Not all, but very many users of modern computer systems often encounter obscure XML files. What kind of data is and why they are needed, even fewer users know. Well, with what program to open the XML file, generally understand units. Although everything is quite simple in this matter, nevertheless sometimes problems arise. Let's see what's what.
XML format - what is it?
To begin with, the XML format is a type of data created using the special Extensible Markup Language using commands that include a descriptive part of the properties or settings of an object based on tags and attributes.
In simple terms, the XML format is textual and somewhat reminds HTML hypertext markup, which is widely used on the Internet. Therefore, a preliminary solution to the problem of how to open an XML file in a readable form can be the use of almost any, even the most primitive text editor or viewer. But this is not so simple, since the files themselves can have completely different purposes.
What are XML files used for?
Before answering the question of how to open an XML file in its normal form, we will find out why such data types are needed.
Firstly, they can contain quite large amounts of information, for example, about music or video collections posted on the Internet. The files themselves are somewhat reminiscent of ID3 tags that are used in MP3 files and contain data on the name of the artist, album, year of release, genre, etc. As for the XML format, the possibility of adding data for these files is practically unlimited, and the presented information can relate not only to a single object (track or film), but to their whole set (albums, collections, etc.). The only limitation is the limit of the maximum possible number of lines in the text. This is what often causes problems when opening.
Secondly, such files very often are tied to specialized programs, and textual information contains data on some important settings of the application itself or on parameters set by the user. For example, in any music program, you can set your own parameters for any one or several tracks, and then save them as a user template. And preservation, as is probably already understood, occurs in the XML format.
How to open an XML file in its normal form: the simplest method
Now let's look at the easiest option to open files of this type. Take Windows systems for example. As a rule, the association for this format is not set by default. As a result - the inability to open the file with a double click.
On the other hand, even if you apply this technique, any modification of Windows will initially provide a list of several of the most suitable applications, or prompt the user to specify the executable EXE file by review.
The first thing that comes to mind due to the fact that the format is textual is the choice of the editor of this type. One of the first (if not the very first) in the list of programs is the standard Notepad - an application included in the required set of any Windows modification.
However, if you solve the problem of how to open the XML file in its normal form, you can first start Notepad itself, and then use the open command from the file menu or the standard combination Ctrl + O for all applications. It goes without saying that this option is convenient , in the program selection menu, you can specify the use of this method for all files of this type or select the desired program in the file properties menu, which will subsequently open this format by default (double-click).
You can, of course, use any Internet browser for viewing, but editing the data will not work - just view it in text, nothing more.
How to open an XML file in readable form: optimal programs
However, the matter is not limited to a simple text editor . Likewise, you can simply use more powerful word processors like Microsoft Word. The XML file in Word will have exactly the same look as any other, for example, TXT format.
But it is worth paying attention to that moment that alignment in Word, as well as formatting, is somewhat different from the standard Notepad. Yes, you can view or edit the data, but the structure of the document with all kinds of special indentation (especially if there are sufficiently long lines) can be violated.
But what many certainly don’t know is that the problem of how to open the XML file in its normal form can be solved even using the MS Excel spreadsheet processor. True, this is where the line restriction begins to apply. In other words, if the document contains too much data, the information will not be fully displayed.
But if we talk about how to open the XML file in a normal form, which is neither readable nor editable, it is better to use original programs that allow you to create data of this type, but not all kinds of notepads, but special applications that support the language syntax. Among them, one can especially note such as Oxygen XML Editor, EditiX, XML Marker and the like. Here you need to clearly understand that such applications are initially “tailored” to the language and have much more features compared to other text editors, even the most “sophisticated” ones.
Error opening XML format
So, with the question of how to open the XML file in its normal form, we figured it out a bit. Now we will analyze some errors when trying to open such data for viewing or editing. As a rule, the application in use may display a message stating that it cannot open the XML file because the integrity of the object being searched has been violated. The reasons for this may be any number (for example, incomplete or suddenly interrupted download from the Internet).
Still crashes can occur when it contains invalid tags and attributes. In some cases, crashes can occur if the XML file is an email attachment. When you try to open it in standard programs like Outlook Express, the file is first saved as temporary data in the TMP format, and the program responsible for opening the original file you are looking for does not understand this extension. Therefore, it is better to first save the attachment in its original form, and open after.
What to prefer for work with XML files?
So we figured out how to open the XML file in its normal form. What to use? In the simplest version, any text editor or the same spreadsheet processor is suitable for viewing. But if editing is required, and even with syntax support, you cannot do without specialized applications to avoid possible errors when entering commands.