports a wide range of products and services predominantly related to computing through its various product divisions...
, and Visio. Around the same time other competing W3C submissions were received in the area of web vector graphics, such as PGML
PGML
Precision Graphics Markup Language is an XML-based language for representing vector graphics. It was a World Wide Web Consortium submission by Adobe Systems, IBM, Netscape, and Sun Microsystems, that was not adopted as a recommendation....
from Adobe Systems
Adobe Systems
Adobe Systems Incorporated is an American computer software company founded in 1982 and headquartered in San Jose, California, United States...
, Sun Microsystems
Sun Microsystems
Sun Microsystems, Inc. was a company that sold :computers, computer components, :computer software, and :information technology services. Sun was founded on February 24, 1982...
, and others. As a result of these submissions, a new W3C working group was created, which produced Scalable Vector Graphics
Scalable Vector Graphics
Scalable Vector Graphics is a family of specifications of an XML-based file format for describing two-dimensional vector graphics, both static and dynamic . The SVG specification is an open standard that has been under development by the World Wide Web Consortium since 1999.SVG images and their...
(SVG). SVG became a W3C Recommendation in 2001 as a language for describing two-dimensional vector and mixed vector/raster graphics in XML. VML has been largely deprecated in favor of other formats, such as SVG. SVG is not compatible with VML.
While Microsoft continues to document VML, development of the format ceased in 1998. VML is implemented in Internet Explorer 5.0
Internet Explorer 5
Microsoft Internet Explorer 5 was a graphical web browser released in March 1999 by Microsoft, primarily for Microsoft Windows, but initially with versions available for Apple Macintosh, Sun Solaris, and HP-UX. It was one of the main participants of the first browser war...
and higher and in Microsoft Office 2000
Microsoft Office 2000
Microsoft Office 2000 is a release of Microsoft Office that succeeded Microsoft Office 97 and was designed as a fully 32-bit and Y2K compliant version to match Windows 2000 features. All the Office 2000 applications have OLE 2 capacity, which allows moving data automatically between various...
and higher. VML is still available in Internet Explorer 9
Internet Explorer 9
Windows Internet Explorer 9 is the current version of the Internet Explorer web browser from Microsoft. It was released to the public on March 14, 2011 at 21:00 PDT. Internet Explorer 9 supports several CSS 3 properties, embedded ICC v2 or v4 color profiles support via Windows Color System, and...
but Microsoft expects web sites to transition to SVG in the future. Version 2 of the Google Maps
Google Maps
Google Maps is a web mapping service application and technology provided by Google, free , that powers many map-based services, including the Google Maps website, Google Ride Finder, Google Transit, and maps embedded on third-party websites via the Google Maps API...
JavaScript
JavaScript
JavaScript is a prototype-based scripting language that is dynamic, weakly typed and has first-class functions. It is a multi-paradigm language, supporting object-oriented, imperative, and functional programming styles....
API used to use VML for vector paths on Internet Explorer
Internet Explorer
Windows Internet Explorer is a series of graphical web browsers developed by Microsoft and included as part of the Microsoft Windows line of operating systems, starting in 1995. It was first released as part of the add-on package Plus! for Windows 95 that year...
5.5+, but has been officially deprecated in favour of version 3, which does not.
The Vector Markup Language is included in Part 4 of the Office Open XML standards ISO
International Organization for Standardization
The International Organization for Standardization , widely known as ISO, is an international standard-setting body composed of representatives from various national standards organizations. Founded on February 23, 1947, the organization promulgates worldwide proprietary, industrial and commercial...
/IEC
International Electrotechnical Commission
The International Electrotechnical Commission is a non-profit, non-governmental international standards organization that prepares and publishes International Standards for all electrical, electronic and related technologies – collectively known as "electrotechnology"...
29500:2008 and ECMA
Ecma International
Ecma International is an international, private non-profit standards organization for information and communication systems. It acquired its name in 1994, when the European Computer Manufacturers Association changed its name to reflect the organization's global reach and activities...
-376. According to the specification, VML should be considered a deprecated format included in Office Open XML for legacy reasons only. However, VML is in fact very pervasive in MS Office 2007 (Word, Excel and Powerpoint) documents.
Software
VML is used by most Microsoft OfficeMicrosoft Office
Microsoft Office is a non-free commercial office suite of inter-related desktop applications, servers and services for the Microsoft Windows and Mac OS X operating systems, introduced by Microsoft in August 1, 1989. Initially a marketing term for a bundled set of applications, the first version of...
applications, such as Microsoft Word
Microsoft Word
Microsoft Word is a word processor designed by Microsoft. It was first released in 1983 under the name Multi-Tool Word for Xenix systems. Subsequent versions were later written for several other platforms including IBM PCs running DOS , the Apple Macintosh , the AT&T Unix PC , Atari ST , SCO UNIX,...
, Microsoft Visio
Microsoft Visio
Microsoft Visio , formerly known as Microsoft Office Visio, is a commercial diagramming program for Microsoft Windows that uses vector graphics to create diagrams.- Features :...
, etc. within its HTML files, created using the '
Save As HTML' option (plain HTML or MHTMHTML
MHTML, short for MIME HTML, is a web page archive format used to combine resources that are typically represented by external links together with HTML code into a single file. The content of an MHTML file is encoded as if it were an HTML e-mail message, using the MIME type multipart/related...
). Such files retain complete vector information, and can be reopened for editing
Editing
Editing is the process of selecting and preparing written, visual, audible, and film media used to convey information through the processes of correction, condensation, organization, and other modifications performed with an intention of producing a correct, consistent, accurate, and complete...
using other Microsoft applications, such as Microsoft PowerPoint
Microsoft PowerPoint
Microsoft PowerPoint, usually just called PowerPoint, is a non-free commercial presentation program developed by Microsoft. It is part of the Microsoft Office suite, and runs on Microsoft Windows and Apple's Mac OS X operating system...
. VML is natively supported by Microsoft's Internet Explorer
Internet Explorer
Windows Internet Explorer is a series of graphical web browsers developed by Microsoft and included as part of the Microsoft Windows line of operating systems, starting in 1995. It was first released as part of the add-on package Plus! for Windows 95 that year...
inline within HTML, using an undefined version of SGML namespace
Namespace
In general, a namespace is a container that provides context for the identifiers it holds, and allows the disambiguation of homonym identifiers residing in different namespaces....
s.
VML is not natively supported by most web browsers. Web browsers such as Mozilla Firefox, Opera, Safari or Google Chrome support SVG instead of VML. See also Comparison of layout engines (Scalable Vector Graphics)
Comparison of layout engines (Scalable Vector Graphics)
The following tables compare SVG compatibility and support for a number of layout engines. Please see the individual products' articles for further information. This article is not all-inclusive or necessarily up-to-date...
.
See also
- Scalable Vector GraphicsScalable Vector GraphicsScalable Vector Graphics is a family of specifications of an XML-based file format for describing two-dimensional vector graphics, both static and dynamic . The SVG specification is an open standard that has been under development by the World Wide Web Consortium since 1999.SVG images and their...
- Office Open XML
- List of vector graphics markup languages
External links
- W3C submission Initial draft 13 May 1998
- MSDN VML page
- VML demo and tutorial
- VML/SVG sources example
- VML CLip-arts library
