This short article describes what XML files are and where they’re utilized, which programs can open one, and how to transform one to another text-based format like JSON, PDF, or CSV.
What Is an XML File?
An XML file is an Extensible Markup Language file. They are plain text files that don’t do anything in and of themselves except explain the transportation, structure, and storage of data.
An RSS feed is one common example of an XML-based file.
Some XML files are instead Cinelerra Video Project files used with the Cinelerra video modifying program. The file holds project-related settings like a list of previous edits made to the job as well as paths to where the media files lie.
While they do appear related because their file extensions are similar, XLM files aren’t the same as XML files.
How to Open an XML File
Lots of programs open XML files, including Code Beautify’s Online XML Viewer and some web internet browsers. Several popular programs edit XML files.
Some noteworthy free XML editors include Notepad++ and XML Notepad 2007. EditiX and Adobe Dreamweaver are a couple other popular XML editors however they are just totally free to utilize if you can manage to get a trial version. Microsoft’s popular Visual Studio Code editor handles XML files like a champ.
Just because an XML file can quickly be opened and seen doesn’t indicate that it’ll do anything. Great deals of various kinds of programs utilize XML as a way to keep their data in a standard method, but actually utilizing an XML declare a particular purpose needs that you understand what that particular XML file is keeping information for.
The XML format is used for MusicXML files, an XML-based sheet music format. You could definitely open one of those XML files in any text editor to see what sort of data is there, however it’s actually just useful in a program like Finale NotePad.
Given that XML files are text-based files, any text editor, including the built-in Notepad tool in Windows, will be able to appropriately display and edit the XML file’s contents. The dedicated XML editors discussed above are much better for editing XML files since they comprehend the file’s structure. A standard text editor isn’t quite as easy to use for modifying XML files.
However, if you wish to go that route, see our Best Free Text Editors list for a few of our favorites.
Cinelerra Video Project files that use the XML file extension can be opened with the Cinelerra software for Linux. The program utilized to be divided into two, called Heroine Virtual and Community Version, however they’re now integrated into one.
If you still can’t open your file, make sure you’re not puzzling it with a file that just has a similar file extension name, like an XMP, XMF, or ML file.
How to Convert an XML File
The very best solution to transforming an XML file to another format is to use among the editors discussed already. The program that’s producing the XML file is more than most likely able to conserve the exact same file to a various format.
An easy text editor, which can open a text file like XML, can usually save the file to another text-based format like TXT. However, you acquire absolutely nothing from this switch besides just changing the file extension.
If you’re looking for a fast option, you can try the online XML to JSON Converter from Code Beautify. That tool lets you convert XML to JSON by pasting the XML code into the site and after that downloading the.JSON file to your computer system. You can also search your computer for the XML file or load one from a URL.
Obviously, an XML-to-JSON converter is only useful if that’s what you’re after. Here are some other complimentary online XML converters that might be more useful for you:
XML to HTMLXML to CSVXML to XSDXML to PDF
Here are some totally free converters that convert to XML rather of from XML:
XLS/XLSX to XMLSQL to XMLCSV to XMLJSON to XML
You can not generally alter a file extension (like the XML file extension) to one that your computer acknowledges and expect the newly relabelled file to be functional. An actual file format conversion utilizing one of the approaches described above need to take location. Because XML is text-based, renaming the extension may be practical in some circumstances.
More Information on XML Files
XML files are formatted with tags, similar to other markup language files like HTML files. You can see an XML sample file on Microsoft’s website.
Because Microsoft Office 2007, Microsoft has been using XML-based formats for Word, Excel, and PowerPoint, indicative in their particular file formats:. Microsoft uses an in-depth description of the benefits of utilizing these XML-based file types.
Some other XML-based file types consist of EDS, XSPF, FDX, SEARCH-MS, CMBL, APPLICATION, and DAE files.
W3Schools has lots of information on XML files if you’re looking for a comprehensive look at how to work with them.
FAQHow do you open a XML file in Excel?
From within Excel, choose File > Open, and choose your XML file. In the following pop-up, select As an XML table. This will display your XML file as a table within Excel. Not every XML file will work well being shown as a table.
How do you open a XML file in Word?
Within Word, select File > Open, and select your XML file. This will open the file in Word. However, XML files are hardly ever formatted to be useful in Word without any type of conversion or style specifically for Word, so your mileage may differ.
