Well, the day has finally arrived, the XML file formats used in Office 2007 are now ECMA standards.

This is something that can be used to extract data from office files without having to write your own document decoders (something I used to do for a living waaay back when).  XML file formats is not a new thing - Office 2003 XML formats are available, like the 2007 ones, royalty free, but this time a standards body has approved the standard.

For reading I would suggest http://office.microsoft.com/en-us/products/HA102058151033.aspx followed by the ones below.

2007 Office System: XML Schema Reference

This download contains reference documentation for the 2007 Microsoft Office system XML schemas.

2007 Office System Sample: Manipulating Office Open XML Formats Files

This is a set of sample files and Visual Studio project files that illustrate how to manipulate Office Open XML format documents programmatically.

ttfn

David