VML - WordprocessingML Drawing

Within a WordprocessingML document, it is possible to include graphical VML objects. When these objects are present in a word processing document, it is necessary to include information about the object which is specific to their presence in a word processing document.

[Note: The VML format is a legacy format originally introduced with Office 2000 and is included and fully defined in this Standard for backwards compatibility reasons. The DrawingML format is a newer and richer format created with the goal of eventually replacing any uses of VML in the Office Open XML formats. VML should be considered a deprecated format included in Office Open XML for legacy reasons only and new applications that need a file format for drawings are strongly encouraged to use preferentially DrawingML .end note]

The VML WordprocessingML Drawing namespace acts in this capacity, specifying all information necessary to anchor and display VML objects within a word processing document.

All elements defined in this subclause shall only appear in a WordprocessingML document.

[Example: Consider a 5-point star added to a WordprocessingML document, for example:

This object allows surrounding text to wrap around its top and bottom, but not to either side, so this interaction with the surrounding document text (which is specific to a word processing document) is stored in the WordprocessingML Drawing namespace as follows:

<v:shape … >
…
<wd:wrap wd:type="topAndBottom" />
</v:shape>

The wrap element specifies how surrounding WordprocessingML document content shall wrap around the floating VML object - in this case, by wrapping to its top and bottom extents via the type attribute value of topAndBottom. end example]